Masked Palm Civet Paguma Larvata Research Articles

Further evidence for endozoochory in a mycoheterotrophic orchid Cyrtosia septentrionalis: seed dispersal by the masked palm civet Paguma larvata.

Cyrtosia septentrionalis, an orchid species, is notable for its sausage-shaped red fleshy fruits, which can reach up to 10 cm in length. Previous research identified frugivorous and omnivorous birds, especially the brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis (Pycnonotidae, Passeriformes), as key seed dispersers of C. septentrionalis in natural habitats. This finding challenges conventional belief that orchid seeds are primarily wind-dispersed. Moreover, given the rarity of specialized co-evolutionary relationships between fruits and frugivores, C. septentrionalis may also rely on mammals for seed dispersal in certain regions. We aimed to explore the fruit consumption habits of animals other than birds. Motion sensor-equipped cameras were used to observe interactions with the fruits of C. septentrionalis and assess the viability of seeds post-consumption. The observations revealed three animal species consuming the fruits, with the masked palm civet Paguma larvata (Viverridae, Carnivora) identified as a dominant consumer in the investigated population. Microscopy analysis of seeds retrieved from P. larvata faeces indicated that the seeds remained intact and viable after passing through the digestive system of this carnivorous mammal. The above discovery suggests a potential role for carnivorous mammals in seed dispersal of C. septentrionalis, alongside birds, thus broadening our understanding of the complex seed dispersal strategies employed by orchids.

First Report on the Movements Related to Feeding Behavior and Potential Importance as a Seed Disperser of the Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata in Borneo

First Report on the Movements Related to Feeding Behavior and Potential Importance as a Seed Disperser of the Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata in Borneo

Conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination caused by carnivorous seed dispersers.

Plants produce nutritious, fleshy fruits that attract various animals to facilitate seed dispersal and recruitment dynamic. Species-specific differential selection of seed size by multiple frugivorous disperser assemblages may affect the subsequent germination of the ingested seeds. However, there is little empirical evidence supporting this association. In the present study, we documented conflicting selection pressures exerted on seed size and germination by five frugivorous carnivores on a mammal-dispersed pioneer tree, the date-plum persimmon (Diospyros lotus), in a subtropical forest. Fecal analyses revealed that these carnivores acted as primary seed dispersers of D. lotus. We also observed that seed sizes were selected based on body mass and were species-specific, confirming the "gape limitation" hypothesis; three small carnivores (the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, and Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata) significantly preferred to disperse smaller seeds in comparison with control seeds obtained directly from wild plants whereas the largest Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) ingested larger seeds. Seeds dispersed by medium-sized hog badgers (Arctonyx albogularis) were not significantly different from control seeds. However, regarding the influence of gut passage on seed germination, three arboreal dispersal agents (martens, civets, and bears) enhanced germination success whereas terrestrial species (ferret-badgers and hog badgers) inhibited the germination process compared with undigested control seeds. These conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination may enhance the heterogeneity of germination dynamics and thus increase species fitness through diversification of the regeneration niche. Our results advance our understanding of seed dispersal mechanisms and have important implications for forest recruitment and ecosystem dynamics.

Using population monitoring programs to detect changes in mammalian communities

The global biodiversity crisis is escalating rapidly, with nearly a million species facing extinction risk in the near future. Monitoring of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV; key variables measured to detect changes in biodiversity) over time is important for biodiversity conservation, which in turn necessitates baseline estimates of EBVs. Using camera-trap data for six years (2013–2018) and a Bayesian multispecies occupancy model, we estimated species richness and species-specific occupancy of a mammalian community in Pakke Tiger Reserve, India. We detected 28 species of mammals in our camera traps. The model-based estimate of species richness during the study period was 41 (95 % CRI: 39–42) species, with no evidence of any substantial temporal variation. We found that carnivore and herbivore species richness was higher in greener habitats and that omnivore species richness was higher at lower-elevation sites. Annual average species occupancy probability (at the scale of 4-km2 sampling units) did not vary substantially between years but was lowest in 2014 (0.54, 95 % CRI: 0.20–0.84) and highest in 2013 (0.59, 95 % CRI: 0.27–0.87). Mean species-specific occupancy averaged across the years varied substantially among species, ranging from a low of 0.03 (95 % CRI: 0.00–0.08) for the masked palm civet Paguma larvata to a high of 0.94 (95 % CRI: 0.87–0.98) for the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. Mean occupancy probability was highest for herbivores followed by omnivores and carnivores. Species-specific detection probability (for a 30–60-day survey period) was not influenced by survey effort but increased with body mass for carnivores and decreased with body mass for herbivores and omnivores. We propose a framework for efficient monitoring of species and community-level EBV, utilizing data collected during the monitoring of high-profile species of conservation concern, such as tigers Panthera tigris in India.

Spatial Co-Occurrence and Activity Patterns of Mesocarnivores in the Temperate Forests of Southwest China.

Understanding the interactions between species and their coexistence mechanisms will help explain biodiversity maintenance and enable managers to make sound conservation decisions. Mesocarnivores are abundant and diverse mid-sized carnivores and can have profound impacts on the function, structure and dynamics of ecosystem after the extirpation of apex predators in many ecosystems. The moist temperate forests of Southwest China harbor a diverse community of mesocarnivores in the absence of apex predators. Sympatric species tend to partition limited resources along time, diet and space to facilitate coexistence. We determined the spatial and temporal patterns for five species of mesocarnivores. We used detection histories from a large camera-trap dataset collected from 2004–2015 with an extensive effort of 23,313 camera-days from 495 camera locations. The five mesocarnivore species included masked palm civet Paguma larvata, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, hog badger Arctonyx collaris, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, and Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica. Only the masked palm civet and hog badger tended to avoid each other; while for other pairs of species, they occurred independently of each other, or no clear pattern observed. With regard to seasonal activity, yellow-throated marten was most active in winter, opposite the pattern observed for masked palm civet, leopard cat and hog badger. For diel activity, masked palm civet, leopard cat and hog badger were primarily nocturnal and crepuscular; yellow-throated marten was diurnal, and Siberian weasel had no clear pattern for most of the year (March to November), but was nocturnal in the winter (December to February). The seasonal shift of the Siberian weasel may be due to the high diet overlap among species in winter. Our results provided new facts and insights into this unique community of mesocarnivores of southwest China, and will facilitate future studies on the mechanism determining coexistence of animal species within complex system.

Assessing resource and predator effects on habitat use of tropical small carnivores

Habitat use of animals is influenced by a combination of factors including food abundance and interactions with other species. Animals typically must forage while simultaneously avoiding predation from multiple potential predators, but habitat use in tropical forest ecosystems that assesses effects of both predation risk and resources has rarely been conducted. We used camera traps and occupancy analyses to document small mammalian carnivore occurrence in relation to food abundance and interactions with large predators. We hypothesized that habitat use of six small mammalian carnivores (≤15 kg) would be influenced by (1) abundance of resources (fruit, rodents, and streams) and/or (2) large predators. Predictions regarding food and habitat resources were only supported for one species (crab-eating mongoose, Urva urva), which was positively associated with rodents and streams. Three small carnivores (masked palm civet Paguma larvata, common palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula) were affected negatively by leopard and mesopredators as predicted. Counter to our predictions, two species (masked palm civet and yellow-throated marten) showed spatial avoidance of tiger suggesting that an apex predator might also pose predation risk to small carnivores. The focal small carnivores and large predators of this study appeared to have moderately to highly overlapping temporal activity indicating no temporal avoidance. In conclusion, food resources appeared to have minimal effects for six small carnivores in this ecosystem probably due to continuous resource availability. Predation risk appeared to affect some species in terms of spatial occupancy but not in temporal activity, indicating perhaps complex, but not entirely negative interactions between larger carnivores and this guild of small carnivores. The mechanisms which facilitate co-occurrence between small carnivores and large predators may, however, operate at finer spatiotemporal scales than we investigated here.

Genetic population structure of the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, (Carnivora: Viverridae) in Japan, revealed from analysis of newly identified compound microsatellites

The masked palm civet Paguma larvata (Carnivora: Viverridae) in Japan has been phylogeographically considered an introduced species from Taiwan. To reveal the population structures and relationships among the P. larvata populations in Japan, seven compound microsatellite loci were isolated from the genome and genotyped for 287 individuals collected from the field. STRUCTURE analysis and factorial correspondence analysis of genotyping data revealed that animals from Japan were divided into four genetic clusters. Geographic distribution of the genetic clusters partly referred to sampling areas, indicating multiple introductions into distinct areas of Japan or independent founding events leading to the generation of different genetic clusters within introduced populations in Japan. The large genetic differentiation of populations in the Shikoku District from those in other areas within Japan suggests that there were at least two introduction routes into Japan, and a possibility that some founders from areas other than Taiwan were also involved in the introduction into Japan. The genetic variation within Japanese populations were not markedly reduced compared with that of Taiwan. The results indicated that the Japanese populations of P. larvata could have retained moderate genetic diversity during founding events, because of multiple introductions, or a large number or high genetic diversity of founders. Although some individuals in Japan showed a sign of admixture between different clusters, there is no evidence that such an admixture markedly increased the genetic diversity within Japanese populations.

Carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) in South China: a status review with notes on the commercial trade

1 Evidence from the literature, interviews, market surveys, general rapid field surveys and camera trapping was reviewed to infer the regional status of 33 recorded carnivores in South China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong and Macau). 2 The carnivore fauna in South China is among the most depleted for any continental area in the world. 3 The tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, grey wolf Canis lupus and binturong Arctictis binturong are probably extirpated. 4 The dhole Cuon alpinus, Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temmincki and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa are at great risk of regional extirpation, as are the more ecologically adaptable red fox Vulpes vulpes, raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, Asian badger Meles leucurus, Eurasian otter Lutra lutra, Oriental small-clawed otter Aonyx cinereus and large Indian civet Viverra zibetha. 5 Though more widely reported, the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, hog badger Arctonyx collaris and Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica are at regional risk. 6 The status of the Burmese ferret-badger Melogale personata, stripe-backed weasel Mustela strigidorsa, smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata, large-spotted civet Viverra megaspila and Owston's palm civet Chrotogale owstoni is uncertain due to inadequate information. 7 Five carnivore species – the Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata, masked palm civet Paguma larvata, yellow-bellied weasel Mustela kathiah, small Indian civet Viverricula indica and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis– are relatively secure (though not common) in the region, along with the Asian palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus and the Javan mongoose Herpestes javanicus in some areas, while the spotted linsang Prionodon pardicolor and crab-eating mongoose Herpestes urva may have been under-reported. 8 The main threats have been habitat destruction and unsustainable exploitation. Only in Hong Kong, where enforcement of protection legislation has been stronger, are the surviving carnivore species easily encountered. 9 Improved enforcement and monitoring are essential to retaining the remainder of South China's carnivores. Support could be boosted by conservation education and better research.

Origins and Founder Effects on the Japanese Masked Palm CivetPaguma larvata(Viverridae, Carnivora), Revealed from a Comparison with Its Molecular Phylogeography in Taiwan

The source areas of the Japanese populations of the masked palm civet Paguma larvata (Viverridae, Carnivora), an alien species in Japan, have not been identified. In the present study, to reveal their origins and genetic features, we determined the full mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences (1,140 base-pairs) of a total of 206 individuals of P. larvata from the Honshu and Shikoku islands of Japan (186 animals) and Taiwan (20 animals), and investigated their molecular phylogeography and the genetic relationships between populations in these countries. We found that each animal from Japan exhibited one of four haplotypes (JA1, JA2, JA4, and JA5), and that JA1 and JA4 were more frequent in eastern Honshu and Shikoku-central Honshu, respectively. By contrast, six haplotypes consisting of four new types (TW1, TW2, TW3, and TW4) and the previously reported two types (JA1 and JA4) were identified from 20 animals from native populations in Taiwan. Within Taiwan, one haplotype set (JA1, TW1, and TW2) was distributed in the western region, while a second (JA4, TW3, and TW4) was found in the eastern region; these regions are separated by high mountain ranges. Our comparison of haplotype distributions strongly demonstrated that the eastern Japanese populations originated from animals of western Taiwan, and that the western Japanese populations originated from those of eastern Taiwan. In addition, the lower genetic variability and particular distribution patterns of haplotypes in Japan showed founder effects, which may have resulted from multiple introductions of P. larvata to Japan from Taiwan.

Dietary Overlap Among Two Introduced and One Native Sympatric Carnivore Species, the Raccoon, the Masked Palm Civet, and the Raccoon Dog, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan

To assess the degree of competition for food items between non-natives and natives, dietary overlap among three carnivore species living sympatrically in the area of Isumi City, southeastern Chiba Prefecture, central Japan, was analyzed by examining the gut contents of 221 animals collected from spring through summer 2006. The animals comprised two introduced species, the raccoon Procyon lotor and the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, and a native species, the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides. All three species were found to eat berries and seeds, amphibians and arthropods. The raccoons ate more crustaceans, the masked palm civets ate more mollusks, and the raccoon dogs ate more human meal scraps than the other two species. The food diversity of raccoons was lowest in both spring and summer. The dietary overlap was highest between raccoon dogs and masked palm civets. The degree of dietary overlap among the three species increased from spring to summer. These results suggest that overlap of food items is high and the degree of food resource segregation is low among the three species.

Low genetic diversity in the masked palm civet Paguma larvata (Viverridae).

The masked palm civet is distributed through south‐east Asia, China and the Himalayas. Because of its potential role in the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, it has become important to gather information on this species, and notably to provide a tool to determine the origin of farm and market animals. For this purpose, we studied the genetic variability and the phylogeographic pattern of the masked palm civet Paguma larvata. First, two portions of mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and the control region, were sequenced for a total of 76 individuals sampled from China, the Indochinese region and the Sundaic region. Results indicated a low genetic variability and suggested a lack of a phylogeographic structure in this species, which do not allow inferring the geographic origin of samples of unknown origin, although it is possible to distinguish individuals from China and the Sundaic region. This low variation is in contrast to the well‐marked morphological differentiation between the populations in the Sundaic and Chinese–Indochinese regions. We also used five microsatellite loci to genotype 149 samples from two wild and four farmed populations in China, where the masked palm civet is farmed and where the SARS coronavirus was isolated. These analyses also showed a reduced variability in Chinese civets and showed that farmed populations did not exhibit a lower genetic diversity than wild populations, suggesting frequent introductions of wild individuals into farms.

Activity patterns and habitat use of sympatric small carnivores in southern Taiwan

Camera-trapping was used to examine the activity patterns and habitat use of a small carnivore community in southern Taiwan from March 1998 to February 2001. Six small carnivore species occurred in disturbed and successional stage forests in southern Taiwan. The small carnivore community was mainly composed of four species, including small Indian civet Viverricula indica, masked palm civet Paguma larvata, crab-eating mongoose Herpestes urva, and ferret badger Melogale moschata. There were no significant differences of occurrence between dry and wet seasons for small Indian civet, masked palm civet, and ferret badger (p)0.05), whereas occurrence of crab-eating mongoose during the dry season was significantly higher than during the wet season (p-0.02). Small Indian civet were closely correlated to disturbed and mosaic secondary forests and seemed restricted to certain elevations, whereas the distribution of the masked palm civet, crab-eating mongoose, and ferret badger could occur from low to moderate elevations. These results show segregation of temporal distribution and habitat use among these four sympatric carnivore species.

Genetic variations of the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, inferred from mitochondrial cytochromebsequences

It is still unclear whether the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) is native to the Japanese islands or introduced from the outside via human activities. In the present study, we sequenced the whole region (1,140 base-pairs) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for 29 masked palm civets from Japan and Southeast Asia, and investigated their molecular phylogeography. Nine haplotypes were identified from the animals. Five halpotypes identified from 24 animals of Japan were clustered and separated from four haplotypes from five animals of Southeast Asia, showing clear differentiation between Japanese and Southeast Asian lineages. Sequence differences within Japanese haplotypes were smaller than those within Southeast Asian haplotypes and those between Japanese and Southeast Asian haplotypes. Within Japanese animals, all haplotypes found in eastern Honshu (Kanto district) were different from those of central Honshu (Chubu district). The present study highlighted the problem whether the Japanese Paguma larvata is an introduced species showing multiple original routes, or whether it is a native species genetically differentiated from Southeast Asian populations and even within Japan.