Diversity Of Wildlife Species Research Articles

Variation in mammal species richness and relative abundance in the Karoo

Understanding how climate change and land transformation may impact the distribution and diversity of wildlife species requires landscape-level foundational biodiversity surveys. The Karoo BioGaps Project aims to provide such data and to support the scientific assessment for shale gas development projects in the Karoo basin. In this paper we present the findings of the BioGaps mammal survey, which recorded medium and large mammals across twenty-five 1 km × 1 km sampling sites within the proposed fracking footprint using camera trapping techniques. We use sample rarefaction curves, non-parametric species richness estimators and non-metric multidimensional scaling plots to explore both species richness and community structure. We also used a generalised linear model to investigate how species diversity varies with both site-specific and landscape-level predictors. A total of 38 species were recorded at the majority of sites. Longitude (z = 4.018, p = 0.0005) emerged as the best predictor of species diversity across the study area, which we suggest is linked to the clear east–west aridity gradient. Together these results reveal the cosmopolitan distribution of the mammal taxa in the Karoo and could be used to inform decision-making linked to mining activities in the area.

Anthropogenic environmental drivers of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife

The isolation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB) from wildlife living adjacent to humans has led to the suggestion that such antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is anthropogenically driven by exposure to antimicrobials and ARB. However, ARB have also been detected in wildlife living in areas without interaction with humans. Here, we investigated patterns of resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from 408 wild bird and mammal faecal samples. AMR and multi-drug resistance (MDR) prevalence in wildlife samples differed significantly between a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP; wastes of antibiotic-treated humans) and a Farm site (antibiotic-treated livestock wastes) and Central site (no sources of wastes containing anthropogenic AMR or antimicrobials), but patterns of resistance also varied significantly over time and between mammals and birds. Over 30% of AMR isolates were resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, but resistance was not due to the mcr-1 gene. ESBL and AmpC activity were common in isolates from mammals. Wildlife were, therefore, harbouring resistance of clinical relevance. AMR E. coli, including MDR, were found in diverse wildlife species, and the patterns and prevalence of resistance were not consistently associated with site and therefore different exposure risks. We conclude that AMR in commensal bacteria of wildlife is not driven simply by anthropogenic factors, and, in practical terms, this may limit the utility of wildlife as sentinels of spatial variation in the transmission of environmental AMR.

Seroprevalence of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in Agropastoralist livestock herds and wildlife in Yankari game reserve: Public health implications

Wildlife, livestock, people and particularly communities surrounding Yankari Game Reserve of Bauchi State, Nigeria compete for spaces and available resources .This study was therefore designed to determine the seroprevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and brucellosis which are zoonotic. Serum samples were collected from 300 cattle located at the fringes of the game parks and also from 47 zebra, 12 waterbuck, 12 wildebeest, 24 eland, 1 kudu and 1 hartebeest during the study. The samples were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella abortus and B. melitensis using immunochromatography rapid test kits (Bionote Incorporated, South Korea).The percentage of positive bTB reactors were 30(10%) in cattle 5(10.6%) zebra, 1(8.3%) waterbuck, 4(33.3%) wildebeest and 3(12.5%) Eland. The sex distribution of bTB among cattle showed that of the 104 males sampled 12(11.5%) were positive and of the 196 females sampled 18(9.2%) were positive. The sex distribution of bTB among the diversity of wildlife species sampled indicated higher prevalence in female zebra 18.8%, waterbuck 14.3% and eland 16.7% compared to male zebra 6.5%, waterbuck 0%, and eland 8.3%. Positive reactors to B. abortus were seen in cattle 27(9%), hartebeest 1(100%), eland 4(16.7%), waterbuck 3(25%) and eland 4(16.7%). Sex distribution of B. abortus and B. melitensis among cattle showed that of the 104 males sampled, 10(9.6%) cattle were positive for B. abortus and the 196 females sampled 17(8.7%) were positive for B. abortus. The high prevalence of B. abortus in male Eland (25%) and waterbuck (40%) portends danger to the herds. The presence of antibodies of bTB and B.abortus in both cattle and wildlife species and B. melitensis in wildlife species showed that the diseases are likely to pose significant threat to public health. There is the need for enlightenment of the herders and communities of the dangers of these important diseases.Keywords: Bauchi state, Bovine, Brucellosis, Cattle, Tuberculosis, Wildlife

Gene expression analysis of porcine whole blood cells infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus using high-throughput sequencing technology.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a single-stranded positive RNA virus that belongs to the family Picornaviridae. FMDV infects cloven-hoofed animals, such as pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and diverse wildlife species, and remains a major threat to the livestock industry worldwide. In this study, a transcriptome analysis of whole blood from pigs infected with FMDV was performed using the paired-end Illumina sequencing technique to understand the interactions between the pathogen and its host cells. During infection with FMDV, a total of 120 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 110 up-regulated genes and 10 down-regulated genes. To further investigate the DEGs involved in interactions between the virus and its host, gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment were conducted. GO annotation indicated that a number of DEGs were enriched in categories involved in host-virus interactions, such as response to stimulus, immune system process and regulation of biological process. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were primarily involved in the ribosome signaling pathway and immune-related signaling pathways. Ten DEGs, including the immune-related genes BTK1, C1QB, TIMD4 and CXCL10, were selected and validated using quantitative PCR, which showed that the expression patterns of these genes are consistent with the results of the in silico expression analysis. In conclusion, this study presents the first transcriptome analysis of pig whole blood cells infected with FMDV, and the results obtained in this study improve our understanding of the interactions between FMDV and host cells as well as the diagnosis and control of FMD.

The effects of fires on plants and wildlife species diversity and soil physical and chemical properties at Aberdare Ranges, Kenya

Njeri WF, Githaiga JM, Mwala AK. 2018. The effects of fires on plant and wildlife species diversity and soil physical and chemical properties at Aberdare Ranges, Kenya. Asian J For 2: 25-38. This study was aimed to determine the effects of fires on species diversity (plants, animals, birds), and soil physical and chemical properties at the Aberdare Ranges forest, Kenya. Data were collected on five sites that experienced fires in 2002, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014 from both burnt and unburnt areas. Point Centered Quarter and quadrant methods were used for woody vegetation sampling and herbaceous vegetation sampling, respectively. Foot count was done for animal census and point count for birds. The data showed that the herbaceous vegetation in burnt sites had significantly higher species diversity than the unburnt sites in the areas that experienced fire before 2014. The fire had triggered the regeneration of the herbaceous plants. The burnt sites had a significantly higher percentage cover. The fire has an immediate adverse effect on the population of animals as demonstrated on the site consumed in 2014. No animal species was found on the site seven days after the fire when data was collected. The animal diversity was proportional to the vegetation density caused by the vegetation regeneration due to fires. All the burnt sites had fewer birds than the unburnt sites. Effects of fires were prominent in the upper layer of the soil for all the soil properties under study. Burning caused an increase in pH, potassium, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. The study demonstrated that fires lead to an immediate adverse effect on vegetation, wildlife and soil chemical properties. Postfire management is necessary on sites that have recently experienced fires to rehabilitate them. Authorities responsible for the management of forests must ensure that people are kept out of those sites to allow vegetation to recover without interference. Reforestation can also be done on the burnt sites to increase plant and habitat for the wildlife.

The Estimation Loss and Gain of Mammal Species Diversity due to Oil Palm Plantations: A Case Study of BPME Estate, Riau, Indonesia

The existence of palm oil plantation development allegedly resulted in a ecological losses, including the sustainability of mammalian diversity. So far the ecological losses to the diversity of wildlife species, especially mammals, have not been widely known. Therefore, in February 2018 a direct observation was conducted at 5 observation paths with Strip Transect Method and simultaneous data retrieval, three repetitions at 8.00-10.00 a.m. and 16.00-18.00 p.m. In addition, there are 10 Rodentia traps and 15 camera traps on each observation path. The analysis results obtained the total number of species and wealth of the highest species on oil palm plantation cover. The highest similarity index was obtained from young-aged oil palm (IS = 0.67) and the lowest commonality index was in old-aged oil palm (IS = 0.50). On the other hand, the old-aged oil palm has the highest value of mammal diversity and the lowest loss value, while the young-aged oil palm has the lowest mammal diversity value. Overall, land cover changes to oil palm plantations have a positive impact due to the addition of two species of mammals and the value of species diversity did not change significantly.

Herders and herdsmen: The remaking of pastoral livelihoods in Laikipia, Kenya

Pastoralists have long overlapped with wildlife in rangelands of sub-Saharan Africa. With growing recognition of the importance of wildlife outside of protected areas, conservation efforts are increasingly managed through hybrid governance activities worldwide, activities which often involve pastoralists. These efforts are especially prevalent in East African rangelands where pastoralists, livestock, and wildlife commonly overlap outside of formal protected areas. Laikipia County, Kenya, is one region renowned for abundant and diverse wildlife species sustained outside protected areas through a collective of conservation activities among private landowners and pastoral group ranches. Little research has considered pastoralists’ roles in the region’s conservation efforts or the ways that those efforts shape local livelihoods. Based on data from interviews, surveys, and participant observation, this article uses a case study approach to demonstrate how some of Laikipia’s pastoralists are increasingly drawn into professional herding jobs with powerful landowners involved in joint commercial ranching and wildlife conservation activities. This has caused many pastoralists to shift from traditional livestock ownership in favour of livestock caretaking for other owners, with substantial implications for livelihoods. This study offers empirical evidence for the importance of considering how diversifying pastoral livelihoods entwine with hybrid conservation processes outside protected areas.

Impacts of Bush Encroachment on Wildlife Species Diversity, Composition, and Habitat Preference in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia, Kenya

Savannah ecosystems are currently facing a biome shift that changes grasslands to woody dominated landscapes, attributable to habitat degradation. In Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC), Euclea divinorum, an unpalatable and invasive woody species, is expanding to former savannah ecosystems with potential effects on herbivores key resources, wildlife species diversity, composition, and habitat use. We investigated wildlife species diversity, composition, and habitat preference or avoidance by wildlife in the conservancy. Infrared camera traps were deployed at the centroids of 2 km by 2 km, 50 cm above ground surface for 14 days and nights with 9 camera traps in each habitat type. Shannon wiener index revealed that wildlife species diversity was highest in E. divinorum dominated habitats and lowest in open grassland. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis revealed level of similarity in wildlife species composition between E. divinorum and mixed bushland. Jacobs index revealed that E. divinorum and mixed bushland were avoided by all guilds; however E. divinorum was significantly avoided while A. drepanolobium and open grassland were both preferred by all guilds. However, A. drepanolobium dominated habitats were significantly preferred compared to open grasslands. The findings are useful in management of sustainable ecosystems.

The Interspersian Index as a Technique for Evaluation of Bobwhite Quail Habitat

An index based on the interspersion of vegetative types proved useful in evaluating quail habitat. Application of the technique for related studies indicated that interspersion indices may find wider application for assessing habitat deficiencies, for evaluating land areas for production of a diversity of wildlife species, and for planning.

Wildlife Toxicology: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

Over the last three decades, the field of wildlife toxicology involving the assessment of toxic chemicals on the reproduction, health, and well-being of wildlife species has grown dramatically as a science involving both laboratory and field research. In the early years of the development of wildlife toxicology, there was a strong emphasis on laboratory toxicity tests, including LD50 and LC50 tests, particularly on species such as bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Laboratory tests evolved into largescale field efforts, particularly in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, which was facilitated by pesticide re-registration requirements to obtain data to submit to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Now, as wildlife toxicology continues to evolve as a science, sublethal monitoring of wildlife has become much more prominent to assess health impacts. New developments in molecular biology have also allowed insight into the genetic basis for wildlife response to toxic substances. Considering the diversity of fish and wildlife species both in the United States and globally, it continues to be a great challenge to protect this diversity of wildlife species from impacts of toxic substances. As we expand and become more sophisticated in assessing field and laboratory effects of toxic substances in wildlife, we will be able to do a much better job in the future of assessing the effects of environmental contaminants on the reproduction and health of the wide array of wildlife species and developing solutions and/or mitigation strategies.

Native Wildlife Use Of Highway Underpasses In A Desert Environment

Abstract While highway underpasses and culverts are often identified in conservation planning as wildlife corridors, their success at facilitating connectivity in deserts has rarely been tested. We evaluated wildlife use of seven, pre-existing highway underpass structures and four associated canyon sites over 29 mo to identify spatial and temporal wildlife use patterns and to assess factors that may constrain wildlife use, particularly for native carnivore species. Our results indicate that a wide diversity of wildlife species utilize the underpass structures including rodents, lagomorphs, deer, and carnivores. Structural attributes of the underpasses have a minor influence on use by most observed species, although structural characteristics and human activity both contributed to determining bobcat (Lynx rufus) usage. Wildlife and human diel patterns differed between the underpass sites and their associated canyons. We suggest that providing a range of underpass structures to support use by a diversity of...

Neutralising antibodies for Mayaro virus in Pantanal, Brazil.

The Pantanal hosts diverse wildlife species and therefore is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. A serosurvey for Mayaro virus (MAYV), eastern (EEEV), western (WEEV) and Venezuelan (VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses was conducted with 237 sheep, 87 free-ranging caimans and 748 equids, including 37 collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralisation test. From a total of 748 equids, of which 264 were immunised with vaccine composed of EEEV and WEEV and 484 had no history of immunisation, 10 (1.3%) were seropositive for MAYV and two (0.3%) for VEEV using criteria of a ≥ 4-fold antibody titre difference. Among the 484 equids without history of immunisation, 48 (9.9%) were seropositive for EEEV and four (0.8%) for WEEV using the same criteria. Among the sheep, five were sero- positive for equine encephalitis alphaviruses, with one (0.4%) for EEEV, one (0.4%) for WEEV and three (1.3%) for VEEV. Regarding free-ranging caimans, one (1.1%) and three (3.4%), respectively, had low titres for neutralising antibodies to VEEV and undetermined alphaviruses. The neurological disorder outbreak could not be linked to the alphaviruses tested. Our findings represent strong evidence that MAYV and all equine encephalitis alphaviruses circulated in the Pantanal.

Ilheus virus isolation in the Pantanal, west-central Brazil.

The wetlands of the Brazilian Pantanal host large concentrations of diverse wildlife species and hematophagous arthropods, conditions that favor the circulation of zoonotic arboviruses. A recent study from the Nhecolândia sub-region of Pantanal reported serological evidence of various flaviviruses, including West Nile virus and Ilheus virus (ILHV). According to the age of seropositive horses, at least three flaviviruses, including ILHV, circulated in the Brazilian Pantanal between 2005 and 2009. To extend this study, we collected 3,234 adult mosquitoes of 16 species during 2009 and 2010 in the same sub-region. Mosquito pool homogenates were assayed for infectious virus on C6/36 and Vero cell monolayers and also tested for flaviviral RNA by a group-specific real-time RT-PCR. One pool containing 50 non-engorged female specimens of Aedes scapularis tested positive for ILHV by culture and for ILHV RNA by real-time RT-PCR, indicating a minimum infection rate of 2.5 per 1000. Full-length genomic sequence exhibited 95% identity to the only full genome sequence available for ILHV. The present data confirm the circulation of ILHV in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Patterns and consequences of ungulate herbivory on aspen in western North America

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests develop complex, multi-story structure and speciose plant communities, which provide habitat for ungulates and diverse wildlife species. Successfully recruiting aspen sprouts and seedlings provide important sources of structural, functional and genetic diversity vital to resilient aspen forests. Chronic ungulate browsing of regenerating aspen can degrade aspen community structure and diversity. This simplifies food webs and can have negative implications for ecosystem resilience. This paper explores how patterns of ungulate herbivory in aspen forests are influenced by and affect bottom–up and top–down forces in aspen ecosystems. We outline management strategies aimed at decreasing ungulate and livestock impacts on aspen and increasing sprout survival and recruitment. The body of aspen research indicates that herbivory is more heterogeneous in areas that contain human hunters, predators, or fire on the landscape. The complexities of ungulate herbivory and fire on aspen ecosystems, especially in relation to scale, are imperfectly understood. Wildlife agencies responsible for elk (Cervus elaphus) and deer (Odocoileus spp.) populations should consider management strategies that use ungulate herbivory impacts on ecosystems such as aspen as indicators of sustainable herd densities. To increase aspen resilience in the face of current and future environmental change, we recommend a multi-faceted approach that involves enhancing bottom–up forces while decreasing top–down impacts from ungulates.

First report on development of quantitative interspecies structure–carcinogenicity relationship models and exploring discriminatory features for rodent carcinogenicity of diverse organic chemicals using OECD guidelines

Different regulatory agencies in food and drug administration and environmental protection worldwide are employing quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models to fill the data gaps related with properties of chemicals affecting the environment and human health. Carcinogenicity is a toxicity endpoint of major concern in recent times. Interspecies toxicity correlations may provide a tool for estimating sensitivity towards toxic chemical exposure with known levels of uncertainty for a diversity of wildlife species. In this background, we have developed quantitative interspecies structure–carcinogenicity correlation models for rat and mouse [rodent species according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines] based on the carcinogenic potential of 166 organic chemicals with wide diversity of molecular structures, spanning a large number of chemical classes and biological mechanisms. All the developed models have been assessed according to the OECD principles for the validation of QSAR models. Consensus predictions for carcinogenicity of the individual compounds are presented here for any one species when the data for the other species are available. Informative illustrations of the contributing structural fragments of chemicals which are responsible for specific carcinogenicity endpoints are identified by the developed models. The models have also been used to predict mouse carcinogenicities of 247 organic chemicals (for which rat carcinogenicities are present) and rat carcinogenicities of 150 chemicals (for which mouse carcinogenicities are present). Discriminatory features for rat and mouse carcinogenicity values have also been explored.

Orthopox Virus Infections in Eurasian Wild Rodents

The genus Orthopoxvirus includes variola (smallpox) virus and zoonotic cowpox virus (CPXV). All orthopoxviruses (OPV) are serologically cross-reactive and cross-protective, and after the cessation of smallpox vaccination, CPXV and other OPV infections represent an emerging threat to human health. In this respect CPXV, with its reservoir in asymptomatically infected wild rodents, is of special importance. In Europe, clinical cowpox has been diagnosed in both humans and animals. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of OPV infections in wild rodents in different parts of Eurasia and to compare the performance of three real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods in detecting OPV DNA in wildlife samples. We investigated 962 wild rodents from Northern Europe (Finland), Central Europe (Germany), and Northern Asia (Siberia, Russia) for the presence of OPV antibodies. According to a CPXV antigen-based immunofluorescence assay, animals from 13 of the 17 locations (76%) showed antibodies. Mean seroprevalence was 33% in Finland (variation between locations 0%-69%), 32% in Germany (0%-43%), and 3.2% (0%-15%) in Siberia. We further screened tissue samples from 513 of the rodents for OPV DNA using up to three real-time PCRs. Three rodents from two German and one Finnish location were OPV DNA positive. The amplicons were 96% to 100% identical to available CPXV sequences. Further, we demonstrated OPV infections as far east as the Baikal region and occurring in hamster and two other rodent species, ones previously unnoticed as possible reservoir hosts. Based on serological and PCR findings, Eurasian wild rodents are frequently but nonpersistently infected with OPVs. Results from three real-time PCR methods were highly concordant. This study extends the geographic range and wildlife species diversity in which OPV (or CPXV) viruses are naturally circulating.

Molecular identification versus local people’s information for accurate estimates of bushmeat utilization from the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania

Sustainable wildlife management assumes thorough knowledge of the factors of importance for species population dynamics. In this study, we examined the diversity of wildlife species that are illegally harvested in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. A total of 124 bushmeat samples were obtained from hunters, middlemen and consumers in 79 sub-villages adjacent to the protected areas in western Serengeti. The species identity was verified in 118 bushmeat samples through molecular sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and phylogenetic assignments to established reference sequences of the respective species. The species diversity among the bushmeat samples was high with 15 identified species altogether. Wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus ) was clearly the most common species (n = 52), but also buffalo ( Syncerus caffer , n = 15), eland ( Tragelaphus oryx , n = 11), zebra ( Equus burchelli , n = 10), topi ( Damaliscus lunatus , n = 8) and impala ( Aepyceros melampus , n = 7) were relatively frequently identified. The correctness of the species identification given by the bushmeat providers was relatively low (59%) with error rates higher in consumers than in hunters and middlemen. This high error rate suggests that care should be taken in relying on local peoples’ information for accurate estimates of biodiversity of bushmeat utilization. Key words : Bushmeat, illegal hunting, species identification, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing, western Serengeti.

First report on interspecies quantitative correlation of ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals being extensively and progressively used in human and veterinary medicine are emerging as significant environmental contaminants. Pharmaceuticals are designed to have a specific mode of action and many of them are persistent in the body. These features among others make pharmaceuticals to be evaluated for potential effects on aquatic flora and fauna. Low levels of pharmaceuticals have been detected in many countries in sewage treatment plant effluents, surface waters, groundwater and drinking waters. In contrast, there is a general scarcity of publicly available ecotoxicological data concerning pharmaceuticals. Interspecies toxicity correlations provide a tool for estimating contaminant sensitivity with known levels of uncertainty for a diversity of wildlife species. In this context, we have developed interspecies toxicity correlation between Daphnia magna (zooplankton) and fish (species according to OECD guidelines) assessing the ecotoxicological hazard potential of diverse 77 pharmaceuticals. The developed models are validated and consensus models are presented to predict toxicity of the individual compounds for any one species when the data for the other species are available. Informative illustrations of the contributing structural fragments which are responsible for the greater toxicity of the diverse pharmaceuticals are identified by the developed models. Developed models are also used to predict fish toxicities of 59 pharmaceuticals (for which Daphnia toxicities are present) and Daphnia toxicities of 30 pharmaceuticals (for which fish toxicities are present). This study will allow a better and comprehensive risk assessment of pharmaceuticals for which toxicity data is missing for a particular endpoint.

Ten Tips for Increasing Wildlife Biodiversity in Your Pine Plantations

WEC274, a 4-page fact sheet by Holly K. Ober, Stanton Rosenthal, and William Sheftall, discusses strategies forest landowners may adopt to provide habitat that will attract a diversity of wildlife species to their land. Includes additional sources of information. Published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, December 2009. WEC274/UW319: Ten Tips for Increasing Wildlife Biodiversity in Your Pine Plantations (ufl.edu)

Non-archetypal Type II-like and atypical strains of Toxoplasma gondii infecting marsupials of Australia

Australia is geographically isolated and possesses a remarkable diversity of wildlife species. Marsupials are highly susceptible to infection with the cosmopolitan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Of 46 marsupials screened for T. gondii by multilocus PCR-DNA sequencing at polymorphic genes (B1, SAG3, GRA6, GRA7), 12 were PCR-positive; the majority (67%; 9/12) were infected by non-archetypal Type II-like or atypical strains. Six novel alleles were detected at B1, indicating greater diversity of genotypes than previously envisaged. Two isolates lethal to marsupials, were avirulent to mice. The data support the conclusion that Australia’s isolation may have favoured the persistence of non-archetypal ancestral genotypes.