scholarly journals Long-term changes in the breeding period diet of Bonelli

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 409
Author(s):  
M. Di Vittorio ◽  
M. Lo Valvo ◽  
E. Di Trapani ◽  
A. Sanguinetti ◽  
A. Ciaccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Dietary Breadth ◽  
Bonelli’S Eagle

Context Dietary analyses are essential to achieve a better understanding of animal ecology. In the case of endangered species, assessing dietary requirements is crucial to improve their management and conservation. The Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) has experienced a severe decline throughout its breeding range in Europe and, in Italy, fewer than 50 pairs remain, and only in Sicily. This species is subject to major threats, including changes in landscape composition and, consequently, prey availability, which is further aggravated by the occurrence of viral diseases in the case of rabbits. Aims To provide current data on the diet of the Bonelli’s eagle in Sicily during the breeding period and to examine dietary shifts with regard to previous studies conducted in the same study area. To discuss possible implications for conservation of the Italian population of this endangered species. Methods We used a combination of three methods, including pellet analysis, collection of prey remains, and imagery from camera-traps installed at nests, to examine the diet of 12 breeding pairs of Bonelli’s eagle from 2011 to 2017. We compared this information with data collected between 1993 and 1998 in the same study area. Key results In number, birds were the most frequently predated items (61.6%), followed by mammals (36.88%) and reptiles (1.52%). However, in terms of biomass, mammals were the main prey (65.71%), followed by birds (34.12%) and reptiles (0.17%). There was a decrease over the course of the current decade in the consumption of European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), which was compensated for with an increase in both dietary diversity and breadth in bird consumption, a trend not observed in the earlier study in the same region. Conclusions Here, we provide an updated assessment of diet composition of Bonelli’s eagle during the breeding period. Interestingly, we found significant differences within the study period (2011–2017) in terms of frequency of occurrence, percentage of biomass, dietary diversity and dietary breadth in a species at risk. Furthermore, we found significant differences between the two study periods in both frequency and percentage of biomass, with significant changes in the consumption of lagomorphs and birds. Implications Our results indicated that shifts in the diet are linked to changes in prey abundance, which may be contributing to population declines in the Bonelli’s eagle population in Sicily. Overall, measures aimed at increasing main dietary prey should be promoted to favour occupation of new territories and enhance vital demographic parameters (i.e. breeding success and survival rate) of Bonelli’s eagle across the species range. This would be particularly important for small isolated populations such as the Sicilian one.

scholarly journals Impact of natural salt lick on the home range of Panthera tigris at the Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Andrew Lazarus ◽  
Azlan Che-Amat ◽  
Muhammad Muzammil Abdul Halim Shah ◽  
Azwan Hamdan ◽  
Hasliza Abu Hassim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Salt Lick ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Salt Licks

AbstractNatural salt lick (sira) is a strategic localisation for ecological wildlife assemblage to exhibit geophagy which may act as a population dynamic buffer of prey and predators. Undoubtedly, many agree that geophagy at natural licks is linked to nutritional ecology, health and assembly places facilitating social interaction of its users. Overall, natural salt licks not only save energy of obtaining nutrient leading to health maintenance but also forms the basis of population persistence. The Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia (Royal Belum) is a typical tropical rainforest in Malaysia rich in wildlife which are mainly concentrated around the natural salt lick. Since this is one of the most stable fauna ecology forest in Malaysia, it is timely to assess its impact on the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) home range dynamics. The three-potential home ranges of the Malayan tiger in this rainforest were selected based on animal trails or foot prints surrounding the salt lick viz (e.g. Sira Kuak and Sira Batu; Sira Rambai and Sira Buluh and Sira Papan) as well as previous sightings of a Malayan tiger in the area, whose movement is dependent on the density and distribution of prey. Camera traps were placed at potential animal trails surrounding the salt lick to capture any encountered wildlife species within the area of the camera placements. Results showed that all home ranges of Malayan tiger were of no significance for large bodied prey availability such as sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), and smaller prey such as muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Interestingly, all home range harbour the Malayan tiger as the only sole predator. The non-significance of prey availability at each home range is attributed to the decline of the Malayan tiger in the rainforest since tigers are dependant on the movement of its preferred prey surrounding natural salt licks. Thus, the information from this study offers fundamental knowledge on the importance of prey-predator interaction at salt lick which will help in designing strategy in rewilding or rehabilitation programs of the Malayan tiger at the Royal Belum Rainforest.

scholarly journals The Oral Bacterial Community in Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Michele Bertoni Mann ◽  
Janira Prichula ◽  
Ícaro Maia Santos de Castro ◽  
Juliana Mello Severo ◽  
Michelle Abadie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Bacterial Community ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Personal Genome ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Environment

Melanophryniscus admirabilis (admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically endangered species found exclusively along 700 m of the Forqueta River, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. One of the greatest concerns regarding the conservation of this species is the extensive use of pesticides in areas surrounding their natural habitat. In recent years, the adaptation and persistence of animal species in human-impacted environments have been associated with microbiota. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the oral bacterial community of wild M. admirabilis and to address the question of how this community might contribute to this toad’s adaptation in the anthropogenic environment as well as its general metabolic capabilities. A total of 11 oral samples collected from wild M. admirabilis were characterized and analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. Fragments of the 16S rRNA variable region 4 (V4) were amplified, and sequencing was conducted using an Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) System with 316 chips. A total of 181,350 sequences were obtained, resulting in 16 phyla, 34 classes, 39 orders, and 77 families. Proteobacteria dominated (53%) the oral microbiota of toads, followed by Firmicutes (18%), Bacteroidetes (17%), and Actinobacteria (5%). No significant differences in microbial community profile from among the samples were reported, which suggests that the low dietary diversity observed in this population may directly influence the bacterial composition. Inferences of microbiome function were performed using PICRUSt2 software. Important pathways (e.g., xenobiotic degradation pathways for pesticides and aromatic phenolic compounds) were detected, which suggests that the bacterial communities may serve important roles in M. admirabilis health and survival in the anthropogenic environment. Overall, our results have important implications for the conservation and management of this microendemic and critically endangered species.

scholarly journals Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
KHWANRUTAI CHARASPET ◽  
Ronglarp - Sukmasuang ◽  
NORASET KHOEWSREE ◽  
MANANYA PLA-ARD ◽  
YUWALUK CHANACHAI
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Khao Yai National Park ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y. 2020. Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5248-5262. The study of prey species and prey selection of Dholes at 3 different sites was conducted at Khao Yai National Park, Salak Pra, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries from 2013 to 2020. Information on Dhole prey at the sites was collected from the residues of dhole scats, from which the selection index, the relative biomass of the prey, and the relative amounts of the consumed prey were calculated. The data were collected simultaneously with the use of camera traps at each site. The study revealed that there were 13 species of Dhole prey with body weight over 5 kg. The result indicated that there were 7 species of even-toed ungulates. The relative biomass of even-toed ungulates ranged between 76.78 - 90.50% of the total biomass of all the Dholes’ consumed prey for all study sites. The dietary diversity index unveiled a similar index in all areas, which proved the adequacy of the analyzed scats. However, the Niche breadth index, which indicates the relevance of prey selection and prey species to the appearances of the prey at each site, was found to be high at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Yai National Park, while the index was found to be low at Salak Pra Wildlife Sanctuary. The results revealed that Dholes consumed viverrid species and Malayan porcupine more often at the site where there were large carnivores. The recommendation from this study was the conservation and restoration of the ungulate populations, the main prey, as it greatly affects the conservation of the Dhole populations in Thailand.  Grassland and salt lick sites, water sources improvements are also important to promote prey population. The conservation of wildlife prey by releasing them to nature, as currently conducted, has an effect on the increase of Dholes’ prey species.

Corrigendum to: The impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Queensland

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 651
Author(s):  
G. Story ◽  
J. Scanlan ◽  
R. Palmer ◽  
D. Berman
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
The Impact

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) escaped from quarantine facilities on Wardang Island in September 1995 and spread through South Australia to Queensland by December 1995. To determine the impact of this biological control agent on wild rabbit populations in Queensland, shot sample and spotlight count data were collected at six sites. RHDV spread across Queensland from the south-west to the east at a rate of at least 91 km month–1 between October 1995 and October 1996. The initial impact on rabbit density appeared highly variable, with an increase of 81% (255 ± 79 (s.e.) to 385 ± 73 rabbits km–2) at one site and a decrease of 83% (129 ± 27 to 22 ± 18 rabbits km–2) at another during the first outbreak. However, after 30 months of RHDV activity, counts were at least 90% below counts conducted before RHDV arrived. Using a population model to account for environmental conditions, the mean suppression of rabbit density caused by rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) was estimated to be 74% (ranging from 43% to 94% between sites). No outbreaks were observed when the density of susceptible rabbits was lower than 12 km–2. Where rabbit density remains low for long periods RHDV may not persist. This is perhaps most likely to occur in the isolated populations towards the northern edge of the range of rabbits in Australia. RHDV may have to be reintroduced into these populations. Further south in areas more suitable for rabbits, RHDV is more likely to persist, resulting in a high density of immune rabbits. In such areas conventional control techniques may be more important to enhance the influence of RHD.

scholarly journals Untangling the ecological signal in the dental morphology in the bat superfamily Noctilionoidea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo Lopez-Aguirre ◽  
Suzanne Hand ◽  
Nancy B Simmons ◽  
Mary Silcox
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Dental Morphology ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Crown Height ◽  
Topographic Analysis ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Topographic Complexity ◽  
Dietary Breadth ◽  
Guild Composition ◽  
Different Dimensions

Diet has been linked to the diversification of the bat superfamily Noctilionoidea, a group that underwent an impressive ecological adaptive radiation within Mammalia. For decades, studies have explored morphological adaptations and diversity of noctilionoid bats to reveal macroevolutionary trajectories in their ecological diversity. Surprisingly, despite such interest and recent application of novel techniques, ecomorphological studies have failed to fully resolve the link between diet and a critical component of the feeding apparatus: dental morphology. Using multivariate dental topographic analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods, we examined the phylogenetic, biological and ecological signal in the dental morphology of noctilionoid bats. Analysing the lower first molars of 110 species, we tested the effect of diet on dental morphology, accounting for three different dimensions of diet (guild, composition and breadth). Phylogenetic and allometric structuring of the dental topography data shows it does not respond only to diet, highlighting the need to account for multiple sources of variation. Frugivorous noctilionoids have sharper molars compared to other frugivorous mammals. Nectarivorous noctilionoids showed reduced lower molar crown height and steepness, whereas animalivorous species had larger molars. Dietary composition suggested that the intensity of exploitation of a resource is also linked to different dimensions of dental morphology. Large molar area positively correlated with increased carnivory, whereas crown height and slope correlated positively with insectivory, and negatively with frugivory and nectarivory. Dietary breadth showed that generalist species had greater molar sharpness and topographic complexity, whereas specialist herbivores and specialist animalivores fell at opposite ends in the range of tooth steepness and crown height. Together, the results suggest that adaptations affecting different attributes of dental morphology likely facilitated the dietary diversity and specialisation found in Noctilionoidea.

Territory fidelity, reproductive success and prey choice in the brown falcon, Falco berigora: a flexible bet-hedger?

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. McDonald ◽  
Penny D. Olsen ◽  
D. J. Baker-Gabb
Keyword(s):  
Prey Availability ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Territorial Defence ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Mate Fidelity ◽  
Dietary Breadth ◽  
Territory Fidelity ◽  
The Individual

The brown falcon, Falco berigora, is one of Australia's most common and widespread raptors, inhabiting a broad array of habitats and most climatic zones across Australia. We monitored a large, marked population (44–49 pairs) over three annual breeding seasons in southern Victoria. Reproductive parameters such as clutch size and the duration of parental care were constant across years. However, there were marked differences in brood size and the proportion of pairs breeding. Both sexes of falcons were found to have high territory and mate fidelity, with only 10% of members of each sex changing territories during the study. Falcons were flexible in their choice of nest sites, using a variety of tree species and even isolated nest trees. Nest sites and territories were regularly distributed throughout the study area, with the density of the population the highest on record for this species. The diet of the population as a whole was very broad, but each pair predominantly specialised on either lagomorphs, small ground prey, small birds, large birds or reptiles. Individuals that changed territory within the study area also switched their diet according to the predominant land-use within the new territory and thus prey availability. We argue that, at the population level, broad dietary breadth, flexibility in choice of nest site, and a conservative, static breeding strategy allows the species to persist in a broad range of environments, possibly through 'bet-hedging'. At the individual level, changeable dietary specialisation, high territory fidelity, strong year-round territorial defence, confining breeding to years when individual conditions were favourable and adjusting brood sizes when required appear to be the main strategies enabling brown falcons to thrive under a variety of conditions.

scholarly journals Food Niche Overlap of Avian Predators (Falconiformes, Strigiformes) in a Field and Forest Mosaic in Central Poland

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Jakub Gryz ◽  
Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Central Poland ◽  
Avian Predators ◽  
Forest Mosaic ◽  
Field Rodents ◽  
Food Niches ◽  
Food Niche

Food niche overlap statistics are a common way to show competition for food resources in a group of animals. Niche breadths of various species are very variable and their diet composition changes reflecting prey availability. The aim of this study was to evidence the food niche overlap of the whole assemblage of avian predators (eight raptor and owl species, some of them reaching very high densities) in a field and forest mosaic of central Poland. The diet composition was assessed on the basis of pellet analyses and the identification of prey remains found under the nests in the breeding period. The extent of the niche overlap was calculated using a Pianka formula. The food niche overlap indices ranged from 0.02 to 0.93 (mostly below 0.5). The most separate food niche was that of the white-tailed eagle, who regularly preyed on fish. The highest niche overlap was recorded for the common buzzard and common kestrel, two species preying on field rodents, switching to soricomorphs when the former were scarce. Our results confirmed that the food niches of species coexisting in the same area were considerably separate, which is a result of preying on various prey species or searching for them in different habitats.

scholarly journals Day and night camera trap video is effective for identifying wild Asian elephants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha Montero-De La Torre ◽  
Sarah L Jacobson ◽  
Marnoch Yindee ◽  
Joshua M Plotnik
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Direct Observations

Camera traps provide a virtual window into the natural world of wild animals, as they provide a noninvasive way to capture anatomical and behavioral information. Regular monitoring of wild populations through the collection of behavioral and demographic data is critical for the conservation of endangered species like the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Identifying individual elephants can contribute to our understanding of social dynamics and foraging behavior in this species. Wild elephants can be distinguished using a variety of different morphological traits: variations in ear and tail morphology, body scars and tumors, and tusk presence, shape, and length. However, to our knowledge, there is little explanation in the literature about how remote camera trapping can be used to systematically identify elephants. Thus, this study set out to provide a template for how to provide this information using physical characteristics identified from day and night video footage collected remotely in the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand between February 2019 and January 2020. We identified 24 morphological characteristics that can be used to identify individual Asian elephants. Using 33 camera traps spread across the protected area within the sanctuary as well as crop fields along its periphery, 107 Asian elephants were identified, for the first time in Thailand, using 475 total day and night videos. In the identified population, there were 72 adults, 11 sub-adults, 20 juveniles, and 4 infants. We predicted that the morphological traits would aid in reliably identifying these individuals with a low probability of misidentification. The results indicated that there were low probabilities of misidentification between elephants in the population using camera traps, and that the elephants in this study were reliably identified. These low probabilities of misidentification are comparable to a previous study using photographic data that were collected through direct observations of wild Asian elephants. This study suggests that the use of day and night video camera trapping can be an important tool for the long-term monitoring of wild Asian elephant behavior, especially in habitats where direct observations may be difficult. This work has important implications for the study of wildlife behavior using remote methods, as well as for endangered species conservation.

scholarly journals Experimentally testing the response of feral cats and their prey to poison baiting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim S. Doherty ◽  
Michelle Hall ◽  
Ben Parkhurst ◽  
Vanessa Westcott
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Occupancy Modelling ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Poison Baiting

Feral cats Felis catus have caused the decline and extinction of many species worldwide, particularly on islands and in Australia where native species are generally naïve to the threat of this introduced predator. Effectively reducing cat populations to protect wildlife is challenging because cats have a cryptic nature, high reproductive rate and strong reinvasion ability. We experimentally tested the response of feral cats and their native prey to an Eradicat® poison baiting program at a conservation reserve. Baits were distributed by hand along roads and tracks every 50 m (~10 baits km-2). We used camera traps to monitor the response of cats to baiting using a repeated before-after, control-impact design over six years. We also measured introduced rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus activity using sand pads and small mammal and reptile captures using pitfall trapping. Dynamic occupancy modelling revealed only modest effects of baiting on cats in two out of six years, with occupancy in the baited area decreasing from 54% to 19% in 2014 (-35%) and 89% to 63% in 2017 (-26%). Baiting effectiveness was not related to antecedent rainfall or prey availability. Bait availability was reduced by non-target interference, with 73% of baits for which fate could be determined being removed by non-target species. We found no evidence for persistent changes in small mammal or reptile capture rates in the baited area relative to the unbaited area over the life of the project. We highlight key areas for future research that should benefit feral cat management not only in Australia, but also on the many islands worldwide where cats threaten native wildlife.

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