Охота на куликов на Камчатке и ее влияние на популяции видов, внесенных в Красную книгу России.

The first in Russia large-scale study on the impact of hunting on wader populations was carried out in Kamchatka in 2019. The main research method was anonymous hunters questioning. In Kamchatka Krai, about 3.400 hunters take part in the wader hunt. Of the 402 hunters, who participated in the anonymous questioning, 55 % were hunting Whimbrels in the current season; 9 %, other large and medium-size wader species; 14 %, smaller waders. The total of about 45.000 waders are shot annually in Kamchatka, including 37.000 Whimbrels 1.600 waders of other large species, and 6 thousand waders of smaller species. From the species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, up to 20 Oystercatchers, 100 Far Eastern Curlews, 200 Bar-tailed Godwits, 300 Grater Knots, and 100 Red Knots are shot. Hunting smaller waders is not popular, but it causes the death of up to 12.000 thousand smaller waders, with Spoon-billed Sandpiper also occasionally killed. Special educational activities for hunters and hunting officers are required for conservation of wader populations included in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation; first, a special field guide of waders in the Far East should be published. It is also necessary to restore the Moroshechnaya River sanctuary reserve, liquidated in 2009 yet included in the official list of areas of international importance for waders on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Alternative Fish Species for Nutritional Management of Children with Fish-FPIES—A Clinical Approach

In the Mediterranean region, fish is a common cause of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) in children. No laboratory tests specific to FPIES are available, and oral food challenge (OFC) is the gold standard for its diagnosis and testing for achievement of tolerance. Children with FPIES to fish are usually advised to avoid all fish, regardless of the species. Fish are typically classified into bony and cartilaginous, which are phylogenetically distant species and therefore contain less cross-reacting allergens. The protein β-parvalbumin, considered a pan-allergenic, is found in bony fish, while the non-allergenic α-parvalbumin is commonly found in cartilaginous fish. Based on this difference, as a first step in the therapeutic process of children with FPIES caused by a certain fish in the bony fish category (i.e., hake, cod, perch, sardine, gilthead sea bream, red mullet, sole, megrim, sea bass, anchovy, tuna, swordfish, trout, etc.), an OFC to an alternative from the category of cartilaginous fish is suggested (i.e., blue shark, tope shark, dogfish, monkfish, skate, and ray) and vice versa. Regarding the increased mercury content in some sharks and other large species, the maximum limit imposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for weekly mercury intake must be considered. An algorithm for the management of fish-FPIES, including alternative fish species, is proposed.

Archaeoichthyological Research of Settlements of the Golden Horde Period of the Saratov Volga Region

The article presents a study of fish remains from the Bagaevka settlement with the involvement of the results of identifications of fish remains from other settlements in the region of the Golden Horde city Ukek, functioning in the second half of the 13th – 14th century. The purpose of the work was a comprehensive analysis of the remains of fishes from the Bagaevka settlement, as a large Golden Horde rural settlement of Ukek region, including species, quantitative, dimensional and age composition of the fishes on the basis of the archaeoichthyological collection and interpretation of the obtained results taking into account archaeological data. The 19 species of fishes were determined from bone remains and scales, the main species of which were large-sized: Russian sturgeon, Beluga, Starred sturgeon, Catfish and Zander. The predominance of large-sized species indicates that fishing was carried out on the Volga. The identified dimensional-species composition of fishes (large species with a large body weight), as well as the discovered fishing equipment, directly indicate the presence of collective fishing of the inhabitants of the Bagaevka settlement. Cutting and processing of all incoming fish was carried out on the territory of the settlement. Fishing in this settlement, as well as throughout the Saratov Volga region, has already acquired the features of a specialized subsidiary farming.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8496-3706

A perda e fragmentação de habitats constitui uma das maiores ameaças à fauna, principalmente aos mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte. Considerando as ameaças contínuas que os remanescentes de Cerrado sofrem, é essencial realizar inventários de mamíferos em áreas ainda pouco pesquisadas. Para avaliar a riqueza de espécies e a frequência relativa de mamíferos de médio e grande porte foram aplicados os métodos de visualização direta e registro por armadilhas fotográficas. O estudo foi realizado entre fevereiro e agosto de 2020, no Monumento Natural Municipal Serra do Bom Jardim, em Alcinópolis, Mato Grosso do Sul – MS. A partir de um esforço amostral 840 armadilhas-noite e 224 horas de buscas direta, foram registradas 27 espécies de mamíferos nativos, equivalente a 57.4 % das espécies desse grupo presentes no MS. A curva de acumulação de espécies associada com a riqueza estimada (Jackknife-1) indica que a continuidade da amostragem deve adicionar novas espécies. Duas espécies foram responsáveis por mais de 60 % dos registros fotográficos (Tapirus terrestres e Cerdocyon thous). Nosso inventário adicionou três novas ocorrências ao plano de manejo da UC (Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus tigrinus, e Coendou prehensilis). O registro de ocorrência de L. tigrinus por armadilha fotográfica é o primeiro para o estado de MS. Esse é o único carnívoro com ocorrência no Brasil que está ameaçado globalmente. Obtivemos registros de mais de 50 % das espécies ameaçadas de extinção presentes no MS, sem considerar L. tigrinus. Duas delas por exemplo, Ozotoceros bezoarticus e Priodontes maximus, estão entre as espécies mais raras em território sul mato-grossense. Nossos registros contribuem para a execução de medidas de conservação dos mamíferos na UC estudada, que desempenha um papel fundamental para a proteção do corredor Cerrado-Pantanal. MEDIUM AND LARGE SIZED MAMMALS IN PROTECTED AREA AT CERRADO, MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL: Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to fauna, especially for medium to large-sized terrestrial mammals. Considering the continuous threats on Cerrado remnants, it is essential to carry out mammal inventories in areas with low information available. In order to evaluate the species richness and the relative frequency of medium and large mammals, we investigated the area with direct observations and using camera traps. The study was conducted from February to August 2020, in the Serra do Bom Jardim Municipal Natural Monument, in Alcinópolis, Mato Grosso do Sul State (MS). From a sampling effort of 840 trap-nights and 224 hours of direct observations, a total of 27 species of native mammals were registered, representing 57.4 % of medium and large species that occur MS. Species accumulation curve associated with estimated richness (Jackknife-1) indicates that continued sampling would add new species. Two species were responsible for more than 60 % of the photographic records (Tapirus terrestre and Cerdocyon thous). Our survey added three new occurrences to the protected area management plan (Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus tigrinus, and Coendou prehensilis). The occurrence of L. tigrinus is the first record for the state of MS. This is the only globally threatened carnivore in Brazil. We recorded more than 50 % of the endangered species present in MS, besides L. tigrinus. Two of endangered species, Ozotoceros bezoarticus and Priodontes maximus, are among the rarest species in MS. Our study contributes to conservation measures proposed by municipal protected area, which plays a fundamental role for wildlife conservation in the Cerrado-Pantanal corridor.

Power laws from the bird species abundance distribution

A recent study found that bird species with fewer individuals are abundant, but large species are rare. We show that this new data strongly suggests a power-law distribution rather than the most accepted log-normal. Moreover, we discuss extinction risk across the bird phylogeny and future conservation efforts by profiting from the hierarchical structure revealed by the new data.

Trophic niche overlap between coyotes and gray foxes in a temperate forest in Durango, Mexico

Resource partitioning, and especially dietary partitioning, is a mechanism that has been studied for several canid species as a means to understand competitive relationships and the ability of these species to coexist. Coyotes (Canis latrans) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are two canid species that are widely distributed, in Mexico, and they are sympatric throughout most of their distribution range. However, trophic dynamic and overlap between them have not been thoroughly studied. In order to better understand their ecological relationship and potential competitive interactions, we studied the trophic niche overlap between both canids in a temperate forest of Durango, Mexico. The results are based on the analysis of 540 coyote and 307 gray fox feces collected in 2018. Both species consumed a similar range of food items, but the coyote consumed large species while the gray fox did not. For both species, the most frequently consumed food categories throughout the year and seasonally were fruit and wild mammals (mainly rodents and lagomorphs). Coyotes had higher trophic diversity in their annual diet (H’ = 2.33) than gray foxes (H’ = 1.80). When analyzing diets by season, trophic diversity of both species was higher in winter and spring and tended to decrease in summer and autumn. When comparing between species, this parameter differed significantly during all seasons except for summer. Trophic overlap throughout the year was high (R0 = 0.934), with seasonal variation between R0 = 0.821 (autumn) and R0 = 0.945 (spring). Both species based their diet on the most available food items throughout each season of the year, having high dietary overlap which likely can lead to intense exploitative competition processes. However, differences in trophic diversity caused by differential prey use can mitigate competitive interactions, allowing these different sized canid species to coexist in the study area.

Species-rich but defaunated: the case of medium and large-bodied mammals in a sustainable use protected area in the Amazon

ABSTRACT Neotropical medium and large-bodied mammals are key elements in forest ecosystems, and protected areas are essential for their conservation. In Brazil, sustainable use protected areas (SU-PAs) allow both the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources, especially in the Amazon region. However, SU-PAs usually suffer both internal and external pressures, and may be subject to variable degrees of defaunation. We sampled mammals using camera traps in two areas with different forest management and human occupation history in the Tapajós National Forest (TNF), in the western Amazon. Overall, we recorded a rich assemblage of medium and large-sized mammals, though both areas differed in species composition. The area with older and more intense human occupation and forest exploitation had more independent records of generalist species, while large species such as Tapirus terrestris and Panthera onca were recorded exclusively in the area with lower human occupation and no forest management. A comparison of our results with similar studies in other Amazonian sites suggests a reduction in the population size of large-bodied mammals, such as Tapirus terrestris and Tayassu pecari, likely in response to increased human activities. Local differences in human occupation within and between protected areas are common in the Amazon, demanding area-specific actions from public authorities to minimize impacts on wildlife caused by human activities. Specifically in TNF, we recommend long-term monitoring of the responses of mammals to human activities, to better subsidize conservation and management actions.

Inventory of Animal Contamination by Cyanotoxins in Africa

This study reviews work on the accumulation of cyanotoxins in fish and various animals in Africa. Microcystins (MC-LR, MC-RR, and MC-YR) appear to be the main contaminating toxin in fish and other animals. In fish, the highest concentration (1917 μg.kg-1) was detected in the whole body of a small species of fish (Rastrineobola argenta) consumed whole by the populations around Lake Victoria. In large species, the intestine (followed by the liver) is the organ that accumulates the most cyanotoxins; up to 3059 ng.g-1 in Algerian common carp. Fish muscle accumulates little or no cyanotoxins in most publications and Oreochromis niloticus, a phytoplanktonophagous species widely consumed by the African populations, remains the most studied species. In other animal species, cases of cyanotoxin mortality were reported in most publications in southern and central Africa and only one publication in North Africa. No study on this subject has been referenced in other parts of Africa.

Diversification and post-glacial range expansion of giant North American camel spiders in genus Eremocosta (Solifugae: Eremobatidae)

Species of camel spiders in the family Eremobatidae are an important component of arthropod communities in arid ecosystems throughout North America. Recently, research demonstrated that the evolutionary history and biogeography of the family are poorly understood. Herein we explore the biogeographic history of this group of arachnids using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, morphology, and distribution modelling to study the eremobatid genus Eremocosta, which contains exceptionally large species distributed throughout North American deserts. Relationships among sampled species were resolved with strong support and they appear to have diversified within distinct desert regions along an east-to-west progression beginning in the Chihuahuan Desert. The unexpected phylogenetic position of some samples suggests that the genus may contain additional, morphologically cryptic species. Geometric morphometric analyses reveal a largely conserved cheliceral morphology among Eremocosta spp. Phylogeographic analyses indicate that the distribution of E. titania was substantially reduced during the last glacial maximum and the species only recently colonized much of the Mojave Desert. Results from this study underscore the power of genome-wide data for unlocking the genetic potential of museum specimens, which is especially promising for organisms like camel spiders that are notoriously difficult to collect.

WATLAS: high resolution and real-time tracking of many small birds in the Dutch Wadden Sea

Movement is a fundamental aspect of life and tracking wild animals under natural conditions has become central to animal behaviour, ecology, and conservation science. Data from tracked animals have provided novel scientific insights on extreme migratory journeys, mechanisms of navigation, space use, and early warning signals of environmental change. Technological advancements, and chiefly the development of GPS tags, have enabled animal tracking at high spatiotemporal resolution, yet trade-offs between sampling frequency, tag weight and data retrieval limit the use of GPS tags to relatively few individuals and large species. A new 'reverse-GPS' wildlife tracking system, called ATLAS, employs small low-cost tags, enabling simultaneous tracking of several hundred individuals at high accuracy and in real time, hence providing opportunities for studying inter-individual interactions and collective behaviour in the wild. Within an array of receiver stations, positions are calculated based on differences in tag-signal arrival times at minimally three receiver stations. Tags cost approximately 25 euro each and weigh as little as 0.6 g (without battery and coating). In this study, we introduce the Wadden Sea ATLAS system (WATLAS), implemented in the Dutch Wadden Sea, the Netherland's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet affected by a suit of anthropogenic activities, such as fisheries, mining, shipping, and sea level rise. From July 2017 to July 2021, we tracked 821 red knots, 182 sanderlings, 33 bar-tailed godwits, and 6 common terns. With four examples, we illustrate how WATLAS opens-up possibilities for studying space-use, among-individual variation in movement, and intra-specific interactions, and inter-specific (community) space use in the wild. We additionally argue that WATLAS could provide a tool for impact assessment, and thus aid nature conservation and management of the globally important Wadden Sea ecosystem.