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Cui D, Li L, Yu N, Xiong S, Xiao S, Zheng H, Huang Z, Guo Y, Huang L. Phenotypic correlations of carpal gland diverticular number with production traits and its genome-wide association analysis in multiple pig populations. Anim Genet 2024; 55:396-403. [PMID: 38380686 DOI: 10.1111/age.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Pig carpal glands play crucial roles in territorial recognition, reproductive behavior, and information exchange; however, their effects on production traits and underlying genetic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 1028 pigs from six populations were counted for the carpal gland diverticular numbers (CGDNs) on the left (CGDNL) and right (CGDNR) legs, and their carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. The CGDNs were significantly different among the populations, and Licha Black pigs had a lower CGDN than the Bama Xiang breed. It was also significantly different between sexes, with males having more diverticula than females (p ≤ 0.0391). Moreover, the number was asymmetric, with CGDNR being significantly higher than CGDNL. Notably, CGDNs was significantly correlated with each other in phenotype and genetics and with 24-h pH, 24-h meat color score, 24-h marbling score, fat content, moisture content, sodium salt content, and saturated fatty acid content in phenotype. Furthermore, genome-wide association analyses identified seven SNPs in association with CGDNs at a 5% genome-wide significance level, all of which were located in a 1.78-Mb (35.347-37.129 Mb) region on chromosome 1. CNC10010837 and CNC10010840 were the top SNPs: both had an additive effect of 0.789 ± 0.120 on CGDNR with p = 8.31E-10. These findings provide important insights into the functions and underlying genetic mechanisms of swine carpal glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengshuai Cui
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Longyun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Naibiao Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Sanya Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shijun Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Jiangxi Shanxia Huaxi Pig Breeding Company Limited, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Jiangxi Shanxia Huaxi Pig Breeding Company Limited, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yuanmei Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lusheng Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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2
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Mata JC, Davison CW, Frøslev TG, Buitenwerf R, Svenning JC. Resource partitioning in a novel herbivore assemblage in South America. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:606-618. [PMID: 38414265 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Human-induced species declines and extinctions have led to the downsizing of large-herbivore assemblages, with implications for many ecosystem processes. Active reintroduction of extirpated large herbivores or their functional equivalents may help to reverse this trend and restore diverse ecosystems and their processes. However, it is unclear whether resource competition between native and non-native herbivores could threaten restoration initiatives, or to what extent (re)introduced species may influence local vegetation dynamics. To answer these questions, we investigated the diets of a novel South American herbivore assemblage that includes resident native species, reintroduced native species and introduced non-native species. We examined plant composition, diet breadth and the overlap between species to describe the local herbivory profile and the potential for resource competition. Using DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples (n = 465), we analysed the diets of the herbivore assemblage in the Rincón del Socorro rewilding area of Iberá National Park, Argentina. We compared the species richness of faecal samples, the occurrence of plant families/growth forms and the compositional similarity of samples (inter- and intraspecifically). Our results indicate species-level taxonomic partitioning of plant resources by herbivores in this system. Differences in sample richness, composition and diet breadth reflected a diverse range of herbivory strategies, from grazers (capybara) to mixed feeders/browsers (brocket deer, lowland tapir). Differences in diet compositional similarity (Jaccard) revealed strong taxonomic resource partitioning. The two herbivores with the most similar diets (Pampas deer and brocket deer) still differed by more than 80%. Furthermore, all but one species (axis deer) had more similar diet composition intraspecifically than compared to the others. Overall, we found little evidence for resource competition between herbivore species. Instead, recently reintroduced native species and historically introduced non-natives are likely expanding the range of herbivory dynamics in the ecosystem. Further research will be needed to determine the full ecological impacts of these (re)introduced herbivores. In conclusion, we show clear differences in diet breadth and composition among native, reintroduced and non-native herbivore species that may be key to promoting resource partitioning, species coexistence and the restoration of ecological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C Mata
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Charles W Davison
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Robert Buitenwerf
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Kim K, Andersen D, Jang Y. Predictive Modeling of Ungulate-Vehicle Collision in the Republic of Korea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1068. [PMID: 37626954 PMCID: PMC10451958 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) threaten animals as well as human life and property. AVC with ungulates, called ungulate-vehicle collision (UVC), often seriously endangers human safety because of the considerable body size of ungulates. In the Republic of Korea, three ungulate species, Capreolus pygargus, Hydropotes inermis, and Sus scrofa, account for a large proportion of AVC. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of UVC by examining various parameters related to habitat, traffic, and seasonality using MaxEnt. The results showed that the peak UVC seasons coincided with the most active seasonal behaviors of the studied ungulates. For the modeling results, in C. pygargus, habitat variables are most important for models across seasons, and UVC events are most likely to occur in high mountain chains. In H. inermis, habitat and traffic variables are most important for models across seasons. Although the important habitat for the models were different across seasons for S. scrofa, the maximum speed was consistently critical for models across all seasons. Factors critical to UVC in the Republic of Korea were different for the three ungulate species and across seasons, indicating that seasonal behavior should be considered along with landscape and traffic characteristics to mitigate UVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungmin Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea;
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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Olejarz A, Faltusová M, Börger L, Güldenpfennig J, Jarský V, Ježek M, Mortlock E, Silovský V, Podgórski T. Worse sleep and increased energy expenditure yet no movement changes in sub-urban wild boar experiencing an influx of human visitors (anthropulse) during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163106. [PMID: 36966827 PMCID: PMC10038670 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163106] [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: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Expansion of urban areas, landscape transformation and increasing human outdoor activities strongly affect wildlife behaviour. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in particular led to drastic changes in human behaviour, exposing wildlife around the world to either reduced or increased human presence, potentially altering animal behaviour. Here, we investigate behavioural responses of wild boar (Sus scrofa) to changing numbers of human visitors to a suburban forest near Prague, Czech Republic, during the first 2.5 years of the COVID-19 epidemic (April 2019-November 2021). We used bio-logging and movement data of 63 GPS-collared wild boar and human visitation data based on an automatic counter installed in the field. We hypothesised that higher levels of human leisure activity will have a disturbing effect on wild boar behaviour manifested in increased movements and ranging, energy spent, and disrupted sleep patterns. Interestingly, whilst the number of people visiting the forest varied by two orders of magnitude (from 36 to 3431 people weekly), even high levels of human presence (>2000 visitors per week) did not affect weekly distance travelled, home range size, and maximum displacement of wild boar. Instead, individuals spent 41 % more energy at high levels of human presence (>2000 visitors per week), with more erratic sleep patterns, characterised by shorter and more frequent sleeping bouts. Our results highlight multifaceted effects of increased human activities ('anthropulses'), such as those related to COVID-19 countermeasures, on animal behaviour. High human pressure may not affect animal movements or habitat use, especially in highly adaptable species such as wild boar, but may disrupt animal activity rhythms, with potentially detrimental fitness consequences. Such subtle behavioural responses can be overlooked if using only standard tracking technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Olejarz
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Monika Faltusová
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Justine Güldenpfennig
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Vilém Jarský
- Department of Forestry and Wood Economics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Ježek
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Euan Mortlock
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT95DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Václav Silovský
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Podgórski
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic; Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
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5
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Liu A, Xue T, Zhao X, Zou J, Pu H, Hu X, Tian Z. Pseudorabies Virus Associations in Wild Animals: Review of Potential Reservoirs for Cross-Host Transmission. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102254. [PMID: 36298809 PMCID: PMC9609849 DOI: 10.3390/v14102254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) has received widespread attention for its potential health effects on humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and livestock. In this review, we focus on PRV dynamics in wildlife, given the importance of wild-origin PRV transmission to domestic and farm animals. Wild boars, pigs, and raccoons can serve as reservoirs of PRV, with viral transmission to domestic livestock occurring via several routes, such as wild herd exposure, contaminated meat consumption, and insect vector transmission. Many endangered feline and canine species can be infected with PRV, with acute disease and death within 48 h. The first confirmed human case of PRV infection in mainland China was reported in 2017. Thus, PRV exhibits potentially dangerous cross-host transmission, which is likely associated with inappropriate vaccination, poor awareness, and insufficient biosecurity. Currently, no vaccine provides full protection against PRV in all animals. Here, we summarize the epidemiology and pathogenesis of PRV infection in wild, domestic, and farmed animals, which may facilitate the design of novel therapeutics and strategies for controlling PRV infection and improving wildlife protection in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijing Liu
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Tong Xue
- School of Mathematical Science, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Jie Zou
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Hongli Pu
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Xiaoliang Hu
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
| | - Zhige Tian
- Yibin Key Laboratory of Zoological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, China
- Correspondence:
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Laguna E, Palencia P, Carpio AJ, Mateos-Aparicio J, Herraiz C, Notario C, Vicente J, Montoro V, Acevedo P. Evaluation of a combined and portable light-ultrasound device with which to deter red deer. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01599-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHuman–wildlife conflicts are a growing problem in Northern Hemisphere where wild ungulates are one of the taxonomic groups most frequently involved. To mitigate these conflicts, it is essential to develop preventive actions able to avoid encounters between wildlife and human (activities). We here employed photo-trapping to evaluate the behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus) when confronted with dissuasive portable deterrents that function on the basis of changing patterns of light and ultrasound. This was done by following a before/after experimental design, with two phases: (i) a test phase, with active deterrents, and (ii) a control phase, without deterrents. When deterrents were activated they achieved a 48.96% reduction in the frequency of use by red deer (up to 66.64% when it was assessed on a thinner Sect. 10 m wide from the line of deterrents) and produced a reduction of 67.71% in the frequency of deterrent-line crossings. However, a habituation effect was detected since the use by red deer of the treatment area increased as time since treatment. These results indicate that these portable devices are effective as regards dissuading deer, mainly on short time scales. The deterrents tested here could be suitable for use at focal points for short periods or in combination with other methods to improve their effectiveness in vulnerability points. This device could potentially be used to mitigate conflicts caused by wildlife species and in response to relevant and timely situations, such as vehicle collisions and damage to crops, among others.
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Lewis AA, Williams BL, Smith MD, Ditchkoff SS. Shifting to sounders: Whole sounder removal eliminates wild pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A. Lewis
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn 36849 AL USA
| | - Brian L. Williams
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn 36849 AL USA
| | - Mark D. Smith
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn 36849 AL USA
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Schlichting PE, Boughton RK, Anderson W, Wight B, VerCauteren KC, Miller RS, Lewis JS. Seasonal variation in space use and territoriality in a large mammal (Sus scrofa). Sci Rep 2022; 12:4023. [PMID: 35256629 PMCID: PMC8901613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07297-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An individual’s spatial behavior is shaped by social and environmental factors and provides critical information about population processes to inform conservation and management actions. Heterogeneity in spatial overlap among conspecifics can be evaluated using estimates of home ranges and core areas and used to understand factors influencing space use and territoriality. To understand and test predictions about spatial behavior in an invasive large mammal, the wild pig (Sus scrofa), we examined variation in space use between sexes and seasons. We predicted that if animals were territorial that there would be a reduction in space-use overlap when comparing overlap of home ranges (HR–HR), to home ranges and core areas (HR–CA), and in-turn between core areas (CA–CA). Home ranges and core areas were estimated for 54 wild pigs at Buck Island Ranch, FL from GPS telemetry data. Overlap indices were calculated to estimate the strength (space-use overlap) and number of potential interactions within three wet seasons (June–October) and two dry seasons (December–April). Among sexes, home range size did not vary seasonally, and males exhibited larger home ranges compared to females (M = 10.36 ± 0.79 km2 (± SE), F = 3.21 ± 0.16 km2). Strength of overlap varied by season with wild pig home ranges overlapping more during the dry season. Males interacted with a greater number of individuals of both sexes, compared to females, and exhibited greater strength of overlap during the dry season. Consistent with our predictions, wild pigs appeared to exhibit territorial behavior, where strength of overlap decreased when comparing HR–HR to HR–CA and HR–CA to CA–CA. Our framework can be used to understand patterns of space use and territoriality in populations, which has important implications in understanding intraspecific interactions and population processes, such as how pathogens and parasites might spread within and among populations.
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Spatio-temporal behaviour of female wild boar in an agro-forestry–pastoral landscape of Southern Italy. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00617-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac014] [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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Carried away by a moonlight shadow: activity of wild boar in relation to nocturnal light intensity. MAMMAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-021-00610-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
An increase of nocturnal activity of ungulate species may represent a compensatory opportunity for energy intake, when activity in daylight is hindered by some disturbance events (e.g. hunting or predation). Therefore, mostly-diurnal and crepuscular species may be active in bright moonlight nights whereas others may shift their diurnal activity towards darkest nights to limit their exposure to predators. In natural and undisturbed conditions, the wild boar may be active both during the day and the night, with alternating periods of activity and resting. In this work, we tested whether activity patterns of wild boar, a species with poor visive abilities, were dependent on moon phases and environmental lightening. We aimed to assess if nocturnal activity could be better explained by variations of the lunar cycle or by the variations of environmental lightening conditions, evaluated by means of different measures of night brightness. Data were collected through camera-trapping in Central Italy in 2019–2020. Despite the poor visive abilities of the wild boar, we observed that this ungulate significantly reduced their activity by avoiding the brightest nights. In our study area, the wild boar has to cope with both human pressure (i.e. mostly hunters and poachers) and predation by the grey wolf. Furthermore, the nocturnal activity of wild boar peaked in mid-Autumn, i.e. when hunting pressure is the highest and when leaf fall may bring wild boar to range for long distances to find suitable resting sites for diurnal hours.
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Reinke H, König HJ, Keuling O, Kuemmerle T, Kiffner C. Zoning has little impact on the seasonal diel activity and distribution patterns of wild boar ( Sus scrofa) in an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17091-17105. [PMID: 34938495 PMCID: PMC8668749 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8347] [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: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the spatio-temporal distribution of ungulates is important for effective wildlife management, particularly for economically and ecologically important species such as wild boar (Sus scrofa). Wild boars are generally considered to exhibit substantial behavioral flexibility, but it is unclear how their behavior varies across different conservation management regimes and levels of human pressure. To analyze if and how wild boars adjust their space use or their temporal niche, we surveyed wild boars across the core and buffer zones (collectively referred to as the conservation zone) and the transition zone of a biosphere reserve. These zones represent low and high levels of human pressure, respectively. Specifically, we employed a network of 53 camera traps distributed in the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve over a 14-month period (19,062 trap nights) and estimated circadian activity patterns, diel activity levels, and occupancy of wild boars in both zones. To account for differences in environmental conditions and day length, we estimated these parameters separately for seven 2-month periods. Our results showed that the wild boars were primarily nocturnal, with diurnal activity occurring dominantly during the summer months. The diel activity patterns in the two zones were very similar overall, although the wild boars were slightly less active in the transition zone than in the conservation zone. Diel activity levels also varied seasonally, ranging from 7.5 to 11.0 h day-1, and scaled positively with the length of the night (R 2 = 0.66-0.67). Seasonal occupancy estimates were exceptionally high (point estimates ranged from 0.65 to 0.99) and similar across zones, suggesting that the wild boars used most of the biosphere reserve. Overall, this result suggests that different conservation management regimes (in this case, the zoning of a biosphere reserve) have little impact on wild boar behavior. This finding is relevant for wildlife management in protected areas where possibly high wild boar densities could interfere with conservation goals within these areas and those of agricultural land use in their vicinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Reinke
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict & CoexistenceLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
- Geography DepartmentHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Hannes J. König
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict & CoexistenceLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Oliver Keuling
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW)University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverHannoverGermany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography DepartmentHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human‐Environment Systems IRI THESysBerlinGermany
| | - Christian Kiffner
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict & CoexistenceLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
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Laguna E, Barasona JA, Vicente J, Keuling O, Acevedo P. Differences in wild boar spatial behaviour among land uses and management scenarios in Mediterranean ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148966. [PMID: 34273834 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous wild boar is causing diverse and growing conflicts of socio-ecological and economic relevance worldwide. For that reason, knowledge of its spatial ecology is crucial to designing effective management programmes. But this knowledge is scarce in Mediterranean areas with mixed land uses. We describe the spatial ecology and habitat selection of 41 adult wild boar monitored using GPS collars and analyse the effects of sex and the period (food shortage period, hunting season and food abundance period) under different land uses (protected areas, mixed farms and fenced hunting estates). The spatial ecology of wild boar was characterised by marked temporality, mediated by sex and the land uses in the area. The activity (ACT), daily range (DR) and home range (HR) were higher for males than females, and in mixed farms versus fenced hunting estates, while the lowest values were obtained in protected areas. These effects were more marked for ACT and DR (movement) than HR. The selection of scrublands and avoidance of woodlands was observed where drive hunt events occur (mixed farms and fenced estates), but not in the protected areas. The differences in the requirements, reproductive behaviour and, interestingly, response to disturbance according to sex may explain this dissimilar behaviour. Disturbance originated higher movement rates and the selection of sheltering land cover as a refuge during the hunting season. This information is useful for designing species monitoring and management programmes; including both preventive and reactive actions in response to events such as outbreaks of African swine fever and agricultural damage produced by wild boar in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Laguna
- Grupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José A Barasona
- VISAVET, Health Surveillance Centre, Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Joaquín Vicente
- Grupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Oliver Keuling
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Pelayo Acevedo
- Grupo Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
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Ferretti F, Lazzeri L, Mori E, Cesaretti G, Calosi M, Burrini L, Fattorini N. Habitat correlates of wild boar density and rooting along an environmental gradient. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In wild ungulates, habitat choice usually is influenced by foraging constraints and predator avoidance, potentially leading to spatial variation of population density (e.g., greater densities in food rich or safer habitats). Assessing habitat-correlates of abundance and foraging activity in turn is important in understanding determinants of distribution. We assessed habitat correlates of presence, density, and rooting, for wild boar Sus scrofa, the most widespread ungulate in the world, in six protected areas of central Italy. We worked along an altitudinal gradient ranging from the coast to mountains, in late spring-summer 2019. We surveyed 617 sampling plots randomly placed onto study areas with tessellation stratified sampling, where we used fecal counts to estimate wild boar density and visually estimated the proportion of rooted area. Overall estimates of density and rooting (± standard error) varied from 3.5 ± 2.0 to 17.9 ± 5.4 individuals/km2 and from 1.4 ± 0.8% to 10.9 ± 1.1% of rooted ground. Density and rooting showed a moderate yet nonsignificant correlation across sites. Probability of presence, abundance, and rooting in sampling plots were higher in ecotone habitats (transition habitats between wooded and open areas). Topography did not influence boar presence or local abundance. Rooting increased with decreasing slope and rock cover, as well as increasing elevation, possibly due to soil supporting forage of higher nutritional quality. Our results support the importance of ecotone habitats for wild boar, emphasizing the role of these transitional areas in the period of nursing/weaning of offspring, as well as when crops are actively growing. Differences in overall estimates of rooting across study sites may depend on site-specific features (soil moisture and availability of alternative food resources). Future studies should test the correlation between inter-annual differences of rooting and changes in population density. Notwithstanding the latter, we identified significant ecological drivers of wild boar density and rooting activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ferretti
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Lazzeri
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Emiliano Mori
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri—Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Gloria Cesaretti
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Martina Calosi
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Lucia Burrini
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Niccolò Fattorini
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology, and Wildlife Management, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
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15
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Using data from collective hunts to estimate the wild boar (Sus scrofa) population density in north-eastern Poland. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00182-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe spread of the African swine fever through wild boar population has caused major losses in the pig industry. Therefore, to decrease the population density of wild boar in Poland, the culling of these animals has been dramatically increased. However, the effect of depopulation is unknown because there are no methods that could be used throughout the country to estimate the number of wild boar. Thus, during two hunting seasons an attempt was made to estimate the number of wild boar using data from collective hunts. The forested area of 21 hunting districts (351.5 km2) was divided into five sampling inventory blocks (SIBs), which were used for the statistical analysis of the population density, the harvest rate and results of collective hunts. The average population density obtained by a driving census amounted to 8.19 ± 1.12 and 10.09 ± 1.06 (x̅ ± SE), animals/km2, which indicates that 2879 and 3547 wild boar were living in the study area in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons respectively. The number of wild boars bagged per one hunting plot was adopted as the harvest success index (HBI). In SIBs the HBI value fluctuated in the range of 0.55 to 1.87 individuals/hunting plot and the population density ranged from 6.46 to 12.18 wild boars/km2. The non-linear regression showed a positive relationship between the HBI index and the population density. The discussion covers the possibility of using collective hunts to estimate the number of wild boar in Poland and in the European Union.
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16
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Kilgo JC, Garabedian JE, Vukovich M, Schlichting PE, Byrne ME, Beasley JC. Food resources affect territoriality of invasive wild pig sounders with implications for control. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18821. [PMID: 34552124 PMCID: PMC8458451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in control methods for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) has increased due to their range expansion, population growth, and an improved understanding of their destructive ecological and economic effects. Recent technological advances in traps for control of pig populations facilitate capture of entire social groups (sounders), but the efficacy of “whole-sounder” trapping strategies is heavily dependent on the degree of territoriality among sounders, a topic little research has explored. We assessed territoriality in wild pig sounders on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA, and examined whether availability of food resources provided by a municipal-waste landfill affected among-sounder territoriality. We estimated utilization distribution overlap and dynamic interactions among 18 neighboring sounders around a landfill. We found that although neighboring sounders overlapped in space, intensity of use in shared areas was uniformly low, indicating territorial behavior. Neighbors tended to share slightly more space when closer to the landfill waste cells, indicating availability of a super-abundant resource somewhat weakens the degree of territoriality among sounders. Nevertheless, we conclude that sounders behaved in a generally territorial manner, and we discuss implications for whole-sounder trapping programs, particularly near concentrated resources such as landfills and crop fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA.
| | - James E Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA
| | - Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA.,USDA Forest Service, Shawnee National Forest, 602 North First St., Vienna, IL, 62995, USA
| | - Peter E Schlichting
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.,Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Michael E Byrne
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.,School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
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17
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Davidson A, Malkinson D, Schonblum A, Koren L, Shanas U. Do boars compensate for hunting with higher reproductive hormones? CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab068. [PMID: 34512990 PMCID: PMC8415534 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The predation-stress hypothesis has been proposed as a general mechanism to explain the negative effect of predation risk on reproduction, through a chronic activation of the stress response. However, in some cases, stress appears to augment the reproductive potential of mammals. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are on a rise worldwide, despite the high hunting pressure that they are exposed to. This hunting pressure instigates, among other effects, earlier sexual maturity in juvenile females, leading to the shortening of wild boars' generation time. The mechanism that underlies this earlier sexual maturity under high hunting pressure has not been examined to date. To explore the physiological effects that hunting has on the reproductive system and whether the stress response is involved, we examined steroid hormone levels in the hair of female wild boars in northern Israel, comparing populations exposed to high and low hunting pressure. Furthermore, we compared steroid levels in the hair of female wild boars that were roaming alone or as a part of a group. We found no hormonal signs of stress in the hunted boars. Cortisol levels were low in both the high and low hunting-pressure groups. Yet, progesterone levels were higher in females that were exposed to high hunting pressure. Females roaming in a group also had higher progesterone levels compared to females that were alone, with no distinguishable differences in cortisol levels. These elevations in reproductive hormones that were associated with hunting may lead to a higher reproductive potential in female wild boars. They further show that high hunting pressure does not necessarily lead to chronic stress that impairs the reproductive potential of female wild boars. This data suggests that a reproductive hormonal response may be one of the factors leading to the rapid wild boars population growth worldwide, despite the high hunting pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achiad Davidson
- Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Dan Malkinson
- Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave.,Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
- Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Qatzrin, 1290000, Israel
| | - Anat Schonblum
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel
| | - Lee Koren
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel
| | - Uri Shanas
- Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
- Biology and Environment, University of Haifa–Oranim,
Tivon, 3600600, Israel
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18
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Mori E, Lazzeri L, Ferretti F, Gordigiani L, Rubolini D. The wild boar
Sus scrofa
as a threat to ground‐nesting bird species: an artificial nest experiment. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Mori
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri Sesto Fiorentino (FI) Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università di Siena Siena Italy
| | - L. Lazzeri
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università di Siena Siena Italy
| | - F. Ferretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università di Siena Siena Italy
| | - L. Gordigiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università di Siena Siena Italy
| | - D. Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali Università degli Studi di Milano Milano Italy
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19
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Fanelli A, Perrone A, Ferroglio E. Spatial and temporal dynamics of wild boars Sus scrofa hunted in Alpine environment. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01484-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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20
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Bazarragchaa E, Isoda N, Kim T, Tetsuo M, Ito S, Matsuno K, Sakoda Y. Efficacy of Oral Vaccine against Classical Swine Fever in Wild Boar and Estimation of the Disease Dynamics in the Quantitative Approach. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020319. [PMID: 33672749 PMCID: PMC7924559 DOI: 10.3390/v13020319] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in the wild boar population has been spreading in Japan, alongside outbreaks on pigs, since classical swine fever (CSF) reemerged in September 2018. The vaccination using oral bait vaccine was initially implemented in Gifu prefecture in March 2019. In the present study, antibodies against CSFV in wild boar were assessed in 1443 captured and dead wild boars in Gifu prefecture. After the implementation of oral vaccination, the increase of the proportion of seropositive animals and their titer in wild boars were confirmed. Quantitative analysis of antigen and antibodies against CSFV in wild boar implies potential disease diversity in the wild boar population. Animals with status in high virus replication (Ct < 30) and non- or low-immune response were confirmed and were sustained at a certain level after initial oral vaccination. Through continuous vaccination periods, the increase of seroprevalence among wild boar and the decrease of CSFV-positive animals were observed. The epidemiological analysis based on the quantitative virological outcomes could provide more information on the efficacy of oral vaccination and dynamics of CSF in the wild boar population, which will help to improve the implementation of control measures for CSF in countries such as Japan and neighboring countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enkhbold Bazarragchaa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan; (E.B.); (T.K.); (M.T.)
| | - Norikazu Isoda
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan; (E.B.); (T.K.); (M.T.)
- Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan; (S.I.); (K.M.)
- Correspondence: (N.I.); (Y.S.); Tel.: +81-11-706-5208 (N.I.); +81-11-706-5207 (Y.S.)
| | - Taksoo Kim
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan; (E.B.); (T.K.); (M.T.)
| | - Madoka Tetsuo
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan; (E.B.); (T.K.); (M.T.)
| | - Satoshi Ito
- Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan; (S.I.); (K.M.)
| | - Keita Matsuno
- Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan; (S.I.); (K.M.)
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sakoda
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan; (E.B.); (T.K.); (M.T.)
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, Japan
- Correspondence: (N.I.); (Y.S.); Tel.: +81-11-706-5208 (N.I.); +81-11-706-5207 (Y.S.)
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21
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Rossa M, Lovari S, Ferretti F. Spatiotemporal patterns of wolf, mesocarnivores and prey in a Mediterranean area. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02956-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Spatial and temporal occurrence can mediate behavioural interactions between apex predators, mesocarnivores and herbivores. Predators should adapt their activity to that of prey, whereas predator avoidance would be expected to influence activity patterns and space use of prey and smaller competitors. We evaluated interspecific spatiotemporal relationships in a prey-rich community including an apex predator (the wolf), three wild ungulates and several smaller herbivores/mesocarnivores, through camera trapping. All considered species (i.e. wolves and potential prey/smaller competitors: wild boar, fallow deer, roe deer, crested porcupine, red fox and European badger) were active especially at night and/or twilight. Among wild ungulates, the wolf showed the greatest temporal overlap with the wild boar and the lowest one with the least abundant and used of them, i.e. the roe deer. The main prey (i.e. the fallow deer) showed more diurnal activity and a lower temporal overlap with the predator in sites with high wolf activity than in low-activity ones. Among mesocarnivores, the red fox showed extensive temporal overlap with the wolf: the overlap between the two canids was greater in sites intensively used by this apex predator than in sites with low wolf activity, supporting a concurrent study which suggested a potential for facilitative—rather than competitive—interactions. Spatiotemporal relationships suggest complex interactions between the apex predator, prey and smaller carnivores, for which a substantial temporal or spatial association was often supported.
Significance statement
There is a growing interest in the influence of apex predators on ecosystems through their effects on the behaviour of prey and smaller carnivores, especially in the light of the ongoing recovery of large carnivores in temperate areas. Predators should synchronise their activity to that of prey; conversely, prey and smaller carnivores would be expected to avoid predators. In a rich community including the wolf, three wild ungulates and several mesomammals, we detected (i) a substantial temporal overlap between wolves and wild boar, porcupines and mesocarnivores; (ii) a negative temporal association between the predator and its main prey (i.e. the fallow deer) and (iii) a great temporal overlap between the wolf and the red fox. We provide a baseline to evaluate temporal changes of predator-prey-mesocarnivore behavioural interactions along with variations of carnivore-prey densities.
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22
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Bastille-Rousseau G, Schlichting PE, Keiter DA, Smith JB, Kilgo JC, Wittemyer G, Vercauteren KC, Beasley JC, Pepin KM. Multi-level movement response of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) to removal. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:85-95. [PMID: 32738020 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lethal removal of invasive species, such as wild pigs (Sus scrofa), is often the most efficient approach for reducing their negative impacts. Wild pigs are one of the most widespread and destructive invasive mammals in the USA. Lethal management techniques are a key approach for wild pigs and can alter wild pig spatial behavior, but it is unclear how wild pigs respond to the most common removal technique, trapping. We investigated the spatial behavior of wild pigs following intensive removal of conspecifics via trapping at three sites within the Savannah River Site, SC, USA. We evaluated changes in wild pig densities, estimated temporal shifts in home-range properties, and evaluated fine-scale movement responses of wild pigs to removal. RESULTS We observed a significant reduction in the density of wild pigs in one site following removal via trapping while a qualitative reduction was observed in another site. We found little evidence of shifts in pig home-ranging behavior following removal. However, we did observe a nuanced response in movement behavior of wild pigs to the removal at the scale of the GPS locations (4 h), including increased movement speed and reduced selection for vegetation rich areas. CONCLUSION Our work provides a better understanding of the impact of removal via trapping on wild pig movement and its implications for management. The lack of shift in home-range characteristics observed illustrates how targeted trapping could be used to provide temporary relief for species sensitive to wild pig consumption such as ground nesting birds or agricultural crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Peter E Schlichting
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - David A Keiter
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Joshua B Smith
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - John C Kilgo
- United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kurt C Vercauteren
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Kim M Pepin
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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23
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Davidson A, Shanas U, Malkinson D. Age- and sex-dependent vigilance behaviour modifies social structure of hunted wild boar populations. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Iemmi T, Menozzi A, Meucci V, Magnini I, Battaglia F, Severino L, Ariano A, Bertini S. Ochratoxin A Levels in Tissues of Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) from Northern Italy. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12110706. [PMID: 33171643 PMCID: PMC7695140 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium, capable of contaminating several foodstuffs. OTA damages primarily the kidneys, and is suspected to be a carcinogenic substance, thus maximum levels for OTA in foodstuffs have been established in the EU. Italian Ministry of Health suggested a maximum level of 1 μg/kg OTA in pork meat and derived products. In this study, OTA concentrations in liver, kidney, and muscle of 64 wild boars (Sus scrofa) killed in two areas (area A and B) of Parma province (northern Italy), characterized by different habitat types, were assessed by HPLC-FLD technique. OTA was detected in 54% liver, 52% kidney, and 16% muscle samples. OTA levels were significantly higher in liver and kidney compared with muscle, and were above 1 μg/kg in 19 liver, 17 kidney, and 4 muscle samples. OTA levels in wild boars from area A resulted significantly higher with respect to those from area B, suggesting an environmental influence on OTA contamination in wild boars. This study seems to confirm that wild boar meat is a potential source of OTA, thus monitoring the presence of this mycotoxin in game meat might be recommended to prevent risks for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Iemmi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.I.); (I.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Alessandro Menozzi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.I.); (I.M.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Meucci
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (V.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Irene Magnini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.I.); (I.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Federica Battaglia
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (V.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Lorella Severino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Andrea Ariano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (L.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Simone Bertini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (T.I.); (I.M.); (S.B.)
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25
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Vázquez AA, Sabourin E, Alda P, Leroy C, Leray C, Carron E, Mulero S, Caty C, Hasfia S, Boisseau M, Saugné L, Pineau O, Blanchon T, Alba A, Faugère D, Vittecoq M, Hurtrez-Boussès S. Genetic diversity and relationships of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda) with native and introduced definitive and intermediate hosts. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:2274-2286. [PMID: 33068493 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is a worldwide spread parasitosis mainly caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica. This disease is particularly important for public health in tropical regions, but it can also affect the economies of many developed countries due to large infections in domestic animals. Although several studies have tried to understand the transmission by studying the prevalence of different host species, only a few have used population genetic approaches to understand the links between domestic and wildlife infections. Here, we present the results of such genetic approach combined with classical parasitological data (prevalence and intensity) by studying domestic and wild definitive hosts from Camargue (southern France) where fasciolosis is considered as a problem. We found 60% of domestic hosts (cattle) infected with F. hepatica but lower values in wild hosts (nutria, 19%; wild boars, 4.5%). We explored nine variable microsatellite loci for 1,148 adult flukes recovered from four different populations (non-treated cattle, treated cattle, nutria and wild boars). Populations from the four groups differed, though we found a number of migrants particularly non-treated cattle and nutria. Overall, we detected 729 different multilocus genotypes (from 783 completely genotyped individuals) and only 46 genotypes repeated across samples. Finally, we experimentally infected native and introduced intermediate snail hosts to explore their compatibility with F. hepatica and assess the risks of fasciolosis expansion in the region. The introduced species Galba truncatula and Pseudosuccinea columella attained the higher values of overall compatibility in relation to the European species. However, concerning the origin, sympatric combinations of G. truncatula were more compatible (higher prevalence, intensity and survival) than the allopatric tested. According to our results, we should note that the assessment of epidemiological risks cannot be limited to a single host-parasite system, but should focus on understanding the diversity of hosts in the heterogeneous environment through space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio A Vázquez
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,Laboratory of Malacology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Havana, Cuba
| | - Emeline Sabourin
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Pilar Alda
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,Laboratorio de Zoología de Invertebrados I, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Clémentine Leroy
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Carole Leray
- Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France
| | - Eric Carron
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephen Mulero
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,IHPE UMR 5244, University of Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Céline Caty
- Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France
| | - Sarah Hasfia
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Michel Boisseau
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Lucas Saugné
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Olivier Pineau
- Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France
| | | | - Annia Alba
- Laboratory of Malacology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Havana, Cuba.,University of Corse-Pascal-Paoli, Corte, France
| | | | - Marion Vittecoq
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France
| | - Sylvie Hurtrez-Boussès
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,Département de Biologie-Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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26
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Martinez-Guijosa J, Casades-Marti L, González-Barrio D, Aranaz A, Fierro Y, Gortázar C, Ruiz-Fons F. Tuning oral-bait delivery strategies for red deer in Mediterranean ecosystems. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01389-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Csókás A, Schally G, Szabó L, Csányi S, Kovács F, Heltai M. Space use of wild boar (Sus Scrofa) in Budapest: are they resident or transient city dwellers? Biol Futur 2020; 71:39-51. [PMID: 34554523 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-020-00010-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In our study, we examined the movement of two wild boars marked with GPS/GSM transmitters in city of Budapest. We hypothesised that: the wild boars do not leave the urban area (H1); the wild boars prefer places that are less disturbed by people, and which are rich in potential hiding places (H2); and their home ranges would be smaller than that of wild boars living in non-urban environment (H3). Based on our results, we accepted our first hypothesis, as the wild boars had not left the area of Budapest. However, we partly rejected our second hypothesis: the wild boars preferred urban areas that were forested and richly covered with vegetation; however, human presence therefore disturbance was also high in those areas. The home range sizes of both marked wild boar sows were remarkably smaller than those of the wild boars living in natural environment (H3). City habitat modification, e.g. clearing undergrowth vegetation, could result that wild boars cannot find any hiding places. The significant part of food sources will disappear with the elimination of these places. By eliminating the two main factors together could prevent wild boars finding their living conditions within the city.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Csókás
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1., 2100, Hungary.
| | - G Schally
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1., 2100, Hungary
| | - L Szabó
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1., 2100, Hungary
| | - S Csányi
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1., 2100, Hungary
| | - F Kovács
- Department of Wildlife Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 11, 1055, Hungary
| | - M Heltai
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1., 2100, Hungary
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28
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Bosch J, Barasona JA, Cadenas-Fernández E, Jurado C, Pintore A, Denurra D, Cherchi M, Vicente J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Retrospective spatial analysis for African swine fever in endemic areas to assess interactions between susceptible host populations. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233473. [PMID: 32469923 PMCID: PMC7259610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most complex and significant diseases from a sanitary-economic perspective currently affecting the world's swine-farming industry. ASF has been endemic in Sardinia (Italy) since 1978, and several control and eradication programmes have met with limited success. In this traditional ASF endemic area, there are three susceptible host populations for this virus sharing the same habitat: wild boar, farmed domestic pigs and non-registered free-ranging pigs (known as "brado" animals). The main goal of this study was to determine and predict fine-scale spatial interactions of this multi-host system in relation to the epidemiology of ASF in the main endemic area of Sardinia, Montes-Orgosolo. To this end, simultaneous monitoring of GPS-GSM collared wild boar and free-ranging pigs sightings were performed to predict interaction indexes through latent selection difference functions with environmental, human and farming factors. Regarding epidemiological assessment, the spatial inter-specific interaction indexes obtained here were used to correlate ASF notifications in wild boar and domestic pig farms. Daily movement patterns, home ranges (between 120.7 and 2,622.8 ha) and resource selection of wild boar were obtained for the first time on the island. Overall, our prediction model showed the highest spatial interactions between wild boar and free-ranging pigs in areas close to pig farms. A spatially explicit model was obtained to map inter-specific interaction over the complete ASF-endemic area of the island. Our approach to monitoring interaction indexes may help explain the occurrence of ASF notifications in wild boar and domestic pigs on a fine-spatial scale. These results support the recent and effective eradication measures taken in Sardinia. In addition, this methodology could be extrapolated to apply in the current epidemiological scenarios of ASF in Eurasia, where exist multi-host systems involving free-ranging pigs and wild boar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Jurado
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Pintore
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Daniele Denurra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Marcella Cherchi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Joaquín Vicente
- Spanish Wildlife Research Institute (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Jose M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Leptospira Survey in Wild Boar ( Sus scrofa) Hunted in Tuscany, Central Italy. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050377. [PMID: 32423022 PMCID: PMC7281521 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a re-emerging, worldwide zoonosis, and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are involved in its epidemiology as the reservoir. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Leptospira with serological, bacteriological, and molecular assays in wild boar hunted in Tuscany (Italy) during two hunting seasons. In total, 287 specimens of sera, kidneys, and liver were collected to perform microscopic agglutination tests (MATs), isolation, and RealTime PCR to detect pathogenic (lipL32 gene), intermediate (16S rRNA gene), and saprophytic (23S rRNA gene) Leptospira. Within sera, 39 (13.59%) were positive to the MAT, and Australis was the most represented serogroup (4.88%), followed by Pomona (4.18%), and Tarassovi (3.14%). Moreover, four Leptospira cultures were positive, and once isolates were identified, one was identified as L. borgpetersenii serovar Tarassovi, and three as L. interrogans serovar Bratislava. Pathogenic Leptospira DNA were detected in 32 wild boar kidneys (11.15%). The characterization through the amplification of the rrs2 gene highlighted their belonging to L. interrogans (23 kidneys), L. borgpetersenii (four), and L. kirschneri (one), while nine kidneys (3.14%) were positive for intermediate Leptospira, all belonging to L. fainei. The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of leptospirosis among wildlife in Central Italy.
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Johann F, Handschuh M, Linderoth P, Heurich M, Dormann CF, Arnold J. Variability of daily space use in wild boar Sus scrofa. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Franz Johann
- F. Johann (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3056-0298) ✉ and C. F. Dormann, Dept of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-Univ. Freiburg i. Br., Tennenb
| | - Markus Handschuh
- M. Handschuh and M. Heurich, Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-Univ., Freiburg i. Br., Germany. M. Heurich also at: Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Peter Linderoth
- FJ, P. Linderoth and J. Arnold, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Wildlife Research Unit, Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- M. Handschuh and M. Heurich, Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-Univ., Freiburg i. Br., Germany. M. Heurich also at: Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Carsten F. Dormann
- F. Johann (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3056-0298) ✉ and C. F. Dormann, Dept of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-Univ. Freiburg i. Br., Tennenb
| | - Janosch Arnold
- FJ, P. Linderoth and J. Arnold, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Wildlife Research Unit, Aulendorf, Germany
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31
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Johann F, Handschuh M, Linderoth P, Dormann CF, Arnold J. Adaptation of wild boar (Sus scrofa) activity in a human-dominated landscape. BMC Ecol 2020; 20:4. [PMID: 31918698 PMCID: PMC6953143 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-019-0271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wild boars (Sus scrofa L.) are globally widely distributed, and their populations have increased in Europe during recent decades. Encounters between humans and wild boars are rare because of the predominantly nocturnal lifestyle of the latter, and wild boar management by hunting is a challenging task. Animal activity patterns are important for understanding the behaviour of a species. However, knowledge of detailed temporal patterns and an understanding of the drivers of wild boar activity at a fine temporal scale are lacking. Of special relevance for human–wild boar interactions (e.g., encounters, conflicts, and management) is the question of whether nocturnal activity depends on anthropogenic factors and, particularly, how local hunting regimes may affect activity patterns. We used GPS telemetry and acceleration measurements to shed light on this part of wild boar behaviour, observing 34 animals in Central Europe. Animals were tracked along a gradient of hunting pressure from hunting-free areas to areas with low or high hunting pressure. Fitted generalised additive models allowed predicting the probability of active behaviour under differing disturbance regimes precisely to day of year and time of day. Results The wild boars were predominantly nocturnal, with peak activity at approximately midnight. However, the data showed increased activity during daylight for wild boars that used no-hunting zones or reduced-hunting zones. Large areas with low disturbance levels promoted activity during daylight more than smaller areas with an intermediate disturbance regime. High air temperatures and locations within forests reduced the probability of active behaviour, whereas proximity to tracks used for forestry or agriculture was accompanied by a higher probability of activity. Conclusions We conclude that wild boars flexibly adjust their activity to their local environmental conditions, considering disturbances at the scale of long-term home ranges as well as actual small-scale landscape quality. Entire wild boar home ranges should be covered in the delineation of reserves intending to stimulate activity during daylight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Johann
- Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg i. Br., Germany. .,Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Aulendorf, Germany.
| | - Markus Handschuh
- Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Aulendorf, Germany.,Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
| | - Peter Linderoth
- Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Carsten F Dormann
- Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
| | - Janosch Arnold
- Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Württemberg, Aulendorf, Germany
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33
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Fernández‐Llario P, Møller AP. Canine size, condition and health in wild boars. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Fernández‐Llario
- Innovación en Gestión y Conservación de Ungulados S.L. (INGULADOS) Cáceres Spain
| | - A. P. Møller
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution CNRS, AgroParisTech Université Paris‐Sud Université Paris‐Saclay Orsay Cedex France
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34
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Scherer C, Radchuk V, Staubach C, Müller S, Blaum N, Thulke HH, Kramer-Schadt S. Seasonal host life-history processes fuel disease dynamics at different spatial scales. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1812-1824. [PMID: 31330575 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers underlying disease dynamics is still a major challenge in disease ecology, especially in the case of long-term disease persistence. Even though there is a strong consensus that density-dependent factors play an important role for the spread of diseases, the main drivers are still discussed and, more importantly, might differ between invasion and persistence periods. Here, we analysed long-term outbreak data of classical swine fever, an important disease in both wild boar and livestock, prevalent in the wild boar population from 1993 to 2000 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. We report outbreak characteristics and results from generalized linear mixed models to reveal what factors affected infection risk on both the landscape and the individual level. Spatiotemporal outbreak dynamics showed an initial wave-like spread with high incidence during the invasion period followed by a drop of incidence and an increase in seroprevalence during the persistence period. Velocity of spread increased with time during the first year of outbreak and decreased linearly afterwards, being on average 7.6 km per quarter. Landscape- and individual-level analyses of infection risk indicate contrasting seasonal patterns. During the persistence period, infection risk on the landscape level was highest during autumn and winter seasons, probably related to spatial behaviour such as increased long-distance movements and contacts induced by rutting and escaping movements. In contrast, individual-level infection risk peaked in spring, probably related to the concurrent birth season leading to higher densities, and was significantly higher in piglets than in reproductive animals. Our findings highlight that it is important to investigate both individual- and landscape-level patterns of infection risk to understand long-term persistence of wildlife diseases and to guide respective management actions. Furthermore, we highlight that exploring different temporal aggregation of the data helps to reveal important seasonal patterns, which might be masked otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Scherer
- Department Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Viktoriia Radchuk
- Department Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Staubach
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sophie Müller
- Department Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Niels Blaum
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hans-Hermann Thulke
- Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kramer-Schadt
- Department Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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35
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Rutten A, Cox K, Scheppers T, Broecke BV, Leirs H, Casaer J. Analysing the recolonisation of a highly fragmented landscape by wild boar using a landscape genetic approach. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Cox
- K. Cox, Res. Inst. for Nature and Forest (INBO), Geraardsbergen, Belgium
| | | | - Bram Vanden Broecke
- B. Vanden Broecke and H. Leirs, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herwig Leirs
- B. Vanden Broecke and H. Leirs, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jim Casaer
- J. Casaer, Res. Inst. for Nature and Forest (INBO), Brussels, Belgium
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36
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Lavelle MJ, Snow NP, Halseth JM, VanNatta EH, Sanders HN, VerCauteren KC. Evaluation of movement behaviors to inform toxic baiting strategies for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2018; 74:2504-2510. [PMID: 29624855 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invasive wild pigs damage agriculture, property, and natural ecosystems. To curtail damage, an effective and humane toxic bait containing microencapsulated sodium nitrite is under development. Strategies for delivering the toxic bait are needed to establish adequate spacing of bait sites, and for simultaneously accustoming wild pigs to the novel bait and wild pig-specific bait stations designed to exclude non-target species. RESULTS We monitored movements of 32 Global Positioning System (GPS)-collared wild pigs relative to 41 bait sites containing placebo bait. Among the bait sites, we compared three experimental baiting strategies (and a control) to evaluate which strategy led to the most wild pigs accessing the placebo bait inside bait stations. We found that bait sites should be spaced 0.5-1 km apart to maximize opportunities for all wild pigs to find and utilize the bait sites. Baiting strategies that allowed ≥ 15 days for accustoming wild pigs to bait stations were most effective and resulted in nearly 90% of wild pigs accessing the placebo bait inside the bait stations. Bait stations excluded all non-target animals, except one instance with a raccoon (Procyon lotor). CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the potential for toxic bait to be an effective tool for reducing populations of wild pigs with minimal risks to non-target species, if optimized delivery procedures are followed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Lavelle
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joseph M Halseth
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Eric H VanNatta
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Heather N Sanders
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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37
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Franckowiak GA, Torres-Poché Z, Poché RM. Activity Patterns by Feral Hogs in the Texas Panhandle. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-180.2.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard M. Poché
- Genesis Laboratories, Inc. P.O. Box 1195, Wellington, Colorado 80549
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38
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Podgórski T, Śmietanka K. Do wild boar movements drive the spread of African Swine Fever? Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 65:1588-1596. [PMID: 29799177 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The spatial behaviour of hosts can seriously affect the transmission of pathogens and spatial spread of diseases. Understanding the relationship between host movements and disease dynamics is of prime importance for optimizing disease control efforts. African swine fever (ASF), a devastating disease of wild and domestic suids, has been spreading continuously through eastern Europe since 2007. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) has been implicated in the epidemiology of this disease, but the role of wild boar movements in ASF dynamics and spread has not been studied and remains largely speculative. Here, we examined whether monthly parameters of wild boar movements (dispersal distance of yearlings, home range size of adult males and females) can explain variation in the spatio-temporal dynamics of the ASF outbreak in the wild boar population in north-eastern Poland, 2014-2015. We expected to observe a positive relationship between host mobility and disease spread. Contrary to our expectations, we found that movements of wild boar, despite their seasonal variation, were poor predictors of ASF dynamics in space and time. During the 2 years of the study, ASF spread gradually at a steady pace of 1.5 km/month without significant changes across seasons. None of the analysed movement parameters explained variation in the measures of ASF occurrence and spread (i.e., number of cases, prevalence, size and expansion rate of the outbreak area). We believe that the factor limiting the influence of host movements on ASF dynamics is the severity of the disease, which quickly hampers extensive movements and restricts disease transmission to only the most immediate individuals. Three natural factors constrain direct disease transmission: wild boar social structure, the short duration of low-level virus shedding and high virus-induced lethality, followed by indirect transmission through infected carcasses. These most likely shape the gradual spread of ASF in space and its persistence in already infected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Podgórski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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39
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Tajchman K, Drozd L, Karpiński M, Czyżowski P, Goleman M. Population Genetic Structure of Wild Boars in Poland. RUSS J GENET+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795418050101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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40
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41
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Short-term Home Range and Habitat Selection by Feral Hogs in Northern Texas. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-179.1.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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42
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Garza SJ, Tabak MA, Miller RS, Farnsworth ML, Burdett CL. Abiotic and biotic influences on home-range size of wild pigs (Sus scrofa). J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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43
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Lavelle MJ, Snow NP, Fischer JW, Halseth JM, VanNatta EH, VerCauteren KC. Attractants for wild pigs: current use, availability, needs, and future potential. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1144-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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44
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Merli E, Grignolio S, Marcon A, Apollonio M. Wild boar under fire: the effect of spatial behaviour, habitat use and social class on hunting mortality. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Merli
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources; University of Sassari; Sassari Italy
| | - S. Grignolio
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources; University of Sassari; Sassari Italy
| | - A. Marcon
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources; University of Sassari; Sassari Italy
| | - M. Apollonio
- Department of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources; University of Sassari; Sassari Italy
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Li KY, Li KT, Yang CH, Hwang MH, Chang SW, Lin SM, Wu HJ, Basilio EB, Vega RSA, Laude RP, Ju YT. Insular East Asia pig dispersal and vicariance inferred from Asian wild boar genetic evidence1. J Anim Sci 2017; 95:1451-1466. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016.1117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K. Y. Li
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10673, Taiwan
| | - K. T. Li
- Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - C. H. Yang
- Department of Indigenous Affairs and Development, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan
| | - M. H. Hwang
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - S. W. Chang
- Division of Zoology, Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou 55244, Taiwan
| | - S. M. Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - H. J. Wu
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
| | - E. B. Basilio
- College of Agriculture and Home Science, Ifugao State University, Ifugao 3605, Philippines
- Animal Breeding and Physiology Division, Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - R. S. A. Vega
- Animal Breeding and Physiology Division, Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - R. P. Laude
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Y. T. Ju
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10673, Taiwan
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Herrero J, Rodrigues P, García-Serrano A, Prada C, Giménez-Anaya A, Ayala R, Fernández-Arberas O, Fonseca C. Habitat use by wild boar <em>Sus scrofa</em> in Moncayo Nature Park, Spain. PIRINEOS 2016. [DOI: 10.3989/pirineos.2016.171007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Temporal patterns of wild boar-vehicle collisions in Estonia, at the northern limit of its range. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Schlichting PE, Fritts SR, Mayer JJ, Gipson PS, Dabbert CB. Determinants of variation in home range of wild pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter E. Schlichting
- Department of Natural Resources Management; Texas Tech University; Lubbock TX 79409 USA
| | - Sarah R. Fritts
- Department of Natural Resources Management; Texas Tech University; Lubbock TX 79409 USA
| | - John J. Mayer
- Savannah River National Laboratory; Savannah River Site; Aiken SC 29808 USA
| | - Philip S. Gipson
- Department of Natural Resources Management; Texas Tech University; Lubbock TX 79409 USA
| | - C. Brad Dabbert
- Department of Natural Resources Management; Texas Tech University; Lubbock TX 79409 USA
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Vergne T, Korennoy F, Combelles L, Gogin A, Pfeiffer DU. Modelling African swine fever presence and reported abundance in the Russian Federation using national surveillance data from 2007 to 2014. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2016; 19:70-77. [PMID: 27839582 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease of swine that has been present in the Russian Federation since 2007. Counts of ASF outbreaks reported in the Southern regions of the country (2007-2014) were aggregated to a grid of hexagons, and a zero-inflated Poisson model accounting for spatial dependence between hexagons was used to identify factors associated with the presence of ASF outbreaks and factors associated with the number of ASF reports in affected hexagons. Increasing density of pigs raised on low biosecurity farms was found to be positively associated with the probability of occurrence of at least one ASF outbreak in a hexagon and with the average number of reported ASF outbreaks amongst affected hexagons. Increasing human population density and increasing distance from the closest diagnostic laboratory were additional variables associated with number of reported ASF outbreaks amongst affected hexagons. The model was shown to have good predictive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothée Vergne
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health group, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Fedor Korennoy
- FGBI Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH), Vladimir, Russia
| | - Lisa Combelles
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health group, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey Gogin
- National Research Institute for Veterinary Virology and Microbiology Russian Academy of Agricultural Science, Pokrov, Russia
| | - Dirk U Pfeiffer
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health group, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
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Zeman J, Hrbek J, Drimaj J, Plhal R, Kamler J, Adamec Z, Heroldová M. Wild Boar Impact to the Natural Regeneration of Oak and Acorn Importance in its Diet. ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS 2016. [DOI: 10.11118/actaun201664020579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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