scholarly journals Scent marking in Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi): Novel observations close a key gap in understanding felid communication behaviours

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ML Allen ◽  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
E Setiawan ◽  
S Jaffe ◽  
AJ Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Communication Behaviours ◽  
Felid Species

© 2016 Author(s). Intraspecific communication is integral to the behavioural ecology of solitary carnivores, but observing and quantifying their communication behaviours in natural environments is difficult. Our systematic literature review found that basic information on scent marking is completely lacking for 23% of all felid species, and information on 21% of other felid species comes solely from one study of captive animals. Here we present results of the first systematic investigation of the scent marking behaviours of Sunda clouded leopards in the wild. Our observations using motion-triggered video cameras in Indonesian Borneo are novel for clouded leopards, and contrary to previous descriptions of their behaviour. We found that clouded leopards displayed 10 distinct communication behaviours, with olfaction, scraping, and cheek rubbing the most frequently recorded. We also showed that males make repeated visits to areas they previously used for marking and that multiple males advertise and receive information at the same sites, potentially enhancing our ability to document and monitor clouded leopard populations. The behaviours we recorded are remarkably similar to those described in other solitary felids, despite tremendous variation in the environments they inhabit, and close a key gap in understanding and interpreting communication behaviours of clouded leopards and other solitary felids.

scholarly journals Scent marking in Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi): Novel observations close a key gap in understanding felid communication behaviours

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ML Allen ◽  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
E Setiawan ◽  
S Jaffe ◽  
AJ Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Communication Behaviours ◽  
Felid Species

© 2016 Author(s). Intraspecific communication is integral to the behavioural ecology of solitary carnivores, but observing and quantifying their communication behaviours in natural environments is difficult. Our systematic literature review found that basic information on scent marking is completely lacking for 23% of all felid species, and information on 21% of other felid species comes solely from one study of captive animals. Here we present results of the first systematic investigation of the scent marking behaviours of Sunda clouded leopards in the wild. Our observations using motion-triggered video cameras in Indonesian Borneo are novel for clouded leopards, and contrary to previous descriptions of their behaviour. We found that clouded leopards displayed 10 distinct communication behaviours, with olfaction, scraping, and cheek rubbing the most frequently recorded. We also showed that males make repeated visits to areas they previously used for marking and that multiple males advertise and receive information at the same sites, potentially enhancing our ability to document and monitor clouded leopard populations. The behaviours we recorded are remarkably similar to those described in other solitary felids, despite tremendous variation in the environments they inhabit, and close a key gap in understanding and interpreting communication behaviours of clouded leopards and other solitary felids.

Puma communication behaviours: understanding functional use and variation among sex and age classes

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian L. Allen ◽  
Heiko U. Wittmer ◽  
Christopher C. Wilmers
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Mate Selection ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Territorial Defence ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Experimental Treatments ◽  
Communication Behaviours

Intraspecific communication for mate selection sometimes varies between sexes based on different evolutionary life history patterns. Solitary felids use communication for territorial defence and location of mates, for which they use scent-marking behaviours including scraping, urine spraying, body rubbing, caterwauling, cheek rubbing, and the flehmen response, but these behaviours are not well understood in pumas (Puma concolor). We used motion-triggered video cameras to document the use of communication behaviours by male and female pumas, and used a series of experimental treatments to determine the mechanisms and importance of visual and olfactory cues in puma scrapes. We found that pumas use the physical scrape to locate communications, and then use urine to convey and interpret the communication itself. We also found significant differences among puma age and sex classes in the proportion of use and duration of time behaviours were displayed. Mature males spent significantly longer durations () on producing behaviours (scraping, body rubbing, and caterwauling behaviours) than mature females (), and males used scraping (78.5%) and body rubbing (12.4%) behaviours at a higher proportion of visits than females (13.6 and 2.7%, respectively). Mature females spent significantly longer durations () on consuming behaviours (investigating and flehmen response behaviours) than mature males (), and females used flehmen response (30.6%) and caterwauling (9.3%) behaviours at a higher proportion of visits than mature males (6.5% flehmen and 0.4% caterwauling). Male reproductive strategy appears based on advertisement for possible mates, while female reproductive strategy appears based on assessment of possible mates. The use of communication behaviours also appears to develop with age, as immature pumas rarely visited and acted as non-participants in communication behaviours.

scholarly journals Exploring the Adaptive Significance of Five Types of Puma (Puma concolor) Vocalizations

2017 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian L Allen ◽  
Yiwei Wang ◽  
Christopher C Wilmers
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Indirect Cues ◽  
Limit Detection

Communication is a central component of animal behaviour, yet communicative behaviours are poorly studied due to their complexity and varied functions. Pumas (Puma concolor) are wide-ranging, solitary felids that primarily use indirect cues (e.g., scent marking) for communication. Because these cryptic carnivores are rarely observed directly, little is known about their vocalizations in the wild. We recorded a variety of Puma vocalizations among females and family groups using motion-triggered video cameras and then attempted to understand the function of each vocalization. We found two categories of vocalizations: 1) attention-attracting (caterwauling and mewing), and 2) calls (contact, agitated, and alarm). Vocalizations to attract attention ranged across broad frequencies. Contact, agitated, and alarm calls are narrow-frequency vocalizations that varied in intensity and were used to communicate with nearby conspecifics. Vocal communication entails risk, and while some Puma vocalizations may provide benefits that outweigh their risk, others are structured to limit detection and risk. These observations highlight the importance of the structure of vocalizations used during different behaviours to understand their adaptive significance.

scholarly journals Blocks in the pseudouridimycin pathway unlock hidden metabolites in the Streptomyces producer strain

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Iorio ◽  
Sahar Davatgarbenam ◽  
Stefania Serina ◽  
Paolo Criscenzo ◽  
Mitja M. Zdouc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Bacterial Rna ◽  
Soil Isolate ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Polymerase Inhibitor

AbstractWe report a metabolomic analysis of Streptomyces sp. ID38640, a soil isolate that produces the bacterial RNA polymerase inhibitor pseudouridimycin. The analysis was performed on the wild type, on three newly constructed and seven previously reported mutant strains disabled in different genes required for pseudouridimycin biosynthesis. The results indicate that Streptomyces sp. ID38640 is able to produce, in addition to lydicamycins and deferroxiamines, as previously reported, also the lassopeptide ulleungdin, the non-ribosomal peptide antipain and the osmoprotectant ectoine. The corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters were readily identified in the strain genome. We also detected the known compound pyridindolol, for which we propose a previously unreported biosynthetic gene cluster, as well as three families of unknown metabolites. Remarkably, the levels of most metabolites varied strongly in the different mutant strains, an observation that enabled detection of metabolites unnoticed in the wild type. Systematic investigation of the accumulated metabolites in the ten different pum mutants identified shed further light on pseudouridimycin biosynthesis. We also show that several Streptomyces strains, able to produce pseudouridimycin, have distinct genetic relationship and metabolic profile with ID38640.

Remote monitoring of the behaviour and activity of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay A. Hogan ◽  
Clive J. C. Phillips ◽  
Allan Lisle ◽  
Alan B. Horsup ◽  
Tina Janssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Video Surveillance ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Radio Transmitter ◽  
Rest Periods ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
One Year

The nocturnal nature of wombats makes it difficult to learn about their behavioural ecology and activity rhythms in the wild. A facility was established at Rockhampton Zoo to house 12 adult southern hairy-nosed wombats in order to monitor their behaviour by means of video surveillance and provide detailed information on their activity patterns using movement-sensitive radio-transmitters. After one year of monitoring it was established that the wombats spent, on average, as a proportion of total time 69.9% sleeping, 8.8% lying resting, 5.2% feeding, 5.2% exploring, 4.3% performing stereotyped behaviour, 2.5% sitting resting and 4.1% in other activities. Feeding, lying resting and sleeping varied with season by ~5%. Temporal patterns were bimodal for 8 of the 12 behaviours described, with most ‘active’ behaviours being expressed between 1800 and 2000 hours and 0200 and 0500 hours. The activity pattern was characterised by a strong circadian rhythm, with most activity occurring nocturnally. Within active periods there was an alternating rhythm of active and rest periods and activity peaks at the beginning and end of each night. Comprehensive and reliable information on the behavioural ecology, as well as captive management, of southern hairy-nosed wombats was obtained from the remote video and radio-transmitter recordings.

scholarly journals Assessment of physiological status of felids as indicator of their welfare in the wild

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-122
Author(s):  
Ekaterina V. Pavlova ◽  
Evgeny A. Ivanov ◽  
Vadim E. Kiriluk ◽  
Vyacheslav V. Rozhnov
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Hematological Analysis ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Far Eastern ◽  
Felid Species

One of the main approaches to monitoring the welfare of wild mammal populations in the wild is animal health estimation based on an analysis of their physiological parameters. To assess that for the natural felid populations, we analyzed adrenal activity level, white blood cells (WBC) counts and occurrence of seropositive reactions to different diseases. The first study was conducted in the Southwest Primorye, in natural habitats of Far Eastern leopard. Unevenly cold and snowy winters in 2010 and 2011 provided extreme natural conditions for overwintering mammals across the Russian Far East. Adrenocortical activity of leopards was significantly higher in 2011 (fecal cortisol level was 712.7 ± 92.4  ng g-1) than in 2010 (361.4 ± 80.5 ng g-1). We suggest that abundance and availability of weakened deer and carcasses could facilitate hunting for leopards and help them to avoid starvation. In the second study we used WBC counts as a health index for three felid species: Pallas cat (Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, 2010), Far Eastern leopard (Southwestern Prymorie, 2011), Siberian tiger (Ussuriskii Reserve, 2010-2011). The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (N:L) was used as an indicator of stress and/or disease state. Occurrence of seropositive reactions to 12 different pathogens was analyzed in all the animals after the hematological analysis. Pallas cats had the lowest N:L ratio (1.0 ± 0.1), significantly differing from leopards (42.8 ± 16.0) and tigers (24.5 ± 9.2). The N:L ratio correlated with the occurrence of seropositive reactions but not with the pathogen diversity. Pallas cats had the lowest occurrence of positive reactions to 4 pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii (12.5%), Mycoplasma sp. (12.5%), influenza A (7.1%), and feline leukemia virus (8.3%). Leopards had the highest N:L and occurrence of seropositive reactions only to 2 infections: T. gondii (16.6%) and Candida sp. (100%). On the contrary, tigers had positive responses to 6 pathogens, including canine distemper (7.7%), feline immunodeficiency virus (8.3%) and Aujeszky’s disease (31%), which were not found in other cats. Values of N:L depended also on the time spent to get blood samples. In the big felid species effects of glucocorticoids on the WBC ratio (neutrophilia) were obtained in blood samples from anesthetized animals, taken more than 2 hours after capture. In Pallas cats blood samples were collected within 13 ± 2 min without anesthesia. Thus the high N:L ratio in big felids can be explained by several reasons: stress of capture, immunosuppression and a high diversity of detected infections. The present findings may have important implications for creation of effective conservation strategies of rare felid species in the wild.

scholarly journals Structure and Distribution of Endogenous Nonecotropic Murine Leukemia Viruses in Wild Mice

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 8289-8300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keizo Tomonaga ◽  
John M. Coffin
Keyword(s):  
Inbred Mice ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Wild Mouse ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Wild Mice ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Leukemia Viruses ◽  
Specific Sequences ◽  
Murine Leukemia

ABSTRACT Virtually all of our present understanding of endogenous murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) is based on studies with inbred mice. To develop a better understanding of the interaction between endogenous retroviruses and their hosts, we have carried out a systematic investigation of endogenous nonecotropic MLVs in wild mice. Species studied included four major subspecies of Mus musculus(M. m. castaneus, M. m. musculus, M. m. molossinus, and M. m. domesticus) as well as four common inbred laboratory strains (AKR/J, HRS/J, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6J). We determined the detailed distribution of nonecotropic proviruses in the mice by using both env- and long terminal repeat (LTR)-derived oligonucleotide probes specific for the three different groups of endogenous MLVs. The analysis indicated that proviruses that react with all of the specific probes are present in most wild mouse DNAs tested, in numbers varying from 1 or 2 to more than 50. Although in common inbred laboratory strains the linkage of group-specific sequences in env and the LTR of the proviruses is strict, proviruses which combine env and the LTR sequences from different groups were commonly observed in the wild-mouse subspecies. The “recombinant” nonecotropic proviruses in the mouse genomes were amplified by PCR, and their genetic and recombinant natures were determined. These proviruses showed extended genetic variation and provide a valuable probe for study of the evolutionary relationship between MLVs and the murine hosts.

Ontogeny of scent marking behaviours in an apex carnivore

Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Maximilian L. Allen ◽  
Heiko U. Wittmer ◽  
Emmarie P. Alexander ◽  
Christopher C. Wilmers
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Communication Behaviours ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Puma (Puma concolor) communication with conspecifics is via indirect scent marking behaviours that are important for individuals to advertise their territory and reproductive status, but little is known about how the behaviours develop with age. To examine the development of scent marking behaviours, we monitored the behaviours of adult pumas and dependent kittens. Based on video recordings, we found that the frequency of puma communication behaviours significantly changed over time. Kittens exhibited olfactory investigation more frequently as they aged, but kittens generally did not exhibit scent marking behaviours. Kittens travel with their mothers until they disperse, so there is no need to establish territories or advertise availability to mate, but kittens are at risk of injury or mortality from other pumas. It is possible that there is no functional need for dependent kittens to scent mark until they mature, but there is a need for frequent use of investigative behaviours.

scholarly journals Genetic signatures of microbial altruism and cheating in social amoebas in the wild

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 3096-3101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suegene Noh ◽  
Katherine S. Geist ◽  
Xiangjun Tian ◽  
Joan E. Strassmann ◽  
David C. Queller
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Evolution ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Molecular Signatures ◽  
Bacterial Quorum Sensing ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Bacterial Quorum ◽  
Genetically Manipulated ◽  
Genetic Signatures

Many microbes engage in social interactions. Some of these have come to play an important role in the study of cooperation and conflict, largely because, unlike most animals, they can be genetically manipulated and experimentally evolved. However, whereas animal social behavior can be observed and assessed in natural environments, microbes usually cannot, so we know little about microbial social adaptations in nature. This has led to some difficult-to-resolve controversies about social adaptation even for well-studied traits such as bacterial quorum sensing, siderophore production, and biofilms. Here we use molecular signatures of population genetics and molecular evolution to address controversies over the existence of altruism and cheating in social amoebas. First, we find signatures of rapid adaptive molecular evolution that are consistent with social conflict being a significant force in nature. Second, we find population-genetic signatures of purifying selection to support the hypothesis that the cells that form the sterile stalk evolve primarily through altruistic kin selection rather than through selfish direct reproduction. Our results show how molecular signatures can provide insight into social adaptations that cannot be observed in their natural context, and they support the hypotheses that social amoebas in the wild are both altruists and cheaters.

Coral diseases in aquaria and in nature

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sweet ◽  
Rachel Jones ◽  
John Bythell
Keyword(s):  
Grey Literature ◽  
Reef Coral ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Coral Diseases ◽  
Brown Band ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Pathogenic Agents ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

Many reef coral diseases have been described affecting corals in the wild, several of which have been associated with causal agents based on experimental inoculation and testing of Koch's postulates. In the aquarium industry, many coral diseases and pathologies are known from the grey literature but as yet these have not been systematically described and the relationship to known diseases in the wild is difficult to determine. There is therefore scope to aid the maintenance and husbandry of corals in aquaria by informing the field of the scientifically described wild diseases, if these can be reliably related. Conversely, since the main driver to identifying coral diseases in aquaria is to select an effective treatment, the lessons learnt by aquarists on which treatments work with particular syndromes provides invaluable evidence for determining the causal agents. Such treatments are not commonly sought by scientists working in the natural environment due the cost and potential environmental impacts of the treatments. Here we review both wild and aquarium diseases and attempt to relate the two. Many important aquarium diseases could not be reconciled to those in the wild. In one case, however, namely that of the ciliateHelicostomasp. as a causal agent of brown jelly syndrome in aquarium corals, there may be similarities with pathogenic agents of the wild coral diseases, such as white syndrome and brown band syndrome. We propose thatHelicostomais actually a misnomer, but improved understanding of this pathogen and others could benefit both fields. Improved practices in aquarium maintenance and husbandry would also benefit natural environments by reducing the scale of wild harvest and improving the potential for coral culture, both for the aquarium industry and for rehabilitation programmes.

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