scholarly journals Effect of wild ungulate density on invertebrates in a Mediterranean ecosystem

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-125
Author(s):  
A. J. Carpio ◽  
◽  
J. Castro–López ◽  
J. Guerrero–Casado ◽  
L. Ruiz–Aizpurua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
High Density ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Taxon Richness ◽  
Invertebrate Diversity ◽  
South Central

In recent decades, the abundance and distribution of certain big game species, particularly red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa), have increased in south central Spain as a result of hunting management strategies. The high density of these ungulate species may affect the abundance of epigeous invertebrates. We tested the relationships between big game abundance and biodiversity, taxon richness, the biomass of invertebrates and their frequency on nine hunting estates and in comparison to ungulate exclusion areas. Ungulate exclusion itself affected invertebrate richness, since lower values were found in the open plots, whereas the highest differences in invertebrate diversity between fenced and open plots was found in areas with high wild boar density. Where wild boar densities were high, the number of invertebrates decreased, while where they were low, red deer had a positive effect on invertebrate abundance. Fenced plots thus seemed to provide refuge for invertebrates, particularly where wild boar were abundant. This study supports the idea that the structure of fauna communities is damaged by high density populations of ungulates, probably due to decreased food availability owing to overgrazing, modified conditions of ecological microniches and direct predation. However, the effects depended on the group of invertebrates, since saprophytic species could benefit from high ungulate abundance. Our findings reflect the need to control ungulate population density under Mediterranean conditions in south–western Europe and to implement ungulate exclusion plots.

Bovine tuberculosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and cattle (Bos taurus) in a Mediterranean ecosystem (1992–2004)

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hermoso de Mendoza ◽  
A. Parra ◽  
A. Tato ◽  
J.M. Alonso ◽  
J.M. Rey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem

scholarly journals Assessing red deer hunting management in the Iberian Peninsula: the importance of longitudinal studies

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10872
Author(s):  
Antonio José Carpio Camargo ◽  
Jose Barasona ◽  
Pelayo Acevedo ◽  
Yolanda Fierro ◽  
Christian Gortazar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Deer Population ◽  
South Central

Understanding the dynamics of a wildlife population in relation to hunting strategies is essential to achieve sustainable management. We used monitoring data over 25 years from two red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations with different management (with and without supplemental feeding) in South Central Spain to: (i) characterise the density dependence of population dynamics under contrasted management, and (ii) provide the basis for sustainable extraction by considering the theoretical maximum sustainable yield (MSYt) as the reference. The red deer population displayed a typical management reactive culling approach (‘saw-tooth-like’ curves), with occasional strong annual harvests but not occurring on a regular basis. Interestingly, we found reduced population growth at high densities in both populations, indicating that density-mediated factors determined population growth even when artificial feeding was provided. However, no effects of sex not age class of the extracted population on the population growth rate were determined. The total number of animals hunted was only slightly above those predicted by MSYt (i.e. K50%) in both populations, despite high densities close to theoretical K, being consistent throughout the study period. The extraction rates (30.3 and 34.0%, for supplemented and unsupplemented populations, respectively) were 13.3% and 10.2% lower compared to the MSYt situation in the unsupplemented and supplemented populations, respectively. Long term population monitoring data provided feasible and suitable baseline values to optimise the sustainable exploitation of red deer populations in the Mediterranean ecosystem under these contrasting management scenarios. Adaptive management, involving objective-driven decision making informed by data on red deer population dynamic, can contribute (i) to maximising the total extraction over the long term while (ii) reducing the ecological impact of high population densities.

Regulation of aminopeptidases by the renin - angiotensin system: monitoring seasonal variations in red deer and fallow deer from a Mediterranean ecosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 761
Author(s):  
A. Galán-Ocaña ◽  
M. J. Ramírez-Expósito ◽  
J. M. Martínez-Martos ◽  
S. Tellado ◽  
C. Azorit
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Angiotensin System ◽  
Renin Angiotensin

The circulating renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is well known for its systemic role in the regulation of blood pressure, renal hemodynamics and fluid homeostasis. However, in mammals several organs also contain a local RAS, including male and female reproductive tissues. In the present study we analysed serum from a free-living population of red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) to determine the activity of four RAS-regulating aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase A, aspartyl aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase N and aminopeptidase B) as part of a study of annual cycles of growth and condition. Our aim was to detect seasonal variations in the activities of these aminopeptidases and their relationship to the reproductive behaviour of both species in a Mediterranean environment. In both males and females there was a maximum peak of activity in autumn. A second peak was detected in spring for males while in females activity was also higher in summer. These changes may be related to a different endocrine status according to their seasonal cycle, the decreased photoperiod in autumn and the normal timing of the seasonal growth cycle. Thus, changes in the activity of RAS-regulating aminopeptidases could reflect the functional role of angiotensins through the annual cycle of both species, also suggesting an important role of these peptide hormones in the regulation of these biological processes.

scholarly journals Seasonality of Coxiella burnetii among Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the Hyalomma lusitanicum (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Meso-Mediterranean Ecosystem

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
María Sánchez ◽  
Félix Valcárcel ◽  
Julia González ◽  
Marta G. González ◽  
Raquel Martín-Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Sylvatic Cycle ◽  
Almost Everywhere ◽  
In The Wild

(1) Background: Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii that have cases reported in humans and animals almost everywhere. The aim of this study was to describe the seasonality of Coxiella burnetii in the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the tick Hyalomma lusitanicum in a meso-Mediterranean ecosystem. (2) Methods: two populations of wild rabbits that differ in whether or not they share habitat with ungulates, mainly red deer (Cervus elaphus) were sampled for a year to collect ticks, blood and vaginal or anal swabs. Presence of C. burnetii DNA in swabs and the tick H. lusitanicum was determined by PCR and serum antibodies by ELISA. (3) Results: C. burnetii DNA was detected in 47.2% of 583 rabbits, in 65.5% of sera, and in more than half of the H. lusitanicum. There were small variations according to sex and age of the rabbits but significant according to the habitat (4) Conclusions: The results indicate that C. burnetii circulates freely between wild rabbits and H. lusitanicum and the sylvatic cycle in meso-Mediterranean environments relies in the presence of wild rabbits and H. lusitanicum above all if sharing habitat with red deer.

scholarly journals Damage caused by red deer (Cervus elaphus) & wild boar (Sus scrofa) in forest hunting grounds in Serbia

2009 ◽  
pp. 15-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Gacic ◽  
Milorad Danilovic
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Systematic Study ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Hunting Management ◽  
Hunting Ground

The systematic study and assessment of the damage by big game in forest hunting grounds in Serbia was infrequent, although the damage was evident. The objective of this paper is to identify the rates and types of damage by red deer and wild boar at three localities: (1) fenced part of the hunting ground 'Crni Lug' (Srem), (2) fenced part of the hunting ground 'Podunavsko Loviste Plavna' (Southwestern Backa), and (3) fenced rearing centre 'Lomnicka Reka' (Mt. Veliki Jastrebac). The damage was not recorded on locality (1). The damage on locality (2) (new polar plantations) and locality (3) (beech forests) was caused by red deer. The main causes of the damage were excessive density and disturbed population structure (sex and age), nonharmonised forest and hunting management, shortage of natural food, especially of pasture areas.

scholarly journals Geographical restriction of Hepatitis E virus circulation in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Emilia-Romagna region, Northern Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bonardi ◽  
Virginia Filipello ◽  
Enrico Pavoni ◽  
Valentina Carta ◽  
Luca Bolzoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Hunting Season ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Emilia Romagna Region

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a singlestrand RNA virus that causes an acute viral hepatitis in humans. Among its eight recognized genotypes, HEV-3 and HEV-4 are zoonotic, infecting humans, pigs and wild boars. Recently, HEV-3 has been also detected in red deer, which represents another reservoir of HEV. Consumption of raw pork products (mainly liver sausages), undercooked wild boar meat, raw wild boar liver and deer meat has been responsible for foodborne HEV human worldwide. From November 2018 to March 2019, liver samples collected from 97 wild boars hunted in Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) were tested for HEV RNA. The hunting area included two territories for an extension of 33 km2, named A (about 13 km2, natural park, deciduous wood) and B (about 20 km2, cultivated fields in proximity of a river) areas. Distance between the two areas ranged between 8 to 10 km. A total of 73 wild boars were hunted in area A, and 24 in area B. HEV RNA was detected by Realtime RT–PCR in 23/73 liver samples of wild boars living in area A only (31.5% - 95% CI: 22.0-42.8%). The HEV sequences (n=13) clustered within genotype 3. The majority of positives belonged to animals < 12 months (12/25; 48%), followed by subadults (13-24 months) (7/16; 43.8%) and adults (4/32; 12.5%). This difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0024). In absence of pig farms, the restriction of HEV-positive animals to a well-defined territory of 13 km2 (Boschi di Carrega Regional Park) could hypothetically be related to the presence of red deer (Cervus elaphus), which lived in area A at the beginning of the hunting season. Further studies are needed to confirm or deny our hypothesis.

scholarly journals Contrasting feeding patterns of native red deer and two exotic ungulates in a Mediterranean ecosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Miranda ◽  
Marisa Sicilia ◽  
Jordi Bartolomé ◽  
Eduarda Molina-Alcaide ◽  
Lucía Gálvez-Bravo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Foraging Preferences ◽  
Iberian Red Deer

Context Ungulates have been widely introduced in multiple ecosystems throughout the world due to their value as food and for sport hunting. The identification of foraging preferences of exotic and native ungulates living in sympatry is, therefore, becoming increasingly important in order to assess potential impacts of introduced animals on the host ecosystem. Aims To describe species-specific foraging strategies and infer resource selection overlap between native and exotic ungulates. Methods We compared the trophic ecology of three sympatric ungulate species living in a Mediterranean landscape: the native Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus, and two exotic bovids, the European mouflon Ovis orientalis musimon and the aoudad Ammotragus lervia. We simultaneously determined herbivore diet through analyses of botanical content in faeces and assessed the nutritional content of these diets. Key results Higher selection of shrubs by deer was sustained throughout the year, while bovids showed seasonal shifts in forage selection. Both bovids displayed a selective dietary strategy directed towards a higher overall nutritional quality than that of deer. Divergent exploitation patterns between the studied cervid and bovids might be related to body mass and physiological adaptations to overcome secondary defence compounds of shrubs, and were largely affected by seasonal changes in the nutritional value of available vegetation. Ecological theory suggests that diet overlap should be greater between similar-sized species. Indeed, both exotics showed similar, sometimes overlapping, dietary patterns that could lead to potential competition in the use of resources. Native red deer preferences only showed some overlap with those of exotic mouflon under constrained summer conditions. Conclusions Dietary overlap between deer and mouflon and between aoudad and mouflon during limiting summer conditions could entail a potential competitive interaction under more even densities of the study species, since a concurrent habitat overlap between those pairs of species has previously been reported. Implications The outcomes of our study suggest the need for an integration of habitat and ungulate management. Management actions in Mediterranean rangelands should be directed towards protecting habitat conditions so that biodiversity is enhanced along with the presence of sustainable communities of large herbivores. Management directed towards ungulates should maintain moderate stocking rates and monitor and control introduced and native populations.

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