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  Subjects -> ANIMAL WELFARE (Total: 103 journals)
Showing 1 - 22 of 22 Journals sorted alphabetically
Acrocephalus     Open Access   (Followers: 10)
Advances in Animal Biosciences     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 10)
Advances in Botanical Research     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 1)
African Journal of Wildlife Research     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 8)
Agrivet : Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Pertanian dan Peternakan / Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Veteriner)     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Alternatives to Laboratory Animals     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 9)
Animal - Science Proceedings     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 7)
Animal Cognition     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 20)
Animal Diseases     Open Access   (Followers: 6)
Animal Frontiers     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 3)
Animal Nutrition     Open Access   (Followers: 23)
Animal Research International     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 3)
Animal Sentience : An Interdisciplinary Journal on Animal Feeling     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Animal Studies Journal     Open Access   (Followers: 6)
Animal Welfare     Open Access   (Followers: 32)
Animals     Open Access   (Followers: 14)
Annual Review of Animal Biosciences     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 1)
Applied Animal Science     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 1)
Archiva Zootehnica     Open Access  
Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances     Open Access   (Followers: 8)
Asian Journal of Animal Sciences     Open Access   (Followers: 3)
Asian Journal of Cell Biology     Open Access   (Followers: 4)
Australian Holstein Journal     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 1)
Australian Mammalogy     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 8)
Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science     Open Access   (Followers: 4)
Between the Species     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Botanical Review     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 3)
British Poultry Abstracts     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 4)
Buletin Peternakan : Bulletin of Animal Science     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Buletin Veteriner Udayana     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 3)
Canadian Journal of Animal Science     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 6)
Companion Animal     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 8)
Corpoica Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria     Open Access  
Derecho Animal. Forum of Animal Law Studies     Open Access   (Followers: 5)
Equine Health     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 4)
Ethics and Social Welfare     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 24)
European Journal of Wildlife Research     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 14)
Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Hayvansal Üretim     Open Access  
Human-Wildlife Interactions     Open Access  
Indonesian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
International Journal for Parasitology : Parasites and Wildlife     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
International Journal of Equine Science     Open Access   (Followers: 7)
International Journal of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Italian Journal of Animal Science     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences     Open Access  
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology     Open Access   (Followers: 3)
Journal of Animal Science and Products     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 1)
Journal of Applied Animal Research     Open Access   (Followers: 5)
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 23)
Journal of Botany     Open Access   (Followers: 4)
Journal of Comparative Social Welfare     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 16)
Journal of Experimental Psychology : Animal Learning and Cognition     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 11)
Journal of Pest Science     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 2)
Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment     Open Access   (Followers: 8)
Journal of Threatened Taxa     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences     Open Access  
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine     Open Access   (Followers: 32)
Journal of Veterinary Science & Medicine     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity     Open Access   (Followers: 5)
Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Jurnal Agripet     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Jurnal Ilmu dan Kesehatan Hewan (Veterinary Science and Medicine Journal)     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Peternakan     Open Access  
Jurnal Sain Peternakan Indonesia     Open Access  
Jurnal Veteriner     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Majalah Ilmiah Peternakan     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Natural History Sciences     Open Access   (Followers: 4)
Nigerian Journal of Animal Science     Full-text available via subscription   (Followers: 2)
Nutrición Animal Tropical     Open Access   (Followers: 3)
Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Pastoralism : Research, Policy and Practice     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
People and Animals : The International Journal of Research and Practice     Open Access  
Pet Behaviour Science     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Rangifer     Open Access  
Research Journal of Parasitology     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Revista Brasileira de Higiene e Sanidade Animal     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Revista Colombiana de Ciencia Animal     Open Access  
Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias (Colombian journal of animal science and veterinary medicine)     Open Access   (Followers: 2)
Revista de Producción Animal     Open Access  
Revista de Salud Animal     Open Access  
Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Revue de primatologie     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
RUDN Journal of Agronomy and Animal Industries     Open Access  
Science and Animal Health     Open Access  
Scientific Papers Animal Science and Biotechnologies     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Social Choice and Welfare     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 12)
Society and Animals     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 14)
South African Journal of Animal Science     Open Access   (Followers: 3)
Spei Domus     Open Access  
TRACE ∴ Finnish Journal for Human-Animal Studies     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Translational Animal Science     Open Access  
Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research     Open Access  
Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi / International Journal of Agricultural and Wildlife Sciences     Open Access  
veterinär spiegel     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 1)
Veterinary and Animal Science     Open Access  
Veterinary Clinical Pathology     Hybrid Journal   (Followers: 9)
Wartazoa. Indonesian Bulletin of Animal and Veterinary Sciences     Open Access   (Followers: 1)
Wildfowl     Open Access   (Followers: 12)

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European Journal of Wildlife Research
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.733
Citation Impact (citeScore): 2
Number of Followers: 14  
 
  Hybrid Journal Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 1439-0574 - ISSN (Online) 1612-4642
Published by Springer-Verlag Homepage  [2468 journals]
  • Correction to: Feather stable isotopes (δ2 Hf and δ13Cf) identify the
           Sub-Saharan wintering grounds of turtle doves from Europe

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      PubDate: 2023-09-13
       
  • Frozen soil reduces the effectiveness of the electric fences

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      Abstract: Abstract Dry soil had a high electric resistance, and thus, electric fences are not always efficient in arid regions. When an animal standing on the ground touches the electric line, an electric circuit is formed and the animal gets shocked. Not only dry soil but also snow reduces the efficacy of electric fences. This is because liquid water is conductive, but solid snow is an insulator. However, the conductance of frozen soil is not studied enough. This study aims to investigate whether frozen soil reduces the effectiveness of electric fences and determines the electrical resistance of frozen soil. Four electric fences were installed on the forest edge in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan. From May 2021 to March 2022, two sensor cameras per fence were used to detect “probability of electrification” and “probability of intrusion into the fences.” We treated from May to October 2021 and November 2021 to March 2022 as a non-frozen season (summer) and frozen season (winter), respectively. Results showed that in winter, the probability of electrification was decreased from 0.5 to 0.29 and the intrusion was increased from 0.03 to 0.07. When a pulsed current was applied, the electric conductance of frozen soil was reduced to 0.5% of that of the wet soil. Therefore, due to their reduced effectiveness in cold conditions, alternate grounding techniques for electric fences are required. For instance, the use of weed control sheet interwoven with stainless steel wire could be a practical solution.
      PubDate: 2023-09-13
       
  • Female philopatry and unsuccessful male dispersal of a top predator in a
           human-modified landscape revealed by relatedness analysis

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      Abstract: Abstract Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten population persistence because they affect the ability of individuals to disperse between remaining patches of good-quality habitat and reduce refuge areas for populations. In cougars (Puma concolor), males are predominantly dispersers while females tend to be more philopatric. To examine the dispersal ability and philopatry of cougars in a human-dominated landscape in Brazil, we performed relatedness and spatial autocorrelation analyses based on genotyped cougars from different sampling groups: forest fragments within a human-modified matrix, continuous forest, and road-killed individuals. We found similarly high relatedness and a positive spatial autocorrelation at the shortest spatial scale (0–100 km) for both males and females from the forest fragments within a human-modified matrix. In the continuous forest and among cougars sampled as roadkills, we detected no spatial autocorrelation and observed low relatedness for both sexes. We also detected higher male:female sex ratio among road-killed individuals, likely due to the greater dispersal tendency of males. Our results confirm female philopatry in the forest fragments. However, the high relatedness and positive autocorrelation observed in the forest fragments suggest kin clustering also for males, which may be a result of unsuccessful dispersal. We reported the first evidence for a South American cougar population of unsuccessful dispersal in response to human-altered landscapes. Further research is needed to assess the specific causes of male unsuccessful dispersal and how it may affect species persistence in human-dominated landscapes.
      PubDate: 2023-09-11
       
  • Influence of COVID-19 lockdown and hunting disturbance on the activity
           patterns of exotic wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis) in a
           protected area of northeastern Argentina

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      Abstract: Abstract Wildlife diel activity patterns are relevant for studying animal responses to human disturbance and management of overabundant and invasive species. Exotic wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis) in a protected area of northeastern Argentina have been intensely managed through controlled shooting over bait since 2006. This program kept wild boar at bay but failed to curb axis deer numbers for unknown reasons possibly related to the timing of hunting sessions. We used camera traps to assess the seasonal diel activity patterns of both ungulates over 2017–2021 and to test whether hunting-related activity and COVID-19 lockdown modified those patterns, and whether hunting-shift intervals overlapped with ungulate core activity. Wild boar activity strongly differed between summer and winter, showing cathemeral activity in summer and nocturnal activity in winter. Axis deer cathemeral activity displayed moderate inter-seasonal and inter-annual changes. The activity cores largely differed between both ungulate species. The lockdown-related suspension of hunting and other park operations over roughly 1 year did not modify the seasonal activity patterns of wild boar, whereas axis deer increased its daytime activity in summer. Ungulate activity remained consistent over successive 48-h interval preceding, accompanying, and following hunting sessions, suggesting that short-term hunting-related disturbance did not influence their temporal activity. Unlike wild boar, detection of axis deer was substantially higher during intervals matching overnight hunting shifts rather than during evening shifts. Matching the timing of hunting sessions to ungulate activity cores (i.e., night hunting) may substantially increase culling and the efficiency of management efforts.
      PubDate: 2023-09-11
       
  • Hybridisation and genomic diversity in British and Irish pigeons Columba
           livia

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      Abstract: Abstract Human introductions of animals and plants have caused a diverse array of conservation problems, including extinction by hybridisation. This results from interbreeding of non-native and native populations, causing genomic homogenisation. A potential benefit of anthropogenic hybridisation concerns the influx of genetic variation. The Rock Dove Columba livia has been genetically replaced across much of its range by the feral pigeon. Relict populations in the British Isles have experienced varying levels of wild-feral gene flow. Introgression correlates with higher genomic diversity, potentially improving chances of persistence of relict Rock Dove populations. However, the beneficial impacts of interbreeding may be short-lived if hybridisation levels increase.
      PubDate: 2023-09-06
       
  • Seroepidemiological analyses of rabies virus in two procyonid species from
           La Venta urban park, in Tabasco, Mexico

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      Abstract: Abstract A limited number of meso-carnivores act as reservoirs of the rabies virus (RABV) globally and play a key role in its maintenance in the wild. Rabies virus–neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) indicate a response to rabies vaccination but are also detected in unvaccinated populations suggesting non-fatal exposure. In the ecological park La Venta, in Mexico’s Tabasco state, we conducted a 4-year (from 2009 to 2012) serological survey in order to chart the trends of rabies-neutralizing antibodies in 239 white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica) and 74 raccoons (Procyon lotor). No wild carnivores had been vaccinated in this region. Oral swabs were taken from 44 animals to assess RABV in their saliva. RVNA titers were determined using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). The overall prevalence of RVNA was 19.4% (CI 95% 15.3–24.1). In coatis the prevalence was 16.7% (CI 95% 12.4–21.9) and in raccoons it was 28.4% (CI 95% 19.0–39.4). Variations over time were detected, with two peaks in June 2009 and June 2011, respectively. The median IU/ml was 0.81 (± 0.13) for both species. Antibody titers ranged from 0.24 to 0.90 IU for coatis and from 0.12 to 5.70 IU for raccoons. All saliva samples were negative for RABV, indicating that the animals were not excreting the virus in saliva at the time of collection. The antibody prevalence and titer dynamics are consistent with subclinical infections, suggesting that both species in La Venta have been exposed to RABV.
      PubDate: 2023-09-04
       
  • Home range sizes of red deer in relation to habitat composition: a review
           and implications for management in Sweden

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      Abstract: Abstract Knowledge about deer spatial use is essential for damage mitigation, conservation, and harvest management. We assess annual and seasonal home range sizes in relation to habitat composition for red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Sweden, using GPS-data from two regions with different management systems. We compare our findings with reviewed data on red deer home range sizes in Europe. Annual and seasonal home ranges during calving, hunt, and winter-spring, decreased with increasing proportion forest. Female annual home ranges in a mixed agricultural-forest landscape were three times larger than in a forest-dominated landscape. Core areas (50% Kernels) were approximately 1/5 of the full annual and seasonal home ranges (95% Kernels) regardless of habitat composition. Home range size in the forest-dominated landscape showed little inter-seasonal variation. In the agricultural-forest landscape, home ranges were larger during calving, hunt, and winter-spring compared to summer and rut. In the forest-dominated landscape, management areas are large enough to cover female spatial use. In the agricultural-forest landscape, female spatial use covers several license units. Here, the coordinated license system is needed to reach trade-offs between goals of conservation, game management, and damage mitigation. Males had in general larger home ranges than females, and the majority of the males also made a seasonal migration to and from the rutting areas. The license system area in the agricultural-forest landscape is large enough to manage migrating males. In the forest landscape, a coordination of several management areas is needed to encompass male migrations. We conclude that management needs to adapt to deer spatial use in different types of landscapes to reach set goals.
      PubDate: 2023-08-29
       
  • Survey of the distribution of various frog species in each paddy field,
           focusing on spatial autocorrelation

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      Abstract: Abstract As a step toward conserving rural ecosystems, evaluation of the distribution of frogs is essential. Frogs live in paddy fields and that is why its management aspects affect their distribution. Often while determining the distribution of frogs on a large scale, a method which distinguishes their calls is used. Their distribution can also be determined based on geographical aspects such as surrounding land use and distance from rivers, as well as paddy field management aspects such as the timing of rice planting. Since paddy field management methods vary from farmer to farmer, the distribution of frogs should be surveyed for each paddy field. However, the frog calls used in large-scale surveys generally confuse the frogs in multiple rice paddies. Thus, we examined the necessity of surveying individual paddy fields for a large-scale frog distribution research. Paddy fields in the three districts of Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, were used as survey sites and the presence or absence of frogs was recorded. Findings show that although the three districts are geographically close in proximity, significant differences are observed in the occurrence rates of Pelophylax porosus brevipodus and Glandirana rugosa. Spatial autocorrelation of distribution varies for different species, with some being spatially clustered, such as Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Pelophylax porosus brevipodus, and Hyla (Dryophytes) japonica, and others being spatially random, such as the Glandirana rugosa and Fejervarya kawamurai. The differences in spatial autocorrelation among species and districts suggest that surveying each paddy field on a large scale is important when considering the conservation of frogs.
      PubDate: 2023-08-24
       
  • To share or not to share: DNA metabarcoding reveals trophic niche overlap
           between sympatric trawling bats

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      Abstract: Abstract Understanding ecological niches is essential to comprehend the processes that allow similar species to occur sympatrically. Niche overlap can result in some degree of competition when resources are limited, and therefore, sympatric species must differ to some extent at some niche level in order to co-exist. The two trawling bats that co-occur along the Mediterranean region share their foraging strategy and feeding grounds, potentially consuming similar prey species. However, no research has been conducted to elucidate their dietary niche similarities or differences to test whether these may shape their sympatric foraging occurrence and distribution. We used DNA metabarcoding to study the dietary composition and niche overlap of Myotis capaccinii (an exceptionally endangered species) and M. daubentonii (a relatively common species) during the breeding season in northeastern Iberia. Unlike previous studies, Trichoptera was the most frequently consumed prey order for both bat species, followed by Diptera (mainly Chironomidae). We also report, for the second time, fish consumption by M. capaccinii in the Iberian Peninsula, and provide the fourth report of piscivory for European bats. Although minor differences in diet composition between both trawling bats were found, they presented highly overlapping dietary niches and similar dietary niche breadths, suggesting that they exploit similar trophic resources. Overall, the current results suggest that both species may have found a balance to co-occur in the same foraging niche without interspecific competition being a limiting factor.
      PubDate: 2023-08-16
       
  • Puma density, habitat use, and activity patterns across a mosaic landscape
           of ranches, game reserves, and a protected area in central Argentina

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      Abstract: Abstract Human-carnivore conflict can lead to serious reduction and even extirpation of top predators when management policies are inadequate or are absent. This is especially true in central Argentina where a few small protected areas are interspersed within a mosaic of ranches and game reserves. We used camera-trapping surveys and spatial mark–resight models, to reanalyze, estimate, and compare puma (Puma concolor) densities among these three different land-use types. We also used an occupancy modeling framework to determine drivers of puma habitat use. We used kernel density estimation to determine if land use altered puma daily activity patterns across sites. Puma density estimates (D ± SE) in cattle ranches and one game reserve were lower (1.00 ±0.36 and 1.38 ±0.91 pumas per 100 km2, respectively) than in the protected area (4.90 ±1.51 pumas per 100 km2) but CIs were wide. Puma detection was the lowest in the game reserve. Puma habitat use increased strongly with vegetation cover and probability of detection was negatively influenced by cattle encounter rates. Pumas were mostly nocturnal with some crepuscular activity in ranches and game reserve, and cathemeral in the protected area. Our results suggest that pumas likely seek refuge in protected areas and relax timing of activity there, information relevant to management plans designed to prevent puma decline or extirpation in central Argentina.
      PubDate: 2023-08-15
       
  • A tale of tails: the use of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) tails for
           ageing and individual identification

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      Abstract: Abstract With increasing technology and knowledge, the range of methods used to monitor wildlife is growing. As many invasive techniques have been shown to negatively impact study populations, the use of non-invasive methods is increasing. With Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) reintroductions occurring across much of Europe, monitoring of beavers is becoming increasingly important; however, some frequently used techniques are invasive. We therefore aimed to examine potentially non-invasive methods of identifying and ageing them from the tail. Tails from previously deceased beavers were photographed with a Nikon D3500 DSLR camera across 3 distances: ‘close’, ‘medium’ and ‘far’, and the pattern of the scales were examined by eye to determine accuracy of individual identification. Photographs including a grey standard were used to determine the accuracy of ageing beavers from the colour of the tail. The accuracy of individual identification was 100% across all distances; however, the results from ageing showed the method to be inaccurate. The success of the individual identification shows that this method could be effectively used as a non-invasive method for monitoring beaver populations, especially in captivity.
      PubDate: 2023-08-10
       
  • Population status and distribution of endangered Asiatic lions in Gujarat,
           India

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      Abstract: Abstract Estimating the population size of wildlife is essential for effective conservation and management efforts. In this study, we used a management-oriented technique called minimal total count by direct beat verification to assess the population of Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica, hereafter referred to as “lions”) across their distribution range commonly known as Asiatic Lion Landscape. From June 5th to 6th 2020, we estimated a total of 674 lions at 294 locations among 611 units surveyed. The Gir protected areas had the largest number of lions (344), followed by the satellite populations of Savarkundla-Liliya and adjoining areas (98), the southeastern coast (67), Girnar (56), Bhavnagar mainland (56), the southwestern coast (20), the Bhavnagar coast (17), and Mitiyala (16). Of the total individuals (n = 674), 62.46% were adults, 17.21% were sub-adults, and 20.33% were cubs. During the estimation, we counted 260 adult females, of which 23.08% were lactating. Compared to the previous estimate in 2015, the present estimation showed a percent change of 28.87% in five years, with an annual percent change of 5.77%. Lions were distributed across an area of approximately 30,000 km2. The adult male-to-female ratio was 1:1.61, and the average group size was 2.29 ± 0.10 (Mean ± SE). The successful conservation initiatives spanning over six decades in the Gujarat state have contributed to the increase in the lion population.
      PubDate: 2023-08-07
       
  • Urban environment determines population genetics in the green toad,
           Bufotes viridis

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      Abstract: Abstract Heavily urbanized areas can hinder dispersal and gene flow between amphibian populations. Given the growth potential of urbanization, it is important to examine how this specific environment shapes their genetic patterns at the local scale. The ability of the European green toad to successfully colonize large human settlements has been convincingly confirmed in the recent past, but little is known about its population genetics under these new conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of the environment on genetic variation, population structure, and the level of gene flow in populations of this amphibian in the city of Košice and the adjacent rural area (eastern Slovakia) using a set of neutral genetic markers. We found that urban populations had lower genetic variability than populations in adjacent rural areas; however, the degree of inbreeding was relatively low in all samples. Genetic differentiation was higher, and gene flow was more restricted in urban area, although geographic distances between sites were significantly less than in rural area (2–4 km versus 6–13 km). Our analyses suggested genetic isolation of urban populations at sites with less suitable habitat for green toads. In contrast, admixture of the population inhabiting the large city park, established on a former floodplain, with all rural populations was likely the result of an intense historical gene flow. The densely developed environment of the other urban sites likely presents a strong barrier to gene flow. The lack of suitable wetland habitat prior to development suggests that these sites were only recently colonized by a limited number of founders. Thus, we found differential effects of the city on the population structure of the green toad. Understanding current local genetic variation and structure is important for future conservation plans in urban environments.
      PubDate: 2023-08-04
       
  • Illegal trade of pangolins in India with international trade links: an
           analysis of seizures from 1991 to 2022

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      Abstract: Abstract Pangolins have become one of the most intensely poached and trafficked mammal species, exploited mainly for the food and traditional medicine trade. Intense and continued illegal exploitation for commercial trade has become the leading cause of pangolin declines in parts of Asia and Africa. Recent research has illustrated the growing threat this poses to pangolins in India. India is home to two species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata and the Chinese Pangolin M. pentadactyla, which have been assessed as endangered and critically endangered respectively. Pangolin seizures in India between 1991 and 2022 were analysed to gain a better understanding of illegal trade dynamics. A total of 426 seizures were collated, involving an estimated 8603 pangolins. The frequency of pangolin seizures increased over time as did the volume of estimated pangolins seized. This could be due to a range of different factors including rising poaching and trade levels, increased law enforcement and reporting, and awareness. Nevertheless, on the ground, investigations by the Wildlife Protection Society of India strongly indicate that the escalating poaching and trade in pangolins is driven by lucrative market demands from beyond India’s borders, with a growing focus on the trade in live pangolins. Enforcement efforts appear to be undermined by low prosecution rates with only 1.4% of recorded seizures resulting in successful convictions. Asian pangolins have rapidly disappeared from their natural range and been locally extirpated in many parts of East and Southeast Asia. India’s pangolin species are at similar risk if poaching and trafficking levels continue unmitigated.
      PubDate: 2023-07-31
       
  • Molecular detection of novel herpesviruses and adenoviruses in two species
           of Australian freshwater turtles

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      Abstract: Abstract Cutaneous lesions were observed in a wild population of freshwater turtles during routine disease surveillance at Alligator Creek, Townsville, Australia. Previous attempts to identify the causative agent of these lesions were unsuccessful; however, existing evidence suggests viral etiology. To further investigate these events, blood samples and lesion, oral and cloacal swabs collected from 128 freshwater turtles at two locations (Alligator Creek and Ross River) were screened for herpesvirus, adenovirus, poxvirus and papillomavirus by polymerase chain reaction. We detected three novel herpesviruses (chelid herpesvirus 1–3) as well as three adenoviruses (saw-shelled turtle adenovirus 1–3). Phylogenetic analyses showed that the herpesviruses formed a distinct clade with the tumour-associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (Scutavirus chelonidalpha5) within the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. The adenoviruses clustered with members of the genus Testadenovirus. Although the novel herpesviruses and adenoviruses could not be linked to the occurrence of cutaneous lesions, further characterisation will help provide better insights into their clinical, epidemiological and conservation significance.
      PubDate: 2023-07-29
       
  • Comparison between cavernous sinus and jugular vein as post mortem
           sampling sites for blood metabolic profiles in wild red deer (Cervus
           elaphus)

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      Abstract: Abstract Collection from jugular vein (JV) or intrathoracic cavity is the traditional procedure for blood sampling dead wildlife, but it is often source of preanalytical biases. Cavernous sinus of dura mater (CS) is an alternative site for withdrawal that may help to solve these issues but it has been used only for serology, while no data are available for biochemistry. This work compares metabolic profiles from CS and JV blood in red deer Cervus elaphus, to evaluate the usability of CS for metabolic profiling. A total of 134 deer were sampled in the frame of a culling program within the Stelvio National Park (Central Italian Alps). Hemolysis was statistically lower in CS than JV with 88% vs 44% of samples suitable for biochemistry. Thirty-six couples of poorly hemolytic sera were used for biochemical analysis: total protein, albumin, urea, triglycerides, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), betahydroxybutyrate (BOHB), calcium, and phosphorus. Statistical differences were found for protein, albumin, cholesterol, and calcium; agreement was found for urea, NEFA, BOHB, and phosphorus while for total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and calcium, CS showed lower concentrations with both constant and proportional biases. These results may be related to a higher impact of water dilution in CS. Although the lower protein concentration in CS cannot significantly influence the serological results, caution is required for potential false negative results when antibody levels are close to cut-off values. CS leads to a higher percentage of samples suitable for metabolic profiles but results should be compared with adequate reference intervals.
      PubDate: 2023-07-22
       
  • Global distribution modelling, assessment of the spatial invasion risk of
           Asian pied starling (Sturnus contra Linnaeus, 1758) under climate change

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      Abstract: Abstract Alien invasive species pose a rising threat to biodiversity worldwide. Effective management of these species requires accurate predictions regarding their current and future suitable habitats; however, there is little information on their suitability and dispersal patterns. Therefore, we analyzed the habitat suitability of Asian pied starling (Sturnus contra Linnaeus, 1758) a species with high invasion potential. We used global occurrence records for the Asian pied starling and applied an ensemble model to predict their current and future worldwide habitat suitability. We also used ensemble models to predict and identify global suitable regions for the Asian pied starling and areas that might be most at risk of further invasion. To do so, we utilized a series of pessimistic and optimistic scenarios of climate change by 2050 and 2070 to model suitable habitats in the future and draw key recommendations for wildlife managers based on model simulations. We found that although Asian pied starling has not been observed in these regions, extensive areas in Latin America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and small parts of Europe are potential suitable habitats for this species. Under all climate change scenarios, habitat suitability for Asian pied starling increased in Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. The greatest increases were predicted under SSP585 in 2070 with approximately 18% Africa, 17% Asia, 1% Europe, 15% America, and 18% of Oceania becoming suitable for this species. Oceania was the only continent predicted to experience a decrease in areas facing invasion by Asian pied starling. The results of this study showed that suitable habitats of Asian pied starling facilitated by environmental variables is vast, and far larger than its current geographical distribution.
      PubDate: 2023-07-22
       
  • Consequences of polyploidy and divergence as revealed by cytogenetic
           mapping of tandem repeats in African clawed frogs (Xenopus, Pipidae)

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      Abstract: Abstract Repetitive elements have been identified in several amphibian genomes using whole genome sequencing, but few studies have used cytogenetic mapping to visualize these elements in this vertebrate group. Here, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization and genomic data to map the U1 and U2 small nuclear RNAs and histone H3 in six species of African clawed frog (genus Xenopus), including, from subgenus Silurana, the diploid Xenopus tropicalis and its close allotetraploid relative X. calcaratus and, from subgenus Xenopus, the allotetraploid species X. pygmaeus, X. allofraseri, X. laevis, and X. muelleri. Results allowed us to qualitatively evaluate the relative roles of polyploidization and divergence in the evolution of repetitive elements because our focal species include allotetraploid species derived from two independent polyploidization events — one that is relatively young that gave rise to X. calcaratus and another that is older that gave rise to the other (older) allotetraploids. Our results demonstrated conserved loci number and position of signals in the species from subgenus Silurana; allotetraploid X. calcaratus has twice as many signals as diploid X. tropicalis. However, the content of repeats varied among the other allotetraploid species. We detected almost same number of signals in X. muelleri as in X. calcaratus and same number of signals in X. pygmaeus, X. allofraseri, X. laevis as in the diploid X. tropicalis. Overall, these results are consistent with the proposal that allopolyploidization duplicated these tandem repeats and that variation in their copy number was accumulated over time through reduction and expansion in a subset of the older allopolyploids.
      PubDate: 2023-07-21
       
  • Correction to: Diseases of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica)

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      PubDate: 2023-07-18
       
  • The synzootic potential of common epidemics in chamois populations

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      Abstract: Abstract Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) is a medium-sized and gregarious mountain ungulate with populations affected by periodic outbreaks of border disease virus (BD), infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC), and sarcoptic mange (SM). Even though the impact of each disease on chamois populations has been described in detail, there is a lack of information about the potential impact of concomitant epidemics and the synzootic potential (co-occurring enzootic or epizootic processes producing worse health outcomes in wildlife) on chamois populations. Furthermore, whether a specific order of apparition of epidemics is more or less harmful for the host population is practically unknown not only for chamois but also for most mammal populations. Using a population viability analysis (PVA), we studied the consequences of multiple disease outbreaks with synzootic potential on growth rates and probabilities of extinction of virtual populations exposed to hard winters, density dependence, and co-occurring BD, IKC, and SM outbreaks. Such infections are not under cross-immunity nor density-dependent processes and thus are supposed to affect population demography independently. Heavy snowfalls are also likely to occur in our simulated populations. Our simulations showed that a second outbreak, even caused by a low virulent pathogen, causes an increase in the probability of extinction of the host population with regard to the first outbreak. IKC-BD- and SM-BD-affected populations had a higher risk of becoming extinct in 50 years confirming the extra risk of multiple outbreaks on the viability of the affected populations.
      PubDate: 2023-07-18
       
 
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