Large Mammals Research Articles

Presence of the European bone-skipper fly Thyreophora cynophila (Panzer, 1798) (Diptera: Piophilidae) larvae in the cerebral cavity of large mammals and report of different insect larvae living inside mammal bones

Summary The iconic fly Thyreophora cynophila has long attracted the interest of entomologists but, despite its re-discovery in Spain and France, its biology is still poorly known. The larvae and puparium have been described in detail but their feeding habits on large carcasses remain largely unknown. Here, we took advantage of a carrion pile containing the remains of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) as well as of two cow (Bos taurus) carcasses to search for T. cynophila larvae inside the bones and skulls. We document the occurrence of T. cynophila inside the cerebral cavity of dead animals, containing the brain. From the carrion pile, out of seven skulls, T. cynophila larvae could be found in five of them, and identified on the basis of their size, the shape and arrangement of the ventral tubercles, prothoracic spiracle and cephalopharyngeal skeleton. In contrast, no T. cynophila larvae could be found inside the nine bones we inspected. From the cow carcasses, no T. cynophila larvae could be found in the bones but one larva was found inside the cerebral cavity of one cow. In addition, other Diptera and Coleoptera larvae were found inside the bones.

Effects of a large wildfire on the community composition of medium and large mammals in a neotropical savannah

Background The Cerrado is a neotropical savannah with high mammalian diversity where wildfires are rather common and highly relevant to its ecological patterns and processes. The effects of fire on Cerrado mammals, however, are poorly understood. Aims We investigated the effects of an unplanned large wildfire (burned area ~66 000 ha) on medium and large mammals in a Cerrado area in Brazil, focusing on fire-driven changes in community composition up to 3 years after fire. Methods We evaluated burned and unburned sites before and after the wildfire, using 54 camera traps between 2017 and 2020. Total trap effort was 6334 days (unburned areas) and 7670 days (burned areas). Key results We recorded 25 species in burned and 19 in unburned areas. Fire markedly affected the community up to 3 years after burning. A canonical correspondence analysis indicated that herbivores (tapirs and pampas deer) were common in the burned areas, with an increase in the relative abundance of carnivores the second year after fire. Conclusions Community-level responses were complex, with guild-dependent changes and effects still detected 3 years after fire. Implications Management strategies that include patch mosaic burns (with areas unburned and burned 1 and 2 years earlier) could contribute to maintenance of local mammal diversity.

Injuries after the biological exposure

The aim of the scientific work is to justify the need to highlight the topic of injuries after the biological exposure in forensic medicine. The definition of the «biological trauma» concept is presented - it means impairment of the body structure and function as a result of a special injury effects typical for wildlife representatives (animals, plants). Biological exposure includes antigenic, toxin, allergic, bioelectric, bioorganic exposures and their combinations. Biological injuries should be distinguished from mechanical injuries caused by small, medium, and large mammals and reptiles. Options of the antemortem and postmortem biological factor effects are considered. The qualitative limits of the postmortem period are defined. A new method of forensic reconstruction of postmortem conditions is proposed. Forensic entomological, forensic microbiological examinations, and their complex combination with forensic examination are isolated as independent methods.

Sex ratios, damage and distribution of Myrianthus holstii Engl.: a dioecious afromontane forest tree

Abstract Male and female dioecious tropical trees are subjected to distinct demands that may influence their ecology. An example is Myrianthus holstii Engl. that produces persistent fruit eaten by elephants and other large mammals that frequently damage the trees. Myrianthus holstii populations were assessed with 24 2-km transects, spanning an elevation range of 1435–2495 m in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Of 1089 stems ≥ 5 cm diameter 449 were female, 383 were male and the rest were non-fertile. We also noted one apparently monoecious individual. Males produced flowers at smaller sizes than did females (minimum recorded diameters 5.5 cm and 6.8 cm, respectively). Both sexes had similar distributions, favouring moderately closed forest and mid-slope locations. Female trees were more frequently damaged and typically slightly shorter than males at large diameters. Seedling densities were positively associated with the presence of larger female trees. Our results are consistent with a life history where both sexes have similar requirements, but fruiting females experience a greater frequency of severe damage.

On the prospects of the impedance monitoring method for determining the prescription of death coming

The aim of the scientific work is to analyze the prospects of using the impedance monitoring method to determine the prescription of death coming. The conducted exploratory analysis allows hypothesizing the dependence of impedance values and dispersion factors for the diagnostic zones studies on the postmortem interval; it also suggests that it is possible to determine this interval for the objects (pig corpses) studies with a combination of impedance values and the corresponding factors. Among large mammals, a swine is the closest to a human from the point of analyzing the postmortem period process, and it can be recommended as an adequate human corpse model. When determining the correlation between the postmortem interval and the impedance parameters, it is the simplicity and reproducibility of the method, the absence of expensive equipment, its portability and the rapid receipt of results that allow this method to be applied at the scene, reinforcing traditional forensic methods for determining the prescription of death coming. Interpretation of impedance monitoring results can be used to analyze the biological nature of the postmortem period processes.

Body mass determines the role of mammal species in a frugivore-large fruit interaction network in a Neotropical savanna

Abstract Frugivorous mammals play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and are considered one of the main dispersers of large seeds. In this study, we describe the structure of the interaction network between non-flying mammals and seven plant species with large fruits in a megadiverse savanna-forest mosaic in the Brazilian Cerrado. We also evaluated the individual contribution of each species to the organization of the interaction network and tested whether body mass determined the mammals’ role in the network. To record frugivory events of mammals with arboreal and terrestrial habits, camera traps were installed at ground and canopy levels. We identified 18 mammal species interacting with seven plant species in 515 frugivory events. Our observations highlight an interaction network with a modular and non-nested topology and the important role of large mammals in the network structure, which reflects the importance of the group in potential seed dispersal. The extinction of large frugivorous mammals can cause several damages to ecosystem services in the Brazilian Cerrado through changes in network structure, especially threatening the survival of plant species with large fruits.

Human presence as a determinant of the occurrence of mammals in a high diversity protected area of Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone in Brazil.

The Cerrado domain and its biodiversity has suffered several anthropogenic influences. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of biotic and anthropic variables on the mammal community in a protected area in the Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone. For this we sampled the mammals using camera traps (4,072 days/trap) for 16 months. We used generalized mixed linear models (GLMM) with model selection via Akaike's Information Criteria corrected for small sample size (AICc) to assess the influence of variables on richness, abundance and functional groups of mammals. We made a total of 663 photographic records of 16 species of medium and large mammals. The richness and number of mammals was negatively influenced by the distance to human settlements while carnivores were not affected by any of the variables evaluated, herbivores and generalists were more common in areas closer from human habitation. Despite the presence of large areas of native vegetation, our results show that there is a dominance of common and generalist species. The protected area is vulnerable to different sources of human pressure and the design and implementation of a management plan can be a key tool for protecting biodiversity and regulating the use of natural resources by local communities.

Osteossíntese em maxila de anta-sul-americana (Tapirus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758) mantida sob cuidados humanos

The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is a large mammal that inhabits forested areas with abundance of water. It is well represented species in zoos and rescue centers and is easily adapted to the artificial environment. The most common veterinary problems in tapirs appear in skin, eye, musculoskeletal system and, to a lesser occurrence, teeth. The objective of this report is to present a case of osteosynthesis in the upper jaw of a seven-year-old male tapir, kept under human care in a zoo, with fracture of the rostral maxillary portion. The methodology of choice for the treatment was interdental fixation with steel wire, for coaptation of the fracture fragments, followed by splinting to stabilize the fracture foci. The diet was modified, to avoid overloading the masticatory force during the bone healing process. After 120 days, the animal underwent a new anesthesia for radiographic evaluation and removal of the osteosynthesis implants, showing good recovery and being incorporated into the group.

Food and Feeding Habits of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu

The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) and they are found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. The cattle egret and grazing cattle in close association is a classic example of commensalism. Their feeding habitats include seasonally flooded grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. This study is a first attempt in the Cauvery delta region where the abundance and distribution of cattle egrets which are common. The study was conducted in the villages such as Thugili and Kanjanur which are situated in Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk of Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. The methods used for this study was direct observation involves following the birds early in the morning between 7. 00 am and 10.00 am and 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm in the evening. The observation was made on birds for feeding directly on the field. Samples of the food material eaten by the birds were collected for further observation. It fed mainly on arthropods species such as grasshoppers, cricket, catterpillers, flies, termites, ants, rarely on ticks and spiders and very rarely on plants which makes the bird to be an omnivorous. The diet of cattle egret reveals that order Orthopteran insects were the highest percentage (33.33%). This study recommends that all efforts should be taken to reduce further decline in the population of this birds so as to improve its conservation status in the environment.

An Inventory of Some Relatively Large Marine Mammals, Reptiles, and Fishes Sighted, Caught, By-Caught, or Stranded in the Mediterranean Coast of the Gaza Strip-Palestine

The Mediterranean Sea is home to an interesting biodiversity. The current cumulative and descriptive study aims to enumerate some relatively large marine mammals, reptiles, and fishes that have been spotted, caught, by-caught, or stranded on the coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, which extends about 42 km along the Mediterranean Sea. This 20-year study from 2003 to 2022 relied much on frequent field visits, meetings, and discussions with stakeholders, following local media sites and social media pages, and photography. The study recorded at least 26 giants or relatively large marine organisms on the Mediterranean coast of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Certainly, the coming years may bring other marine organisms of relatively large sizes. Marine mammals included three species of cetaceans with the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) being the largest mammal and even the largest animal ever recorded in this study. Marine reptiles included three species of sea turtles, the largest of which is the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which is in fact the world’s largest sea turtle. The bony fishes were represented by ten species, the largest of which was the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), which is the largest bony fish in the world. The cartilaginous fishes included ten species with the largest specimens encountered were the Shortfin Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus), Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini), and Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular). Seabirds were not included in the study. The Alexandria Pompano (Alectis alexandrinus) and the Silver-Cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), which are bony fishes, appear to be the relatively smallest marine organisms recorded here. In conclusion, the role of the various parties must be coordinated to ensure the sustainability of human activities and their compatibility with the task of conserving local marine biota, including the gigantic or relatively large ones.

The peri-olfactory pathway: an "e-scent-ial" route for cerebrospinal fluid clearance?

The peri-olfactory pathway: an "e-scent-ial" route for cerebrospinal fluid clearance?

New Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages from the Villány Hills (SW Hungary): Siklós and Palkonya

The Villány Hills in SW Hungary have the richest archive of Pliocene–Quaternary vertebrate faunas in the Pannonian Basin, mostly in karstic cavities. Here we present three new sites that extend the list of Pleistocene vertebrate locations for the area and add information to the evolution history of the region. In the northern part of the Siklós quarry, bone breccia was found coming from fissures in Jurassic or Cretaceous limestones. Its lithofacies and fossil content are similar to those of other well-known Plio-Pleistocene karst infills of the region. As it contained mostly snake vertebrae, its age could not be constrained precisely. In the southern part of the same quarry, two vertical shaft s were discovered, which are unusual in several respects. Th ey formed in a Middle Triassic dolomite succession, a rock type generally not prone to karstification. Th ey might have been created by gravitational deformation of the relatively steep slope, probably at diff erent times. One of them was closed from above and contained fl owstones precipitated during the late Middle Pleistocene, during the late Rissian MIS7 interglacial. The other one was filled from above with loess, rock fragments and remains of large mammals – Equus cf. ferus, Bos primigenius and Coelodonta antiquitatis –, possibly between 140–40 ka, during one of the stadials of the Weichselian or the latest Saalian. The site shows that fossil-bearing cavities could also form in lithologies not favourable for karstification, which then trapped fossils in a similar way karstic cavities do. In contrast with the previous two and with most of the other known vertebrate sites of the Villány Hills, the Palkonya outcrop is not a karst cavity fill but was deposited on the (palaeo)surface. Bison sp., possibly B. schoetensacki remains were found between the Triassic basement and Quaternary slope sediments, and within the latter succession. The Bison bones are probably Middle Pleistocene or late Early Pleistocene, older than ~300 ka. The overlying slope sediments originate from the reworking of various older deposits. Th ey were covered with loess in the Weichselian (~22 ka ago), then again with slope deposits. The abundance of bones in and around the outcrop suggests that this site acted as a fossil trap as well. Bones probably enriched in the sediments during reworking of older deposits. In cold periods, loess deposition decreased (subdued) the relief through infilling the depressions. With 21 figures and 3 tables.

On using the corpses of large mammals as model objects for studying the postmortem period

Is to justify using the corpses of large mammals as model objects for studying the postmortem period. Similarities in processes occurring postmortem in human and swine corpses (decomposition stages and the structure of dominant necrophilic organisms inhabiting the corpse), as well as similar changes of relative impedance parameters for the cartilaginous tissue and musculoskeletal flap of swine and human corpses have been established. The results obtained allow recommending the swine corpse as an adequate human corpse model both for scientific studies and for solving specific scientific and practical issues arising in the practice of forensic examination when determining the prescription of death coming and the postmortem period conditions.

Mamíferos de médio a grande porte de uma Unidade de Conservação urbana e seu corredor ecológico na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Abstract Protected areas play a fundamental role in the preservation of species, environmental education, and ecosystem services maintenance. Most of the world population live in urban areas, which highlight the importance of preserved areas in urban centers. However, many urban protected areas in Brazil lack species surveys, which limits biodiversity conservation and implementation of management plans. In this study, we surveyed the species of medium and large mammals of Chico Mendes Municipal Natural Park (MNP) and Canal das Taxas corridor through camera traps, thus providing the first comprehensive in situ survey of terrestrial mammals for the area. We also verified whether there was mammalian fauna exchange between the Chico Mendes and Marapendi MNPs through the vegetation corridor formed by the Canal das Taxas. Between November 2020 and July 2021, with a sampling effort of 1,334 trap-days, we recorded five native and five exotic species in the studied areas, including one Vulnerable species in the Municipality and State of Rio de Janeiro (Cuniculus paca). We also confirmed that Canal das Taxas works as a wildlife corridor for native species. Finally, we highlight that species checklists based on secondary information for the region are of limited usefulness and recommend in situ surveys even in small, urban protected areas of Rio de Janeiro city.

Whole-genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus with color variation.

Knowledge of population divergence history is key to understanding organism diversification mechanisms. The geotrupid dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus, which inhabits montane forests and exhibits three color forms (red, green, and indigo), diverged into five local populations (west/red, south/green, south/indigo, south/red, and east/red) in the Kinki District of Honshu, Japan, based on the combined interpretation of genetic cluster and color-form data. Here, we estimated the demographic histories of these local populations using the newly assembled draft genome sequence of P. auratus and whole-genome resequencing data obtained from each local population. Using coalescent simulation analysis, we estimated P. auratus population divergences at ca. 3800, 2100, 600, and 200 years ago, with no substantial gene flow between diverged populations, implying the existence of persistent barriers to gene flow. Notably, the last two divergence events led to three local populations with different color forms. The initial divergence may have been affected by climatic cooling around that time, and the last three divergence events may have been associated with the increasing impact of human activities. Both climatic cooling and increasing human activity may have caused habitat fragmentation and a reduction in the numbers of large mammals supplying food (dung) for P. auratus, thereby promoting the decline, segregation, and divergence of local populations. Our research demonstrates that geographic population divergence in an insect with conspicuous differences in traits such as body color may have occurred rapidly under the influence of human activity.

Population status and density estimate of Leopard Panthera pardus fusca in dry thorn forests of southern India

The study aims to assess the population status and density of the Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) in the Erode Forest Division, Tamil Nadu. The Erode Forest division has numerous villages within its boundaries and is exposed to associated biotic pressures. In order to improve the management practices of the wildlife in the area and to enhance its conservation, it is relevant to assess its status. In 2018 and 2020, we estimated the population density of the leopard in the entire forest division using 2 km2 sample grids and the camera trapping method. In each grid, we deployed a pair of camera traps, the cumulative number of trap-nights being 22983 (10732 trap nights in 2018 and 12251 in 2020). We analysed the obtained data using spatially explicit capture-recapture models (SECR). The surveys yielded 198 images of the leopard in 2018 and 272 images in 2020, of which 48 and 44 leopard individuals were identified in the respective years based on the rosette pattern. The density estimates were 5.16 (SE = ±0.89) and 4.00 (SE ± 0.72) individuals/100 km2 in 2018 and 2020, respectively. We found that in some regions overlapping with the human-use area, leopard densities were high, indicating that the species successfully exploits areas near human habitation and highlighting its high potential for interaction with humans. This baseline estimate and insights will help prioritize management actions, strengthen large mammal conservation beyond the boundaries of protected areas (PA), and plan human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures to enable the persistence of large carnivores in multi-use forests.

New Data on the Neopleistocene Mammal Fauna from the Region of the Natural Park “Lenskie Stolby” (Middle Lena River Basin, Yakutia)

The data on new finds of the remains of Mammoth fauna mammals in the basin of Middle Lena River (Yakutia, the area of natural park “Lenskiye Stolby (Lena Pillars)” and adjacent territories) is represented in the article. Based on these data, the species composition of the mammoth fauna list of large mammalian species from this region was specified. 11 species of large mammals were identified, among which, for the first time for this region, the presence of a cave lion was established. A series of new radiocarbon datings allowing to note that mass burials of the Pleistocene mammalian remains were mainly formed in this region during the Karginian interstadial (60 (55)–24 thousand years ago, MIS-3). The obtained radiocarbon dates and species composition are consistent with the data that the Karginian interstadial was the most favorable for the distribution of the mammoth fauna in the territory of Yakutia. The results of the studies show that in the Late Pleistocene, the ecological preferences of Ovis nivicola differed from the modern ones. For the first time, the distribution of Panthera spelaea is revealed in the region of the middle reaches of the Lena River.

A systematic review on the feeding ecology of Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Shaw, 1791 in its distribution range in the Indian subcontinent

The Sloth Bear being myrmecophagous is specialized to feed on ants, termites, and fleshy food; however, no discernible comparison exists on a diet, seasonal feeding pattern, and factor influence in a different habitat of an Indian sub-continent. A review of available literature suggested the dominance of plant matter in the Sloth Bear diet during the summer season, while an equal quantum of plant & animal matter was recorded in the monsoon & winter seasons. Fleshy fruits, flowers, flower buds, delicate leaves, and sometimes roots are considered plant food items in different studies, while ants, termites, honey, honey wax, and carrion feed are recorded as animal food items. Availability and accessibility of food materials in the different seasons, energy requirements, geographical variations, and human interference are notable factors influencing the feeding strategy of Sloth Bears. Cumulative data on food & feeding behavior of Sloth Bears helps to understand the pivotal role of species across various habitats. A systematic review of all the available studies to understand the diet of Sloth Bears in different seasons across its distribution range is presented in this paper, which can be a holistic approach to know the habitat selection with reference to the availability of food. A better understanding of such behavior also provides a key strategy for the management of large mammals in different geographical areas.

Earliest bison dispersal in Western Palearctic: Insights from the Eobison record from Pietrafitta (Early Pleistocene, central Italy)

The late Villafranchian is one of the pivotal timespans in the succession of Pleistocene European faunal assemblages, setting the bases for the major faunal renewal that characterized the continent during the Epivillafranchian. Bison is one of the most important and successful large mammals to spread in Europe at the latest stages of the Early Pleistocene. Here we describe the remains of a large bovid from the late Villafranchian site of Pietrafitta (ca. 1.5 Ma), previously attributed to Leptobos. Our analyses allow to refer this sample to the genus Bison. The primitive characters featured by this sample suggest the attribution to the subgenus Eobison, a long-debated taxon which includes all the earliest forms of Bison. At Pietrafitta, thus, one of the largest and most complete record of primitive Bison is recorded. The vague diagnosis and confused taxonomic history of Eobison called for a reappraisal of its status. We present a re-definition of the diagnostic characters and a review of the Eurasian record of Eobison with a focus on the late Villafranchian samples from the Mediterranean area. We recognize at least three valid species of Eobison remarking, however, the extreme morphological variability of this group. The comparative analysis of Eobison and its closest relatives (i.e., Leptobos and Bison s.s.), confirms that both the leptobovine and bisontine clades underwent to an increase of stoutness of the appendicular skeleton in response to the shrinking of forested habitats and the onset of colder, arid climate during the Pleistocene.

Recruitment of Muscle Genes as an Effect of Brown Adipose Tissue Ablation in Cold-Acclimated Brandt’s Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)

Skeletal muscle-based nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) plays an important role in the regulation and maintenance of body temperature in birds and large mammals, which do not contain brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, the relative contribution of muscle-based NST to thermoregulation is not clearly elucidated in wild small mammals, which have evolved an obligate thermogenic organ of BAT. In this study, we investigated whether muscle would become an important site of NST when BAT function is conditionally minimized in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). We surgically removed interscapular BAT (iBAT, which constitutes 52%~56% of total BAT) and exposed the voles to prolonged cold (4 °C) for 28 days. The iBAT-ablated voles were able to maintain the same levels of NST and body temperature (~37.9 °C) during the entire period of cold acclimation as sham voles. The expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and its transcriptional regulators at both protein and mRNA levels in the iBAT of cold-acclimated voles was higher than that in the warm group. However, no difference was observed in the protein or mRNA levels of these thermogenesis-related markers except for PGC-1α in other sites of BAT (including infrascapular region, neck, and axilla) between warm and cold groups either in sham or iBAT-ablated voles. The iBAT-ablated voles showed higher UCP1 expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) than sham voles during cold acclimation. The expression of sarcolipin (SLN) and sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA) in skeletal muscles was higher in cold than in warm, but no alteration in phospholamban (PLB) and phosphorylated-PLB (P-PLB) was observed. Additionally, there was increased in iBAT-ablated voles compared to that in the sham group in cold. Moreover, these iBAT-ablated voles underwent extensive remodeling of mitochondria and genes of key components related with mitochondrial metabolism. These data collectively indicate that recruitment of skeletal muscle-based thermogenesis may compensate for BAT impairment and suggest a functional interaction between the two forms of thermogenic processes of iBAT and skeletal muscle in wild small mammals for coping cold stress.