Keratinization and Cornification are not equivalent processes but keratinization in fish and amphibians evolved into cornification in terrestrial vertebrates

Sexual selection theory suggests that the sex with a higher potential reproductive rate will compete more strongly for access to mates. Stronger intra-sexual competition for mates may explain why males travel more extensively than females in many terrestrial vertebrates. A male-bias in lifetime distance travelled is a purported human universal, although this claim is based primarily on anecdotes. Following sexual maturity, motivation to travel outside the natal territory may vary over the life course for both sexes. Here, we test whether travel behaviour among Tsimane forager–horticulturalists is associated with shifting reproductive priorities across the lifespan. Using structured interviews, we find that sex differences in travel peak during adolescence when men and women are most intensively searching for mates. Among married adults, we find that greater offspring dependency load is associated with reduced travel among women, but not men. Married men are more likely to travel alone than women, but only to the nearest market town and not to other Tsimane villages. We conclude that men's and women's travel behaviour reflects differential gains from mate search and parenting across the life course.

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Effects of agricultural lands on the distribution pattern of genus diversity for neotropical terrestrial vertebrates

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107900 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 129 ◽

pp. 107900

Author(s):

Chun-Jing Wang ◽

Ji-Zhong Wan ◽

Javier Fajardo

Keyword(s):

Distribution Pattern ◽

Agricultural Lands ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates

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Geological and climatic histories likely shaped the origins of terrestrial vertebrates endemic to the Tibetan Plateau

Global Ecology and Biogeography ◽

10.1111/geb.13286 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiekun He ◽

Siliang Lin ◽

Chenchen Ding ◽

Jiehua Yu ◽

Haisheng Jiang

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates

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Role of Zoo-Housed Animals in the Ecology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens—A Review

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10020210 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 210

Author(s):

Johana Hrnková ◽

Irena Schneiderová ◽

Marina Golovchenko ◽

Libor Grubhoffer ◽

Natalie Rudenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Exotic Animals ◽

Host Pathogen ◽

Medical Importance ◽

Ecology Of Ticks ◽

Definite Role

Ticks are ubiquitous ectoparasites, feeding on representatives of all classes of terrestrial vertebrates and transmitting numerous pathogens of high human and veterinary medical importance. Exotic animals kept in zoological gardens, ranches, wildlife parks or farms may play an important role in the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), as they may serve as hosts for local tick species. Moreover, they can develop diseases of varying severity after being infected by TBPs, and theoretically, can thus serve as reservoirs, thereby further propagating TBPs in local ecosystems. The definite role of these animals in the tick–host-pathogen network remains poorly investigated. This review provides a summary of the information currently available regarding ticks and TBPs in connection to captive local and exotic wildlife, with an emphasis on zoo-housed species.

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Evolutionary history of zoogeographical regions surrounding the Tibetan Plateau

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-020-01154-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiekun He ◽

Siliang Lin ◽

Jiatang Li ◽

Jiehua Yu ◽

Haisheng Jiang

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

Change Over Time ◽

Deep Time ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

History Of ◽

Striking Change ◽

Time Periods ◽

Over Time

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau (TP) and surrounding regions have one of the most complex biotas on Earth. However, the evolutionary history of these regions in deep time is poorly understood. Here, we quantify the temporal changes in beta dissimilarities among zoogeographical regions during the Cenozoic using 4,966 extant terrestrial vertebrates and 1,278 extinct mammal genera. We identify ten present-day zoogeographical regions and find that they underwent a striking change over time. Specifically, the fauna on the TP was close to the Oriental realm in deep time but became more similar to the Palearctic realms more recently. The present-day zoogeographical regions generally emerged during the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (ca. 5 Ma). These results indicate that geological events such as the Indo-Asian Collision, the TP uplift, and the aridification of the Asian interior underpinned the evolutionary history of the zoogeographical regions surrounding the TP over different time periods.

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