Seasonal activity patterns and home range sizes of wolves in the human‐dominated landscape of northeast Türkiye

Wildlife Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(6)

Published: June 19, 2024

Gray wolves Canis lupus comprise one of the most widely distributed carnivore species on planet, but they face myriad environmental and anthropogenic pressures. Previous research suggests that adjust their time‐ space‐use seasonally to mitigate risks from humans, conspecifics, other predators while maximizing hunting reproductive success. With many populations resettling in areas with dense human populations, understanding how may temporal spatial patterns these more human‐dominated landscapes is high conservation importance. Typically, presence causes increase nocturnality home range size. Here, we look at seasonal size diel activity among resident non‐resident differ an ecosystem experiences significant differences between seasons. While had larger ranges than wolves, there were no sizes within residents non‐residents seasons, suggesting changes effect The similar greater overlap humans active when less present landscape. Both showed increased nocturnality, both groups selecting for strongly nomadic season. This first study tracking Türkiye's offers descriptions trends GPS‐collared this highly environment.

Language: Английский

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Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Mammals of Southern Italy

Pathogens, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 471 - 471

Published: March 16, 2023

Systematic wildlife surveillance is important to aid the prevention of zoonotic infections that jeopardize human health and undermine biodiversity. Toxoplasma gondii an opportunistic protozoan can infect all endothermic vertebrates, causing severe disease in immunocompromised humans cases congenital transmission. Humans be infected by ingestion raw meat containing bradyzoites or water contaminated oocysts. In our study, we assessed potential circulation wild mammals performing Campania region (southern Italy) surveyed its presence from 2020 2022 within framework Regional Plans for Wildlife Surveillance. detail, 211 individuals belonging five (wolf, fox, boar, badger, roe deer) underwent necropsy organs were analyzed real-time PCR detection parasite. was found 21.8% (46/211) subjects examined. No statistically significant differences noticed between prevalence host's trophic level age, rejecting hypotheses will have a higher top predators adult individuals, respectively. Our work emphasized high remarked on critical role anthropized areas where domestic cats may come into contact, urging systematic surveillance.

Language: Английский

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Relatedness-based mate choice and female philopatry: inbreeding trends of wolf packs in a human-dominated landscape

Heredity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 132(4), P. 211 - 220

Published: March 12, 2024

Abstract Inbreeding can reduce offspring fitness and has substantial implications for the genetic diversity long-term viability of populations. In social cooperative canids, inbreeding is conditioned by geographic proximity between opposite-sex kin outside natal groups presence related individuals in neighbouring groups. Consequently, challenges moving into other regions where species present also affect rates. These be particularly problematic areas high human density, movement restricted, even highly vagile species. this study, we investigate socio-ecological dynamics Iberian wolf packs human-dominated landscape Alto Minho, northwest Portugal, wolves exhibit a prevalence short-distance dispersal limited gene flow with regions. We hypothesise that mating occurs regardless relatedness, resulting recurrent due to encounter Using data from 10-year non-invasive monitoring programme combination relatedness estimates genealogical reconstructions, describe diversity, mate choice, strategies among Minho packs. contrast expectations, our findings reveal relatedness-based low rates, reduced number events. observed philopatry, female breeders, most common breeding strategy involving pairing philopatric an unrelated immigrant male. Overall, were not inbred, temporal changes significant. Our are discussed, considering demographic trend its landscape.

Language: Английский

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The origin, connectivity, and individual specialization of island wolves after deer extirpation

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Wolves are assumed to be ungulate obligates, however, a recently described pack on Pleasant Island, Alaska USA, is persisting sea otters and other marine resources without prey, violating this long-held assumption. We address questions about these wolves regarding their origin fate, degree of isolation, risk inbreeding depression, diet specialization by individual sex. applied DNA metabarcoding genotyping amplicon sequencing using 957 scats collected from 2016 2022, reduced representation tissue samples establish detailed understanding Island wolf ecology compare them with adjacent mainland wolves. Dietary overlap was higher among (Pianka's index mean 0.95 ± 0.03) compared (0.70 0.21). The diets island were dominated otter, ranging 40.6% 63.2% weighted percent occurrence (wPOO) (mean 55.5 8.7). In contrast, primarily fed ungulates (42.2 21.3) or voles during population outbreak (31.2 23.2). traced the pair that colonized around 2013 produced several litters. After breeding killed, female offspring an immigrant male became new breeders in 2019. detected 20 individuals which 8 (40%) trapped killed while two died natural causes 6-year study. Except for male, pedigree analysis genotype results showed no additional movement island, indicating limited dispersal but evidence inbreeding. Our findings suggest exhibit more flexible foraging behavior than previously believed, hunting strategies can substantially differ between within packs. Nevertheless, anthropogenic mortality combined connectivity may inhibit continued persistence

Language: Английский

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Large carnivore management at odds; science or prejudice?

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03202 - e03202

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

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Large carnivore range expansion in Iberia in relation to different scenarios of permeability of human‐dominated landscapes

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 29(1), P. 75 - 88

Published: Nov. 10, 2022

Abstract Aim Large carnivores are currently recolonizing parts of their historical ranges in Europe after centuries persecution and habitat loss. Understanding the mechanisms driving these recolonizations is important for proactive conservation planning. Using brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus as examples, we explore where when large likely to expand into human‐dominated landscapes how varying levels resistance due human pressure might impact this recolonization process. Location Peninsula. Methods We used ensembles species distribution models relate occurrence data climate, topography satellite‐based land‐cover predictors at a 10 km spatial resolution. Resulting predictions suitable areas were fed dispersal model simulate range expansion over time‐steps different scenarios. Finally, overlaid with protected highlight that key future connectivity, but pressures hamper dispersal. Results found widespread both (bear: 30,000 2 , lynx: 170,000 ), yet limits potential expansions. For bears, core habitats between Cantabrian Pyrenean populations remained unconnected despite between. lynx, predicted higher potential, although high southern coastal Spain negatively affected potential. Main conclusions Our results bears Peninsula more constrained by lower permeability than availability, situation emblematic many world. More generally, our approach provides simple tool planners managers identify occur proactively managing allow safely disperse through can contribute viable carnivore populations.

Language: Английский

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Development of a microhaplotype panel to inform management of gray wolves

Conservation Genetics Resources, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(1-2), P. 49 - 57

Published: April 19, 2023

Language: Английский

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Wolf genetic diversity compared across Europe using the yardstick method

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Integrating data across studies with traditional microsatellite genetic markers requires careful calibration and represents an obstacle for investigation of wide-ranging species where populations require transboundary management. We used the "yardstick" method to compare results published Europe since 2002 new wolf (Canis lupus) profiles from Carpathian Mountains in Central Dinaric Southeastern Europe, latter as our reference population. compared each population wolves, considering only shared (range 4-17). For population, we calculated standard diversity indices plus calibrated heterozygosity (Hec) allelic richness (Ac). Hec Ac (0.704 9.394) wolves (0.695 7.023) were comparable those observed other large mid-sized European populations, but smaller than northeastern Europe. Major discrepancies marker choices among some made comparisons more difficult. However, yardstick method, including measures Ac, provided a direct comparison values intuitive interpretation results. The thus permitted integration diverse sources publicly available spatiotemporal monitoring evolutionary potential.

Language: Английский

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Habitat selection of resident and non-resident gray wolves: implications for habitat connectivity

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Nov. 21, 2023

Habitat selection studies facilitate assessing and predicting species distributions habitat connectivity, but can vary temporally among individuals, which is often ignored. We used GPS telemetry data from 96 Gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the western Great Lakes region of USA to assess differences while exhibited resident (territorial) or non-resident (dispersing floating) movements discuss implications for connectivity. a step-selection function (SSF) by exhibiting movements, modeled circuit connectivity throughout region. Wolves selected natural land cover against areas with high road densities, no when resident, dispersing, floating. Similar between may be due similarity environmental conditions, occur largely within established wolf range rather than near periphery beyond range. Alternatively, travel through occupied territories because higher food availability lower human disturbance outweighs risks posed conspecifics. Finally, an absence other unknown reasons. recommend considering context-dependency evaluating use individuals. Our results also provide independent validation previous distribution model analysis suggesting most potential occupied, limited unoccupied habitat.

Language: Английский

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Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda

Movement Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: Dec. 1, 2021

Habitat specialists living in human-dominated landscapes are likely to be affected by habitat fragmentation and human disturbances more than generalists. But there is a paucity of information on their response such factors. We examined the effect these factors movement patterns red pandas Ailurus fulgens, diet specialist that inhabits eastern Himalaya.We equipped 10 (six females, four males) with GPS collars monitored them from September 2019 March 2020 Ilam, Nepal. collected disturbance data over seasons. considered geophysical covariates, anthropogenic metrics, employed linear -mixed models logistic regression evaluate those variables patterns.The median daily distance travelled was 756 m. Males nearly 1.5 times further females (605 m). sub-adults mating season while showed no seasonal variation for coverage. Red were relatively active during dawn morning rest day, they exhibited coverage diel cycle. Both males appeared cub-rearing season, yet birthing season. Two sub-adult dispersed an average 21 km starting dispersal onset new moon following winter solstice. The single subadult male did not disperse. avoided roads, small-habitat patches large unsuitable areas between patches. Where connected high forest cover scarce animals moved directly when abundant.Our study indicates this vulnerable fragmentation. restoration through improving functional connectivity may necessary secure long-term conservation species landscape. Regulation activities should go parallel minimize biologically crucial life phases. recommend zonation limit avoid disturbances, especially livestock herding road construction core areas.

Language: Английский

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