Acta Theriologica Research Articles

Sixty years of Acta Theriologica—transition to Mammal Research

The history of Acta Theriologica is inextricably linked with that of its eminent founder, Professor August Dehnel (1903– 1962), and the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Bialowieza. The first issue of the journal was published in January 1955, by the Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In the same year, the Mammal Research Institute became an independent entity within the Department of Biological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, and in 1958, it took over the publication of Acta. From the outset, Acta Theriologica aimed to be an international journal, with articles published in one of four languages: English, German, French and Russian. Since the 1970s, almost every article has been published in English. During the 60 years of its existence, Acta Theriologica has communicated over 2500 articles, including original papers, short notes and book reviews, submitted by researchers from six continents. A total of 59 regular volumes have been published since 1955, including seven special issues. Now, in 2015, we proudly present the sixtieth volume, which underlines the long and successful history of our journal.

Differences in the microhabitat preferences of Neomys fodiens (Pennant 1771) and Neomys anomalus Cabrera, 1907 in Saxony, Germany

The two semi-aquatic shrew species Neomys fodiens and Neomys anomalus are very similar in their ecology and morphology. Thus, they tend to be strong competitors for resources when they occur syntopically in habitats. We analysed the microhabitat selection of both species based on 14 parameters at two study sites in western Saxony (Germany). At the first study site, the results show segregation into different preferred microhabitats. In comparison to N. fodiens, N. anomalus occurred in low distance to the oxbow lake at places with denser herbal cover. Thus, we verified the hypothesis of Rychlik (Acta Theriologica 42:351-388 1997) who assumed differences in microhabitat niches for both shrew species to avoid competition. Furthermore, there was a spatial segregation within N. fodiens depending on their age. While adults occurred close to the water at areas with sparse herb layer, the juveniles and subadults were predominantly captured in some distance to the stream at denser vegetation. We assume that this is the result of different microhabitat preferences in N. fodiens depending on age and not a result of intraspecific antagonism. Moreover, the possibility to build subsurface burrows (and as an equivalent to this, crevice systems resulting of bank fixation with large stones) seems to be the main limiting factor for the occurrence of N. fodiens at the other surveyed site. At this site, no differences in microhabitats were visible between the age classes of N. fodiens.

Book Reviews

Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchVolume 33, Issue 3-4 p. 48-48 Book Reviews First published: September 1995 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.1995.tb00954.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Book reviewed in this article: Heyer, W. R.:Variation within the Lepodactylus podicipinuswagneri Complex of Frogs (Amphibia: Lepodactylidae) Hartl, B.; Markowski, J. (eds): Ecological Genetics in Mammals. Acta Theriologica, Vol. 38, Suppl. 2 Volume33, Issue3-4September 1995Pages 48-48 RelatedInformation

Book Reviews

Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary ResearchVolume 35, Issue 2 p. 103-104 Book Reviews First published: 27 April 2009 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.1997.tb00410.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Book reviewed in this article: NIELSEN, E. S.; EDWARDS, D. S.; RANGSI, T. V. (eds): Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera, CALDER A A.: Click-beetles: genera of Australian Elateridae (Coleoptera). Monographs on invertebrate taxonomy HARTL, B.; MARKOWSKI, (eds): Ecological genetics in mammals 11. Acta Theriologica BAUER, K.; SCHREIBER, A.: Primate phylogeny from a human perspective. Volume35, Issue2June 1997Pages 103-104 RelatedInformation

Theriology at the Turn of a New Century. Acta Theriologica, 47 (Suppl. 1)

Theriology at the Turn of a New Century. Acta Theriologica, 47 (Suppl. 1)

Changes in vigilance with group size under scramble competition.

Animals often interrupt foraging to scan the surrounding environment. In several taxa, such vigilance decreases with group size (Elgar 1989). The decline in vigilance is usually interpreted as a decrease in the predation risk to an individual in large groups. Mechanisms such as increased detection ability and numerical dilution of risk may provide more protection to foragers in large groups, thus leading to lower vigilance (Pulliam 1973; Roberts 1996; Bednekoff and Lima 1998). Nevertheless, recent work indicates that the decrease in vigilance with group size may be mitigated against if individuals in large groups scan more to avoid displacements by aggressive companions (Slotow and Coumi 2000; Treves 2000) or to locate the food discoveries of other group members (Beauchamp 2001). We explore the role of resource availability on vigilance patterns. In earlier vigilance models, a decrease in vigilance would allow foragers either to decrease the total amount of time needed to accumulate a fixed amount of resources (Pulliam et al. 1982) or to increase feeding rate over a given time horizon (McNamara and Houston 1992). In either case, no competition for resources is assumed to take place. However, when resources are limited, a reduction in vigilance may allow individuals to allocate more time to foraging and so obtain a greater share of the re-

Theriology at the Turn of the Century

J. Gliwicz (ed.). 2002. Theriology at the Turn of the Century. Acta Theriologica, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mammal Research Institute, Bialowieza, Poland, Vol. 47, Supplement 1, 244 pp. Price (paper), $22.00. This volume is a festschrift to honor 2 extraordinary contributors to mammalogy in general and the discipline in Poland in particular. Zdzislaw Pucek and Roman Andrzejewski have each been publishing in the field of mammalogy for more than 45 years. These gentlemen, and numerous colleagues in Poland and neighboring countries, were part of a magnificent group of scientists who accomplished both excellent empirical studies and significant modeling efforts for a number of decades under Soviet domination. These efforts, largely on the ecology of small mammals, are clearly a major feature of the biological sciences in Eastern Europe during the Soviet era. There are 13 contributed articles arranged in 3 sections. The title of the volume is a bit misleading in that the topics are rather selected and do not cover the range of topics found in mammalogy. However, Gliwicz notes this discrepancy in a fine preface that illuminates the rationale for the volume and its contributors. The articles themselves are, for the most part, quite thought provoking and worthwhile. All articles are authored primarily by senior scientists, so there often is a historical perspective on individual topics. Admittedly I have a bias, but I liked the 1st section best. It includes 6 articles on ecology, …

Social, state-dependent and environmental modulation of faecal corticosteroid levels in free-ranging female spotted hyenas.

Little is known about to what extent the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be state dependent and vary in the same species between environments. Here we tested whether the faecal corticosteroid concentrations of matrilineal adult female spotted hyenas are influenced by social and reproductive status in adjacent ecosystems and whether they vary between periods with and without social stress. Females in the Serengeti National Park frequently become socially subordinate intruders in other hyena territories by undertaking long-distance foraging trips to migratory herds, whereas in the Ngorongoro Crater they usually forage inside their own small territories on resident prey. The faecal corticosteroid concentrations in Serengeti females were significantly higher than in Ngorongoro females. Energy expenditure by lactation is exceptionally high in spotted hyenas and this may be reflected in their corticosteroid levels. The faecal corticosteroid levels in both populations were higher in lactating than in non-lactating females. During periods of social stability, faecal corticosteroid concentrations increased in non-lactating females but not in lactating females as social status declined. Lactating Serengeti females had significantly higher faecal corticosteroid concentrations during periods with acute severe social stress than during periods without, indicating that the HPA axis is sensitive to social stimuli even in lactating females. So far few studies have used non-invasive monitoring methods for assessing social stress in freeranging animals. This study demonstrates for the first time, to the authors' knowledge, that corticosteroid concentrations may differ between periods with and without social stress for a free-ranging female mammal and that the modulating effect of social status may depend on reproductive status.

Chromosome studies on common shrews from northern and central parts of European Russia

Kozlovsky A ., Orlov V ., Okulova N., Kovalskaya J. and Searle J. B. 2000. Chromosome studies on common shrews from northern and central parts of European Russia. [In: Evolution in the Sorex araneus group: Cytogenetic and molecular aspects. J. B. Searle and J. M. Wojcik, eds], Acta Theriologica 45, Suppl. 1: 2 7 -3 1 . W e report here on the karyotypes of 29 common shrews from 8 sites in northern and central European Russia. A new chromosome race for the species was found in the northernmost locality sampled and is named the Petchora race (gi, h n ,jl, kq, mo, pr). It is only known from the type site. Shrews from other localities belonged to races that have already been described, but the new data help to define their ranges. In particular, our new samples demonstrate that the Manturovo race is a widespread form within northern European Russia. Two shrews from Zvenigorod belonged to the ‘ Moscow race’ as listed in Zima et al. (1996), casting doubt on the existence of the ‘ Zvenigorod race’ as a separate entity.

Comparative genome mapping in mammals: the shrew map

Larkin D. M., Serov O. L., Borodin P. M., Zhdanova N. S. and Searle J. B. 2000. Comparative genome mapping in mammals: the shrew map. [In: Evolution in the Sorex araneus group: Cytogenetic and molecular aspects. J. B. Searle and J. M. Wojcik, eds]. Acta Theriologica 45, Suppl. 1: 131-141. Comparative mapping has shown that the genome evolution of eutherian mammals mostly involves movement of large blocks of genes. Zoo-FISH analysis has revealed that 23 to 56 blocks of human chromosome material are conserved in different mammalian genomes. Several syntenic groups of genes are found in most mammalian orders: some involve complete or partial human chromosomes and others involve segments that are found in a fused state in most mammals but separated in the human genome. It can be hypothesized that these conserved syntenic groups were present in the ancestral genome of all eutherian mammals. There is a need to obtain data from as wide a taxonomic spread of mammals as possible to further elucidate this ancestral genome. We have initiated studies on the order Insectivora and have located 45 genetic markers in the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758. Zoo-FISH analysis shows conservation of human chromosome material in shrews in 32 blocks and that the shrew genome shares many of the conserved chromosome segments found in other mammalian orders.

Mapping of five genes from human chromosome 17 to chromosome hn of the common shrew Sorex araneus

Larkin D. M., Serov O. L. and Zhdanova N. S. 2000. Mapping of five genes from human chromosome 17 to chromosome hn of the common shrew Sorex araneus. [In: Evolution in the Sorex araneus group: Cytogenetic and molecular aspects. J. B. Searle and J. M. Wojcik, eds], Acta Theriologica 45, Suppl. 1: 143-146. Comparative mapping shows that the syntenic gene group which is located on human chromosome 17 (HSA17) is preserved in most mammalian species. Insectivores (including shrews) appear to be closer to the ancestral eutherians than other mammalian orders. That is why common shrews are of special interest for the study of mammalian genome evolution. A set of human, mouse and bovine PCR primers previously used for mapping the bovine homologue o f HSA17 was applied to the mapping effort in shrews. Three of 21 primer pairs tested yielded a single PCR product of expected size. Addi­ tionally, we have developed consensus PCR primers for GLUT4 based on human, mouse and porcine sequences, and for THRA1 using human and porcine sequences. As a result, genes for NF1, MYL4, THRA1, GLUT4 and MPO were assigned to shrew chromosome hn (SARhn) using a set of shrew-mouse somatic hybrids. PCR products of shrew THRA1 and MPO were partially sequenced and showed 95% homology to sheep THRA1 and 91% homology to human MPO sequences respectively with the NCBI BLAST program. The data obtained confirm the homology between HSA17 and SARhn revealed by zoo-FISH analysis. It is suggested this syntenic group was present in the ancestral mammalian founder karyotype.

Morphometric variation of the common shrew Sorex araneus in Poland, in relation to karyotype

Wojcik J. M., Bogdanowicz W., Pucek Z., Wojcik A. M. and Zalewska H. 2000. Morphometric variation of the common shrew Sorex araneus in Poland, in relation to karyotype. [In: Evolution in the Sorex araneus group: Cytogenetic and molecular aspects. J. B. Searle and J. M. Wojcik, eds]. Acta Theriologica 45, Suppl. 1: 161-172. Morphometric differentiation among six chromosome races of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 in Poland was examined by the use of 26 orthogonal mandibular measurements in 388 specimens. The discriminant function analysis (DFA) performed on 21 morphological variables led to a correct classification in 59.3% of cases. Comparison of morphological and chromosomal distances showed that there is no significant agreement; the two matrices were apparently discordant (cophenetic correlation coefficient, rcoph = 0.216, p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 9.9% of the total morphological variance could be explained by eight geoclimatic variables. The DFA of residuals, remaining after regression of the morphological variables by the geoclimatic ones, let to correct assignment of only 26.3% specimens. Our research revealed that karyotypic divergence plays no important part in differentiating mandibular morphology in chromosome races of S. araneus, and morphological differences cannot be treated as a by-product of chromosomal speciation.

Body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis in the northern China

Lu X. 2000. Body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis in the northern China. Acta Theriologica 45: 271-280. This paper analyzed body weights of the Cape hare Lepus capensis Linnaeus, 1758 in northern China during 1990-1993. Body weight of the hares increased faster in the first five months of life. The juveniles with the same eye lens weight weighed less in spring-summer than in autumn, in the southern region than in the northern. The overwintering females increased weight with reproduction, the older of which gained more. In autumn-winter, body weights of adult females and males in the whole study region were 2.29 ± 0.05 and 2.11 ± 0.06 kg respectively. Body weight of the overwintering hares varied seasonally. At the beginning of the breeding season female was the lightest while male the heaviest, and then female became heavier and male lighter. Regardless of age, area and season, females were usually heavier than males.

Diet of the cloud forest shrew Cryptotis meridensis (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Venezuelan Andes

Diaz de Pascual A. and De Ascengao A. A. 2000. Diet of the cloud forest shrew Cryptotis meridensis (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Venezuelan Andes. Acta Theriologica 45: 13-24. The diet of Cryptotis meridensis Thomas, 1898 was studied by analysing stomach contents of 55 shrews collected by pitfall trapping in the cloud forest of Monte Zerpa, Merida, Venezuela. The aims of the study were to describe the diet of this unknown tropical species and test the prediction that this species should be more of a subterranean feeder according to its morphological adaptations. The diet was composed of 35 different prey taxa distributed in six invertebrate classes (Gastropoda, Annelida, Arachnida, Crustacea, Myriapoda and Insecta). The most important components of the diet were hypogeal invertebrates: Oligochaeta, Gastropoda, Theraposidae, Isopoda, Scolopendridae, Phasmatidae, Blatiidae, Lepidoptera larvae and pupae, Diptera larvae, adult Carabidae, Staphilinidae, Elateridae larvae, Passalidae and Scarabaeidae larvae. Their contribution was 69.44% of the overall diet composition. Oligochaeta were the most frequent prey. Ephigeal invertebrates (Lycosidae, Acrididae, Gryllidae, adult Scarabaeidae and Lycosidae) accounted for only 27.24%. The preferences for soil invertebrates found in this study confirmed our prediction that C. meridensis uses mostly a subterranean foraging mode in accord with its morphological adaptations similar to other shrews in temperate habitats.

Anatomical structure and size of large intestinal mucosa in selected species of shrews and rodents

Brockmann G. A., Renne U., Kopplow K. and Das P. 1998. Genetic markers for the detection of quantitative trait loci with special consideration of body weight and fat. |In: Ecological genetics in mammals III. G. B. Hartl and J. Markowski, edsj. Acta Theriologica, Suppl. 5: 53-62. Mouse chromosome 11 was analyzed for the presence of quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting body weight and fatness. Significant differences in allele frequencies (p < 10~) between two growth differentiated mouse lines DU6 and DUKs were proven at the marker loci DllMitl20, DllMitl25, and DllMitl26. In families which were derived from crosses between DU6 and DUKs cosegregation of genetic marker alleles and individual trait performance was analyzed. Variance analysis proved highly significant phenotypic differences between genotype groups (p < 10-'1), localized in one family in the chromosomal part between DllMit236 and DllMitl26. These results were confirmed in independent families of parallel crosses. The detected chromosomal region affected both, body weight and fatness. Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196

Could asynchrony in activity between the sexes cause intersexual social segregation in ruminants?

In many sexually dimorphic mammal species, the sexes live outside the mating season in separate social groups ('social segregation'). Social segregation occurs in a wide range of environmental conditions, but its cause in unknown. I suggest that social segregation is caused by a lower level of activity synchrony between individuals in mixed-sex groups than in single-sex groups, owing to sex differences in activity rhythm. As a consequence, mixed-sex groups are more likely to break up than single-sex groups, resulting in a predominance of single-sex groups at equilibrium. To test this hypothesis in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), I developed an index of activity synchronization and showed that deer in mixed-sex groups were significantly less synchronized in their activity than deer in single-sex groups. Thus, low intersexual synchrony in activity can lead to social segregation. However, a lower level of intrasexual (female-female and male-male) activity synchrony within mixed-sex than within single-sex groups implies that additional factors (other than sex differences in foraging rhythm) contribute to the higher degree of instability of mixed-sex groups.

Dynamics of developmental stability of seals and pollution in the Baltic Sea

Zakharov V. M., Valetsky A. V. and Yablokov A. V. 1997. Dynamics of developmental stability of seals and pollution in the Baltic Sea. [In: Developmental homeostasis in natural populations of mammals: phenetic approach. V. M. Zakharov and A. V. Yablokov, eds]. Acta Theriologica, Suppl. 4: 9-16. Fluctuating asymmetry of skull characters, as a measure of developmental sta­ bility, was studied in two seal species: grey seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791), and ringed seal Pusa hispida Schreber, 1775 from the Baltic Sea. Seals were collected in three different periods of water pollution of the Baltic Sea. We revealed the same temporal dynamics of fluctuating asymmetry level for both species: it proved to be low in “pre-pollution period” (years 1877-1936), high for the “high-pollution period” (1964-1975), and was again low for the “low-pollution period” (1986-1990). These data suggest that changes in the condition of the seal populations in the Baltic Sea revealed by changes in developmental stability are correlated with the dynamics of the pollution level. N. K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 26, Moscow, 117808 Russia

Non-metric variation in red vole populations within the East-Ural Radioactive Track (EURT) zone

Vasilyev A. G. and Vasilyeva I. A. 1995. Non-metric variation in red vole populations within the East-Ural Radioactive Track (EURT) zone. [In: Ecological genetics in mammals II. G. B. Hartl and J. Markowski, eds]. Acta Theriologica, Suppl. 3: 55-64. Ecological monitoring of red vole Clethrionomys rutilus (Pallas, 1778) populations, carried out for two years (1992-1993) in the Sverdlovsk region near Kamensk-Ural'ski, revealed an increase of morphological diversity in terms of non-metric skull traits along the axis of the East-Ural Radioactive Track (EURT). In the population affected by radioactive contamination, frequencies of non-metric skull traits deviated significantly from those in two control populations located beyond the EURT boundaries. The deviations were not related to particular environmental factors varying among the years of our study, which implied a genetic basis of non-metric differentiation. We suggest that the observed increase of phenotypic malformations within the EURT zone has been caused by the permanent impact of low doses of radioactive contamination, leading to an accumulation of minor mutations and to disurbances in regular ontogenetic development of the red vole.

Female Primate Sexual Behavior and Conception: Are There Really Sperm to Spare? [and Comments and Reply

Female Primate Sexual Behavior and Conception: Are There Really Sperm to Spare? [and Comments and Reply

The Behavioral Response Race Between Predator and Prey

On tente de preciser par la methode de regression lineaire ce qui determine les rapports de force relatifs en ce qui concerne les relations predateur-proie (on donne comme exemple Notonectidae-Culicidae)