scholarly journals Carried away by a moonlight shadow: activity of wild boar in relation to nocturnal light intensity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Gordigiani ◽  
Andrea Viviano ◽  
Francesca Brivio ◽  
Stefano Grignolio ◽  
Lorenzo Lazzeri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Grey Wolf ◽  
Nocturnal Activity ◽  
Human Pressure ◽  
Moon Phases ◽  
Resting Sites ◽  
The Poor

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.

scholarly journals Diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns of invasive Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Saskatchewan, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Stolle ◽  
Floris M. Van Beest ◽  
Eric Vander Wal ◽  
Ryan K. Brook
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Nocturnal Activity ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Economic Threat ◽  
Trail Cameras ◽  
Ongoing Monitoring

The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is invasive in western Canada and poses a significant ecological and socio-economic threat over much of the country. We sought to quantify their presence and to determine when they are most active and whether their activity patterns are influenced by group size. Digital trail cameras (n = 18) were placed in a stratified design in the four most dominant habitat types of central Saskatchewan, Canada, and activated between December 2011 and June 2013 for a total of 5715 trap-days. In 71,175 photographs, we obtained 22 individual visits of Wild Boars to the trail cameras. We found no differences in activity between night (1900–0700; 59% of all detections) and day (0701–1859; 41% of detections), and we did not detect any effect of group size. Ongoing monitoring will be required to determine changing activity patterns in response to changing hunting pressure as Wild Boar continue to expand across Canada.

Does the crested porcupine select coppice forest? Habitat preference and activity patterns of a large rodent in the Lago di Vico Natural Reserve

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Luzi ◽  
Emiliano Mori ◽  
Giuseppe Puddu ◽  
Marzio Zapparoli
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Design ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Moon Phases ◽  
Natural Reserve ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Crested Porcupine ◽  
Coppice Forest ◽  
Landscape Patches ◽  
Agro Forestry

Abstract The crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L. is a large rodent, which mainly occurs in agro-forestry ecosystems in Italy. In this study, we modelled the occupancy of this species in forest ecosystems, to identify environmental characteristics affecting its presence. The study was conducted at Lago di Vico Natural Reserve (Latium, Central Italy) in 2018–2019. The sampling design included a 1 km2 grid, where 263 detections were recorded at 39 out of 57 camera-trap points. Dendroauxometric data were collected at each site as covariates in the statistical models. According to our best occupancy model, the crested porcupine mostly occurs in habitats not totally covered by forests, but composed by mixed landscape patches both for the land use (crops, woods) and for the coverage (forested areas, open areas, bushes). We also analysed activity rhythms of the crested porcupine across seasons and in relation to the moon phases. The analysis of 543 videos showed that crested porcupine is strictly nocturnal throughout the year and avoided bright nights, despite the local absence of potential predators.

scholarly journals Leptospira Survey in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Hunted in Tuscany, Central Italy

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Cilia ◽  
Fabrizio Bertelloni ◽  
Marta Angelini ◽  
Domenico Cerri ◽  
Filippo Fratini
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Molecular Assays ◽  
Realtime Pcr ◽  
23S Rrna Gene

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.

The active nightlife of diurnal birds: extraterritorial forays and nocturnal activity patterns

2014 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 175-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Ward ◽  
Mark Alessi ◽  
Thomas J. Benson ◽  
Scott J. Chiavacci
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Nocturnal Activity

scholarly journals Effect of time and temperature before chilling on the hygiene of carcasses in wild boar hunted in central Italy

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Barbani ◽  
Giulia Lalinga ◽  
Lia Bardasi ◽  
Raffaella Branciari ◽  
Dino Miraglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Colony Count ◽  
Elapse Time ◽  
Moderate Correlation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Time

The interest in certified game meat chains highlights the need for the evaluation and the management of factors affecting carcass hygiene along the peculiar steps of the production. The effects of time and temperature before chilling were specifically evaluated on aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae count in hunted wild boar carcasses. Thirty wild boars were considered in two process steps where the hunted animal are still not chilled: after evisceration and just before chilling. Environmental temperature, carcass temperature and the elapse time between the two-step considered were registered. Furthermore, surface microbial loads were analyzed on the inner part of the carcasses. The mean time between the two sampling steps was 6 hours with an average environmental temperature of 20.49°C. A carcass temperature 9.6°C drop was observed during this period. In this lap of time aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae count increased of 0.68 Log CFU/cm2 and 1.01 Log CFU/cm2 respectively, with a moderate correlation with the time but not with the temperature delta. The results reveal that the temperature conditions in central Italy hunting areas were not able to quickly reduce the carcass temperature and therefore the time between carcass evisceration and chilling should not exceed 6 hours.

scholarly journals West Nile Virus and Related Flavivirus in European Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Latium Region, Italy: A Retrospective Study

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 494
Author(s):  
Angela Petruccelli ◽  
Tiziana Zottola ◽  
Gianmarco Ferrara ◽  
Valentina Iovane ◽  
Cristina Di Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Specific Antibody ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
European Wild Boar

Background: A retrospective sero-survey for evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in European wild boar (Sus scorfa) was conducted in the Latium region, Italy, on stored serum samples of the period November 2011 to January 2012. Methods: Sera were collected from 168 European wild boars and screened for antibodies to WNV and other Flaviviruses by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). All sera positive for Flavivirus antibodies by cELISA were further examined by virus neutralization test (VNT). To test the presence of Flavivirus RNA in samples, an RT-PCR was performed using a pan-Flavivirus primers pair. Results: Thirteen wild boars (7.73%) were seropositive for Flaviviruses. The hemolysis of serum samples limited the interpretation of the VNT for 7 samples, confirming the presence of specific antibody against WNV in a single European wild boar serum sample. The presence of ELISA positive/VNT negative samples suggests the occurrence of non-neutralizing antibodies against WNV or other antigen-related Flaviviruses. No samples resulted positive for Flavivirus by RT-PCR assay. Conclusion: Although a moderately high percentage of animals with specific antibody for WNV has been detected in wild boar in other surveillance studies in Europe, this has not been reported previously in Italy. Together, these data indicate that European wild boar are exposed to WNV and/or other related-Flavivirus in central Italy and confirm the usefulness of wild ungulates, as suitable Flavivirus sentinels.

scholarly journals High levels of Hepatitis E virus in wild boar hunted for domestic consumption in Central Italy

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (suppl_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P De Santis ◽  
S Di Pasquale ◽  
G La Rosa ◽  
D De Medici ◽  
G Micarelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Domestic Consumption

Occupancy, detectability, and density of crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in two protected areas of restinga habitats in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 952-959
Author(s):  
Priscila Stéfani Monteiro-Alves ◽  
Débora Molino Helmer ◽  
Atilla Colombo Ferreguetti ◽  
Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Nocturnal Activity ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Cerdocyon Thous ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Mammal Communities ◽  
Management And Conservation

Crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766)) are frequently recorded in lists of mammal communities. However, studies quantifying aspects of the ecology of the species are uncommon in the literature. Thus, we aimed to quantify the density, activity, habitat use, and potential threats of C. thous in two protected areas (PAs) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. We used data derived from camera traps and sand plots to model occupancy, detectability, activity; we also used random encounter models (REMs) to model density and abundance. We also estimated the activity of the species. Density of C. thous was 0.82 individuals/km2 with a total abundance of 119 individuals. We concluded that in the PAs studied, C. thous had bimodal, twilight–nocturnal activity patterns and was associated with water sources. Although the species in the area has a relatively high density compared with that from other areas in Brazil, it could be locally threatened by the highway that crosses the two PAs, promoting roadkill events, and by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) recorded in these areas. Results presented herein can be a starting point to support future work in the region and to make predictions regarding the management and conservation of C. thous, a widely distributed species.

Moonlight Avoidance Behavior in Leach's Storm-Petrels as a Defense against Slaty-Backed Gulls

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Watanuki
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Nocturnal Activity ◽  
Oceanodroma Leucorhoa ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Reduced Activity ◽  
Moonlight Avoidance

Abstract Diurnal activity patterns of Leach's Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) and Slaty-backed Gulls (Larus schistisagus) were investigated. The petrels reduced activity in moonlight in May and June when the predation rate by gulls was relatively high. Petrel activity levels were inversely correlated with light intensities and the corresponding risk of predation by the gull. This suggests that nocturnal activity and moonlight avoidance by the petrel in its colony are an effective defense against diurnal predators. Activity synchronization of the petrel was most marked during the full moon, further supporting the predator-avoidance hypothesis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document