Nocturnal activity patterns of the lesser short‐tailed bat(Mystacina tuberculata)in temperate rainforest, Fiordland, New Zealand

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.

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

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/103.1.14 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 14-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

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.

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Nocturnal Activity Patterns of Feral Ponies

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.2307/1379963 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 116-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

R. R. Keiper ◽

M. A. Keenan

Keyword(s):

Activity Patterns ◽

Nocturnal Activity

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Large Home Range Size in the Ground Foraging Bat,Mystacina tuberculata, in Cold Temperate Rainforest, New Zealand

Acta Chiropterologica ◽

10.3161/150811014x687323 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 369-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jennifer E. Christie ◽

Colin F. J. O'Donnell

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Temperate Rainforest ◽

Large Home Range

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Widespread nocturnality of living birds stemming from their common ancestor

BMC Evolutionary Biology ◽

10.1186/s12862-019-1508-y ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yonghua Wu

Keyword(s):

Positive Selection ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Bright Light ◽

Night Vision ◽

Diel Activity ◽

Divergent Evolution ◽

Nocturnal Activity ◽

Evolutionary Origins ◽

Diel Activity Patterns

Abstract Background Many living birds exhibit some nocturnal activity, but the genetic basis and evolutionary origins of their nocturnality remain unknown. Results Here, we used a molecular phyloecological approach to analyze the adaptive evolution of 33 phototransduction genes in diverse bird lineages. Our results suggest that functional enhancement of two night-vision genes, namely, GRK1 and SLC24A1, underlies the nocturnal adaption of living birds. Further analyses showed that the diel activity patterns of birds have remained relatively unchanged since their common ancestor, suggesting that the widespread nocturnal activity of many living birds may largely stem from their common ancestor rather than independent evolution. Despite this evolutionary conservation of diel activity patterns in birds, photoresponse recovery genes were found to be frequently subjected to positive selection in diverse bird lineages, suggesting that birds generally have evolved an increased capacity for motion detection. Moreover, we detected positive selection on both dim-light vision genes and bright-light vision genes in the class Aves, suggesting divergent evolution of the vision of birds from that of reptiles and that different bird lineages have evolved certain visual adaptions to their specific light conditions. Conclusions This study suggests that the widespread nocturnality of extant birds has a deep evolutionary origin tracing back to their common ancestor.

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