Shape Analysis as an Additional Tool in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Management: A New Approach Based on the Relationship between Mandible Shape and Trophic Resources

The analysis of body shape variability has always been a central element in biology. More recently, geometric morphometry has developed as a new field in shape analysis, with the aim to study body morphological variations and the identification of their causes. In wildlife management, geometric morphometry could be a useful tool to compare the anatomical structures of an organism and quantify its geometric information in order to relate them to environmental factors, thus identifying the causes and effects of the variation and acting management and/or conservation plans. The aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between roe deer mandible shape and trophic resources available during autumn and winter. We applied a geometric morphometry approach consisting of a Relative Warp analysis of landmark data in 26 roe deer fawn mandibles. Each sample was assigned to an age category and to an environmental category based on the territory carrying capacity. The mandible shape of samples under 8 months of age is likely influenced by the availability of trophic resources. Our findings suggest that the mandible shape is a reliable instrument to assess resource availability. Geometric morphometry could thus represent an additional tool for roe deer management.

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Morphometric and Molecular Analyses of Ostertagia leptospicularis Assadov, 1953 from Ruminants: Species Diversity or Host Influence?

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010182 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 182

Author(s):

Anna Wyrobisz-Papiewska ◽

Jerzy Kowal ◽

Elżbieta Łopieńska-Biernat ◽

Paweł Nosal ◽

Iwona Polak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Systematic Classification ◽

Morphological Variations ◽

Wide Range ◽

Induced Changes

Ostertagia leptospicularis Assadov, 1953 was formally described in roe deer Capreolus capreolus and has been reported in a wide range of ruminants, including other Cervidae, as well as Bovidae. Nematode specimens derived from various host species exhibit morphological similarity; however, some differences can be observed. It is unclear if this is due to the differential reaction of one nematode species in different host species (i.e., host-induced changes) or because of distinct nematode species in these hosts (i.e., species complex). This paper focuses on specimens resembling O. leptospicularis f. leptospicularis and its closely related species (Ostertagia ostertagi f. ostertagi) collected from various hosts. Morphometric and molecular techniques were applied to assess host-induced changes in nematode morphology and to clarify its systematic classification. There was an overall effect of host species on measurements of nematodes resembling O. leptospicularis (both males and females), but the distinctiveness of the specimens from cattle Bos taurus were highlighted. The results obtained may suggest that the specimens of O. leptospicularis from cattle in Germany and cervids in central Europe belong to different strains. Furthermore, nematodes from the cervid strain appear to circulate within particular host species, which can be seen in the stated morphological variations.

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Habitat use by female western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus): influence of resource availability on habitat selection in two contrasting years

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z10-070 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 88 (11) ◽

pp. 1052-1062 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

M. Pellerin ◽

C. Calenge ◽

S. Saïd ◽

J.- M. Gaillard ◽

H. Fritz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Resource Availability ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Distribution Of Resources ◽

The Relationship ◽

Selection Of

In most previous studies of habitat selection, the use of a given habitat type is assumed to be directly proportional to its availability. However, the use and (or) the selection of a given habitat may be conditional on the availability of that habitat. We aim here to (i) identify the environmental variables involved in habitat selection, (ii) identify classes of individuals with similar patterns of habitat selection, and (iii) assess whether habitat use changes with changing availability of habitat types, within monthly home ranges of female western roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)). We found that some females adjust their habitat use according to the distribution of resources within habitats. Females with similar home ranges in terms of resource quantity and quality showed similar patterns of habitat selection. Differences in habitat use between 2 years with contrasting resource availability showed that temporal changes of environmental conditions influenced the pattern of habitat selection by female roe deer. Habitat selection also differed between periods of the life cycle likely because of contrasted energy requirements. This study shows that the relationship between habitat use by herbivores and habitat availability is nonproportional, and that the availability of resources influences use mostly at intermediate values.

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A Novel Method for Increasing the Numerousness of Biometrical Parameters Useful for Wildlife Management: Roe Deer Mandible as Bone Model

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030465 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 465

Author(s):

Elena De Felice ◽

Cesare Pacioni ◽

Federico Maria Tardella ◽

Cecilia Dall’Aglio ◽

Antonio Palladino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wildlife Management ◽

Conversion Factor ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Reference Points ◽

Geometric Morphometry ◽

Mandible Length ◽

Novel Method ◽

The Mean ◽

Bone Structures ◽

The Relationship

Study of dimensions (biometry) and shapes (geometric morphometry) of bone structures in ungulates is of extreme importance in wildlife population management. Unlike classical biometry, which involves the use of a caliper for measurements, geometric morphometry acquires, through software, a series of reference points (landmarks) from digital photos, providing a series of linear measures. A method to convert values obtained from the GeoGebra software into biometric measures is described. We took photos of 25 mandibles of adult roe deer and at the same time measured mandible length and teeth row length using a caliper. After image processing using GeoGebra, we calculated the conversion factor as the mean ratio between measures taken using GeoGebra and the caliper. The series of measurements, taken with two different methods (direct measurement using the caliper and conversion from GeoGebra output), showed a good degree of agreement. We used the conversion factor to obtain, from the GeoGebra database, four additional parameters of 50 mandibles. The analysis of variance showed that one parameter was significantly different between sexes (p = 0.04), demonstrating the usefulness of the measurement conversion. The conversion factor is helpful to improve classical biometric databases to better clarify the relationship between environment and wildlife status.

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Selectivity of harvesting differs between local and foreign roe deer hunters: trophy stalkers have the first shot at the right place

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2006.0533 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 632-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Atle Mysterud ◽

Piotr Tryjanowski ◽

Marek Panek

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Red Deer ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Evolutionary Processes ◽

Antler Size ◽

The Difference ◽

The Right ◽

The Relationship

Harvesting represents a major source of mortality in many deer populations. The extent to which harvesting is selective for specific traits is important in order to understand contemporary evolutionary processes. In addition, since such data are frequently used in life-history studies, it is important to know the pattern of selectivity as a source of bias. Recently, it was demonstrated that different hunting methods were selected for different weights in red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), but little insight was offered into why this occurs. In this study, we show that foreign trophy stalkers select for larger antlers when hunting roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) than local hunters, but that close to half of the difference in selectivity was due to foreigners hunting earlier in the season and in locations with larger males. The relationship between antler size and age was nevertheless fairly similar based on whether deer was shot by foreign or local hunters.

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Relationships between morphology, diet and spatial distribution: testing the effects of intra and interspecific morphological variations on the patterns of resource use in two Neotropical Cichlids

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252013005000001 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 351-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Ana Lúcia A. Sampaio ◽

João Paulo A. Pagotto ◽

Erivelto Goulart

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

River Floodplain ◽

Morphological Variations ◽

Trophic Resources ◽

Lotic Habitats ◽

Upper Paraná River Floodplain ◽

Upper Paraná River ◽

Paraná River Floodplain ◽

The Relationship

Considering th e morphology, diet and spatial distribution of Satanoperca pappaterraand Crenicichla britskii (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil), the following questions were investigated: (1) Could the body shape predict the use of trophic resources and habitat by C. britskiiand S. pappaterra? (2) Could the relationship between morphology and use of trophic resources and habitat be also extended to the intraspecific scale? (3) What are the most important morphological traits used to predict the variation on diet and habitat occupation within and between species? We hypothesized that intra and interspecific differences in morphological patterns imply in different forms of resource exploitation and that the ecomorphological analysis enables the identification of trophic and spatial niche segregation. Fish samplings were performed in different types of habitats (rivers, secondary channels, connected and disconnected lagoons) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Analyses of the stomach content was conducted to characterize the feeding patterns and twenty-two ecomorphological indices were calculated from linear morphological measurements and areas. A principal component analysis (PCA) run with these indices evidenced the formation of two significant axes, revealing in the axis 1 an ecomorphological ordination according to the type of habitat, regardless the species. The individuals of both species exploiting lotic habitats tended to have morphological traits that enable rapid progressive and retrograde movements, braking and continuous swimming, whereas individuals found in lentic and semi-lotic habitats presented morphology adapted to a greater maneuverability and stabilization in deflections. On the other hand the axis 2 evidenced a segregation related to the feeding ecology, between S. pappaterra and C. britskii. The relationship between morphology and use of spatial and feeding resource was corroborated by the Mantel test performed at inter and intraspecific levels. Therefore the hypothesis was accepted suggesting that analyses incorporating both intraspecific and interspecific morphological variations can contribute to a greater understanding about the ecological structure of fish assemblages by providing evidences on the niche characteristics of each species.

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Enamel Thickness Differs between Field and Forest European Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

Polish Journal of Ecology ◽

10.3161/15052249pje2020.68.1.009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 100

Author(s):

Jan Demesko ◽

Marta Kurek ◽

Patrycja Podlaszczuk ◽

Janusz Markowski

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Enamel Thickness

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The modular organization of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) body during ontogeny: the effects of sex and habitat

Frontiers in Zoology ◽

10.1186/s12983-018-0283-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Svetlana Milošević-Zlatanović ◽

Tanja Vukov ◽

Srđan Stamenković ◽

Marija Jovanović ◽

Nataša Tomašević Kolarov

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Modular Organization

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Testicular Melatonin and Its Pathway in Roe Deer Bucks (Capreolus capreolus) during Pre- and Post-Rut Periods: Correlation with Testicular Involution

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11071874 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1874

Author(s):

Alberto Elmi ◽

Nadia Govoni ◽

Augusta Zannoni ◽

Martina Bertocchi ◽

Chiara Bernardini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Correlation Analysis ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Reproductive Activity ◽

Melatonin Receptors ◽

Local Synthesis ◽

Testicular Weight ◽

And Function ◽

Gene Expression Levels

Roe deer are seasonal breeders with a complete yearly testicular cycle. The peak in reproductive activity is recorded during summer, the rutting period, with the highest levels of androgens and testicular weight. Melatonin plays a pivotal role in seasonal breeders by stimulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonads axis and acting locally; in different species, its synthesis within testes has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological melatonin pattern within roe deer testes by comparing data obtained from animals sampled during pre- and post-rut periods. Melatonin was quantified in testicular parenchyma, along with the genetic expression of enzymes involved in its local synthesis (AANAT and ASMT) and function (UCP1). Melatonin receptors, MT1-2, were quantified both at protein and gene expression levels. Finally, to assess changes in reproductive hormonal profiles, testicular dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was quantified and used for a correlation analysis. Melatonin and AANAT were detected in all samples, without significant differences between pre- and post-rut periods. Despite DHEA levels confirming testicular involution during the post-rut period, no correlations appeared between such involution and melatonin pathways. This study represents the first report regarding melatonin synthesis in roe deer testes, opening the way for future prospective studies in the physiology of this species.

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Salmonella enterica Subsp. houtenae Associated with an Abscess in Young Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10060654 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 654

Author(s):

Adriana Trotta ◽

Laura Del Sambro ◽

Michela Galgano ◽

Stefano Ciccarelli ◽

Erika Ottone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Resistance Pattern ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

Biochemical Identification ◽

Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands ◽

Insight Into

Background: S. enterica subsp. houtenae has been rarely documented, and very limited genomic information is available. This report describes a rare case of primary extraintestinal salmonellosis in a young roe deer, associated with Salmonella enterica subsp. houtenae. Methods: A traditional cultural-based analysis was carried out from the contents of a neck abscess; biochemical identification and PCR assay were performed to isolate and identify the pathogen. Through whole-genome sequencing (WGS), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), core genome MLST (cgMLST), and the Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) survey, resistome and virulome genes were investigated to gain insight into the virulence and antimicrobial resistance of S. houtenae. Results: Biochemical identification and PCR confirmed the presence of Salmonella spp. in the swelling. The WGS analysis identified Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae serovar 43:z4,z23:- and ST 958. The virulence study predicted a multidrug resistance pattern with resistance shown against aminoglycosides, tetracycline, beta-lactamase, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin, nitroimidazole, aminocoumarin, and peptide. Fifty-three antibiotic-resistant genes were identified. No plasmids were detected. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of continuous surveillance of pathogenic salmonellae. Biomolecular analyses combined with epidemiological data can provide important information about poorly described Salmonella strains and can help to improve animal welfare.

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