Omnivorous Species Research Articles

Zearalenone (ZEN) and Its Metabolite Levels in Tissues of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Southern Italy: A Pilot Study

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the fungi of the Fusarium genera, and is a contaminant of cereals and plant products. ZEN and its metabolites are considered endocrine disruptors, and could have various toxic effects on animals and humans. In recent years, there has been a significant demographic increase in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in many mountainous and hilly areas of Italy, including the Campania region, mainly due to global climate change. The wild boar can be defined as a generalist and omnivorous species capable of varying its diet; therefore, it can play a role as an environmental bioindicator towards contaminants such as mycotoxins. This study was conducted to evaluate, for the first time, the concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites in the liver, kidney, and muscle of 82 wild boars shot in their habitat by hunters with hunting permits in different localities of Avellino province (Campania region, Southern Italy) from 2021 to 2022. The samples were collected and analyzed with an SPE clean-up and high-pressure liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. The results indicated that ZEN and α-Zearalenol were present in most of the samples, suggesting that a plan to monitor these mycoestrogens is essential to achieve the goals of "One Health".

In situ microplastic ingestion by neritic zooplankton of the central Mexican Pacific

Microplastics (MPs) are present across the global ocean and can be encountered by many species, including zooplankton. Although they fall within the size range of zooplankton prey, there are few studies on MPs ingestion carried out in situ. In this study, we analyzed MPs ingestion during two seasons (rainy and dry) of organisms from 5 taxonomic groups of zooplankton from two bays of the Mexican central Pacific: Manzanillo and Navidad. In total, 2643 individuals were analyzed, and of those 23 individuals contained MPs. The ingestion rate by taxonomic group was 1 MP/36 copepods (0.02), 1 MP/30 decapods–mysis (0.03), 1 MP/29 decapods–megalopa (0.03), and 1 MP/200 fish larvae (0.005). No plastics were found in chaetognaths, amphipods, or decapods–zoea. The average length of the ingested particles was 468.1 ± 113.8 μm, with a minimum of 15.6 and a maximum of 647.6 μm. All MPs >300 μm were fibers, with diameters <50 μm. Fragments were the most abundant MPs (54.2%), followed by fibers (34.2%) and spheres (11.4%). Statistical analyses showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the bays or seasons. Using RAMAN spectroscopy, it was possible to identify 6 different types of polymers, with poly (ethylene:propylene) being the most abundant (42.8%). This polymer is commonly used to manufacture plastic bags, ropes and fishing nets. The results confirm that certain zooplankton groups are consuming MPs and suggest that omnivorous species are more likely to ingest MPs, possibly due to their capacity for foraging flexibility and opportunistic feeding strategies. However, the ingestion of MPs cannot be attributed to a single factor; it is necessary to consider variables such as the sampling area, feeding strategy, size, and seasonality to understand the dynamics of MPs ingestion by zooplankton groups.

Bird Fauna Composition in a Protected Area in Southern Brazil.

The integrity of natural landscapes is affected by human actions, mainly by the intensification and expansion of agriculture. Factors such as fragment size and the structure of the environment can determine changes in the structure and composition of bird assemblages. In this study we evaluated the bird species composition in three structurally different forest environments, defined as the Core areas, Edge areas, and Buffer areas. The surveys were performed in the Natural Park of Sertão (NPS) and its surroundings in the southern limit of the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. To record species composition of birds, the point count method was used. The bird species were categorized according to feeding habits, habitat use, and sensitivity to forest fragmentation. A total of 131 species of birds distributed in 18 orders and 38 families were recorded. The species composition varied between the three areas and there was a significant difference in diversity between the Core and Edge areas and the Core and Buffer areas. Omnivorous species were found more in the Buffer areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Broad habitat were more frequent in the Buffer and Edge areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Forest habitat were found more in the Core areas than in the Buffer areas. Most recorded species (66%) have low sensitivity to forest fragmentation. The assemblage patterns found in this study, notably the differences among the three areas in diversity and species composition, can be explained by the ecological traits and the sensitivity levels of birds to forest fragmentation, which in turn seem to reflect different forest structures in the NPS and its surroundings. Although the Edge and Buffer areas have greater diversity, the Core areas showed great importance in maintaining species that are more sensitive to forest fragmentation. Even the largest fragments (such as the NPS), considering the regional context, may have bird species that are widely distributed and less sensitive to forest fragmentation. Forested habitat species may no longer occur or be restricted to the core area of the fragments. For conservation of bird fauna in the NPS, the maintenance of the core areas is essential, especially for those species that require a structurally preserved environment.

Trophic resources use pathways between two coexisting freshwater shrimp (Palaemon argentinus and Macrobrachium borellii)

Context A better understanding of the use of different trophic pathways as a mechanism for adjusting interactions between coexisting omnivorous decapod species may help define the extent of their influence on energy flows in freshwater ecosystems. Aims Analyse the patterns of use of the benthic and littoral pathways by Macrobrachium borellii and Palaemon argentinus during a hydrological cycle in lakes of the middle Paraná River. Methods The study was conducted during one high-water (HW) and one low-water (LW) period in three lakes permanently connected to the middle Paraná River. We calculated the relative contributions of potential basal resources (benthic and littoral) to each species for each lake and hydrological period using mixing models. Key results It was observed that M. borellii feeds more in the littoral pathway and P. argentinus in the benthic pathway, especially in low water where we observed that the partitioning of resources was more pronounced. Conclusion The more aggessive species, M. borelli, during HW period quickly utilises the bioavailable material. Trophic dynamics and resource use are part of the coexistence mechanisms of both decapod species. Implications This may have important consequences in the aquatic trophic webs in which these organisms participate, because when segregating the use of resources, they intervene in different energetic pathways.

Stable Isotopes Reveal Algal Assimilation in the Carnivorous Sea Slug Pleurobranchaea maculata (Quoy &amp; Gaimard, 1832) on Patagonian Coasts

Exotic species that achieve successful invasions often show considerable dietary plasticity in resource choice, sometimes adjusting their diet to new or variable resources. This can increase species' impact in the recipient environment. In this study, we explore the diet of the invasive gray side-gilled sea slug Pleurobranchaea maculata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) in two environments with contrasting presence of algae (different depths) on northern Patagonian coasts, by means of stable isotope analysis. Results showed the most probable prey contribution to the diet of shallow individuals of P. maculata to be algae, whereas colonial tunicates were the preferred prey in deep environments. Therefore, we suggest that P. maculata behaves as an omnivorous species in the receiving community, because it consumes and assimilates the algae, which represents a dietary shift compared to their original feeding habits (carnivorous). This species exhibited the ability to adapt to different dietary resources by showing significant differences in niche locations, niche breadth, and exhibiting little to no overlap between different environments, which supports the previous description of P. maculata as a generalist consumer. Pleurobranchaea maculata's dietary plasticity might drive ecological consequences in the invaded community. Thus, it is important to monitor for future changes in the benthic community to develop efficient programs for the management of this invasive voracious species.

Changes in Fish Assemblage Structure after Pen Culture Removal in Gehu Lake, China

The removal of the net enclosure has been used as a lake management strategy in various regions of China as ecological development is given more attention. Nevertheless, little is known about the substantive impact of this measure on fish communities in inland lakes. To this end, the fish community composition and structural features after the removal of the net enclosure in Gehu Lake were explored and evaluated in this study from 2021 to 2022 and compared to the investigation before the net enclosure removal from 2017 to 2018. Belonging to 7 orders, 10 families, and 46 species, a total of 17,151 fish were collected, with pelagic, sedentary, and omnivorous species dominating. In comparison, the number of species increased by 10 after removal, and fish alpha diversity increased. The Index of Relative Importance (IRI) revealed that the composition of dominating species remained constant, including Coilia nasus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Hypophthalmichthys nobilis; Parabramis pekinensis, Megalobrama amblycephal, and Culter mongolicus were upgraded from common species to general species. Culter alburnus, Hemiculter bleekeri, and Pseudobrama simoni were downgraded from general species to common species. Elopichthys bambusa had become a common species (IRI = 109.35), which was not discovered before removal. According to the hierarchical clustering (HC) and non-metric multidimensional sequencing (NMDS), the fish community of the northern reserve was highly aggregated. As the Abundance Biomass Comparison (ABC) curve and biodiversity index indicated, the fish community structure of the whole lake was in a state of moderate anthropogenic disturbance with reduced stability, while that of the northern reserve was in a state of light anthropogenic disturbance with greater stability. The number of fish species increased in this survey compared to the period before removal, species and dominant species composition altered dramatically, and total lake stability declined. This study demonstrates that the fish diversity in Gehu Lake increased after the removal of the net enclosure. Meanwhile, the stability of the fish community structure was decreased temporarily. Lake restoration is a long-term process, and the underlying impact of the removal of the net enclosure still requires continuous monitoring and further studies.

Feeding of the Amphipod Gammarus aequicauda in the Presence of the Planktonic Cladoceran Moina salina and the Benthic Chironomid Larvae Baeotendipes noctivagus

The energy balance approach helps to understand the limits within which the ‘predator–prey’ relationship can form, but cannot explain the formation of trophic links in natural multispecies systems. A time balance approach to the study of feeding has been developed to complement it. In the hypersaline Lake Moynaki (Crimea) which has a simple food web, there is one omnivorous species, Gammarus aequicauda, and two abundant prey, planktonic Moina salina and benthic Baeotendipes noctivagus. The size of M. salina ranges from 1.0 to 1.2 mm, and the size of B. noctivagus larvae from 9.0 to 10.0 mm. In experiments, elements of time balance were evaluated during feeding of G. aequicauda in the presence of both prey species, i.e., the duration of time spent searching before capture, handling prey, and resting between attempts to eat a chironomid larva. In all experiments, G. aequicauda consumed both kinds of prey. The maximum predation rate of G. aequicauda on the smaller sized M. salina was limited by searching and handling time, but on the larger B. noctivagus it was limited by digestion time. Feeding solely on chironomid larvae may well satisfy the energy needs of G. aequicauda. However, the food ration of G. aequicauda may be 50% higher if it feeds in the presence of both prey species than if feeding only on chironomid larvae. The presence of chironomid larvae more than halved the consumption of M. salina, compared to when cladocerans were the only prey.

Biofloc the Nutritional Enriched Feed for IMC Culture in India

World population is growing rapidly, the food production industry needs to be developed. As the aquaculture industry intensively develops, its environmental impact increases and its strong dependency on fi shmeal in the diet, the use of biofl oc technology can reduce these problems. The basic principle of the biofl oc technology is the retention of waste and its conversion to biofl oc as a natural food within the culture system. Now a days biofl oc technology has become very popular in aquaculture sector. The concept of fl oc formation in activated sludge systems can be used for application in biofl oc technology. There are so many factors which infl uence the formation of biofl oc. Microbes are manipulated in BFT systems in order to control and reduce toxic inorganic nitrogen concentrations. Extensive development of microbial biomass is an integral part of this process. Microbial proteins in BFT systems should be considered only as a supplement of feed proteins. Many researchers revealed that net protein uptake by the shrimp from biofl oc was equivalent to 25 to 50 per cent of conventional protein feeding. Biofl oc contains about 30 per cent crude protein along with other essential minerals. Essential fatty acid also found in biofl oc which is suitable for dietary requirement of Indian Major Carp (IMC). Therefore, it appears the biofl oc can be successfully used as fi sh feed particularly for herbivorous and omnivorous species. Microorganisms in biofl oc might partially replace protein content in diets or decrease its dependence of fi shmeal. Biofl oc technology provides a more sustainable approach with minimal water exchange along with reduce feed intake and transform it in to a low-cost sustainable technology for sustainable aquaculture development.

Distribution Pattern of Mangrove Fish Communities in China.

Mangroves are among the most productive marine and coastal ecosystems and play an important role in maintaining the stability and diversity of fish communities. To explore the structure of mangrove fish communities in China, we compiled previous studies, monographs, and two databases on 54 mangrove areas published in the past 30 years. Mangrove fish communities in China comprised Osteichthys (597 species) and Chondrichthyes (14 species), representing 611 species in 344 genera, 117 families, and 28 orders. Perciformes were the predominant taxon, with 350 species in 52 families, accounting for 57% of the total species richness. Reef fish accounted for 29.62%. With regard to feeding groups, there were 328 carnivorous species (53.68%), 214 omnivorous species (35.02%), 41 herbivorous species (6.71%), and 28 detritivores species (4.58%). Classified by body size, 57.61% were small-sized, 24.22% medium-sized, and 18.17% were large-sized fishes. A total of 5.23% (32 species) of these mangrove fish are currently on IUCN red lists, i.e., 2 species are critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 12 are vulnerable, and 14 are near threatened. Cluster analyses shows that Chinese mangroves fish were divided into two categories, i.e., coastal mangrove and island mangrove type. This is closely related to the distribution of reef fish. Moreover, the number of fish species showed a strong positive correlation with mangrove area, but not with latitude. The main reasons may be the subtropical and tropical geographic locations, as well as the characteristics of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Warm Current. The size and integrity of mangrove area are crucial to the local ecosystems; thus, protecting and restoring mangroves is of great significance to large-scale ecosystem-stability and local biodiversity.

The gut microbiome of wild American marten in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Carnivores are ecologically important and sensitive to habitat loss and anthropogenic disruption. Here we measured trophic level and gut bacterial composition as proxies of carnivore ecological status across the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, for wild American marten (Martes americana; hereafter marten). In contrast to studies that have focused on omnivorous and herbivorous species, we find that marten, like other carnivore species without a cecum, are dominated by Firmicutes (52.35%) and Proteobacteria (45.31%) but lack Bacteroidetes. Additionally, a majority of the 12 major bacterial genera (occurring at ≥1%) are known hydrogen producers, suggesting these taxa may contribute to host energy requirements through fermentative production of acetate. Our study suggests that live trapping and harvest methods yield similar marten gut microbiome data. In addition, preserving undisturbed forest likely impacts marten ecology by measurably increasing marten trophic level and altering the gut microbiome. Our study underscores the utility of the gut microbiome as a tool to monitor the ecological status of wild carnivore populations.

Habitat associations of dryland avian communities during an extended dry period

AbstractThe influence of resource availability on ecosystem function varies spatially and temporally, among and within ecosystems. Dramatic shifts in moisture‐driven resources can drive bottom‐up effects on animal behaviours and distributions. Further, complexity arises when landscapes are influenced by large mammalian grazers and predator‐induced trophic cascades, such as those mediated by the dingo (Canis familiaris (Dingo)) in the eastern arid Strzelecki Desert in Australia. During the driest two‐year period on record for this region, we investigated the persistence of avian communities associated with structurally distinct dunes and swale habitats, and across two different land management regimes (pastoral land with livestock and dingoes, and Sturt National Park managed for conservation without these animals). We grouped all birds into dietary functional groups to infer patterns of habitat use associated with available resources. We also compared incidental observations of the ‘winter’ bird community in part of the study region between the extended dry period of 2018/2019 and wet period of 2020/2021. Despite habitat partitioning, the avian community did not differ between land management regimes except in species richness during the dry period, likely driven by the low numbers of birds present during the surveys. Incidental observations indicated that insectivorous and omnivorous species dominated the bird community in the dry period, with granivorous species forming a greater proportion of the bird community during wet times. Birds with completely or partially insectivorous diets dominated avian species composition on surveys in the dry period, but there were distinct structural vegetation associations among functional groups, indicating that heterogeneity in vegetation structure was likely important for the conservation of refuges, which enable the persistence of avifauna during extended dry periods. Distinct habitat type, structure and available resources shaped avian communities in this landscape, during the extremely resource‐limited extended dry period, with implications for conservation and management, particularly given the increasing drying effects of climate change.

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.

Effects of agricultural practices on foraging habitats of a seabird species in the Baltic Sea.

Omnivorous and opportunistic species may be good indicators of food availability. Gulls often use human-impacted landscapes and may respond to changes by altering their feeding ecology. We investigated the foraging behavior of individual common gulls (Larus canus), focusing on their distribution during foraging and their selected habitat types. We tracked adult common gulls using GPS telemetry at their largest breeding colony in the southwestern Baltic Sea, Germany. Foraging habitats were analyzed from tracking data for three breeding seasons 2016, 2017, and 2019 and were compared with potentially available foraging habitats. Most breeding birds flew toward terrestrial areas. Feeding sites were located on average 11.7-14.3km from the colony (range 0.9-36.5km). Corn and sugar beet fields were used significantly and extensively compared with their availability in 2016 and 2017, while wheat, rape, and barley fields were used significantly less. Data from 2019 suggested seasonal shifts in habitat use. Birds spent between 30 and 1300 min per week at their preferred feeding sites, with significant differences between the major habitats selected. We found a stable, clear, multiyear pattern in common gull foraging behavior in relation to agricultural practices. Fields with little or no crop cover and thus access to the soil were preferred over fields with high crop cover. These results suggest that local food availability may be limiting further population increases in this species.

Trophodynamics of Nekton Assemblages and Relationships with Estuarine Habitat Structure Across a Subtropical Estuary

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of trophic structures, or trophodynamics, is important for assessing the overall condition and function of estuarine ecosystems. We examined spatial and seasonal trophodynamics of nekton assemblages across the seascape of a subtropical estuary (Charlotte Harbor, FL, USA) using historical nekton data from an ongoing monitoring program. We also examined relationships between trophodynamics and the spatial distribution of vegetated habitats, such as salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds, as well as their absence along hardened shorelines (seawalls or riprap) using seascape metrics (area and edge density of habitats within several search radii of sample locations). We found that nekton assemblages in shallow waters (from the shoreline to a depth of ≤ 1.5 m) transitioned from mainly planktivores in the lower Peace and Myakka Rivers to mainly benthivores (those feeding on benthic infauna, epifauna, or seagrass) in the middle and lower portions of Charlotte Harbor. Overall nekton assemblages throughout the estuary appeared to be largely sustained through benthic pathways in areas with abundant seagrass and nearby mangrove habitat, particularly during the cool-dry winter when planktivore densities were seasonally low. The dramatic seasonal decline in planktivore densities we found in the lower rivers may be related to low freshwater inflow and increased predation resulting from seasonal recruitment pulses of several omnivorous species. Trophodynamics linked with seascape metrics of estuarine habitat structure described here may be used as a spatially explicit baseline of the estuarine seascape to monitor ecosystem health as well as parameterize spatial ecosystem models used in fisheries management in Charlotte Harbor and similar subtropical estuaries.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Wild Birds from a Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Simple SummaryWildlife may be zoonotic carriers of pathogens. The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of Campylobacter (C.) jejuni and C. coli, which are responsible for enteric syndromes and sometimes extraintestinal diseases in humans, in wild birds housed at a wildlife rescue centre. Sensitivity to antibiotics was also investigated in the detected strains. Two hundred and nine birds belonging to 33 different species were considered in the study. Campylobacter was found in 52 birds (24.88%), mainly in omnivorous species. In terms of housing conditions, the infection rate was higher in birds housed in indoor (57.14%) than in outdoor aviaries (31.74%). Interestingly, Campylobacter was not detected in some species whose mean temperature body was below 40 °C or higher than 42.2 °C. All detected strains were C. jejuni except for three C. coli that were identified in Long-eared Owls. The most commonly found antibiotic resistance was against drugs such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. Multi-drug resistance against two or more antibiotics was also detected. The findings of the study highlight the relevance of increasing biosecurity measures at the wildlife rescue centres to reduce health risks to staff involved in wildlife management.Climate change, excessive exploitation of agricultural land which reduces natural habitats, wildlife shooting, and the use of pesticides all cause difficulties for wildlife, with considerable numbers of animals being brought to wildlife rescue centres. Although the efforts of staff involved in wildlife management at these centres usually focus on therapeutic treatments to reintroduce them into the wild, the monitoring of pathogens that may be transmitted to humans is of relevance. Campylobacter (C.) jejuni and C. coli are frequently carried by animals without inducing clinical signs and are responsible for enteric disorders and more rarely extra-intestinal disease in humans. Farm species and poultry, in particular, are the main reservoirs of C. jejuni and C. coli, but wild animals may also be carriers. The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of C. jejuni and C. coli in wild birds housed at a wildlife rescue centre and to evaluate the sensitivity of the detected strains to antibiotics. Campylobacter was found in 52 out of 209 (24.88%) birds from 33 different species. C. jejuni was more prevalent, while C. coli was only detected in three Long-eared Owls (Asio otus). The incidence of the infection was particularly high (72.22%) among omnivorous species. Infection rates were higher in birds housed indoors (57.14%) than outdoors (31.74%). Moreover, Campylobacter was not detected in species whose mean temperature body is below 40 °C or higher than 42.2 °C. The most common antibiotic resistance in the tested strains was against trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. In addition, multi-drug resistance was also found. The results highlight the need to increase biosecurity measures at rescue centres so as to reduce health-related risks to workers involved in wildlife management.

Isotopic signature in isolated south-western populations of European brown bear (Ursus arctos)

Stable isotope analysis of animal tissue samples is increasingly used to study the trophic ecology of target species. The isotopic signatures respond to the type of diet, but also to the environmental conditions of their habitat. In the case of omnivorous, seasonal or opportunistic feeding species, the interpretation of isotopic values is more complex, as it is largely determined by food selection, either due to individual choice or because of availability. We analysed C and N isotopes in brown bear (Ursus arctos) hair from four isolated populations of south-western Europe (Cantabrian, Pyrenees, Central Apennines and Alpine) accounting for the geographical and climatic differences among the four areas. We found inter-population differences in isotopic signatures that cannot be attributed to climatic differences alone, indicating that at least some bears from relatively higher altitude populations experiencing higher precipitation (Pyrenees) show a greater consumption of animal foods than those from lower altitudes (Cantabrian and Apennines). The quantification of isotopic niche space using Layman’s metrics identified significant similarities between the Cantabrian and Central Apennine samples that markedly differ from the Pyrenean and Alpine. Our study provides a baseline to allow further comparisons in isotopic niche spaces in a broad ranged omnivorous mammal, whose European distribution requires further conservation attention especially for southern isolated populations.

Specific Gene Duplication and Loss of Cytochrome P450 in Families 1-3 in Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria).

Simple SummaryIn this study we investigated the specific duplication and loss events of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes in families 1-3 in Carnivora. These genes have been recognized as essential detoxification enzymes, and, using genomic data, we demonstrated a synteny analysis of the CYP coding cluster and a phylogenetic analysis of these genes. We discovered the CYP2Cs and CYP3As expansion in omnivorous species such as the badger, the brown bear, the black bear, and the dog. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolution of CYP2Cs and 3As in Carnivora. These findings are essential for the appropriate estimation of pharmacokinetics or toxicokinetic in wild carnivorans.Cytochrome P450s are among the most important xenobiotic metabolism enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of a wide range of chemicals. Through duplication and loss events, CYPs have created their original feature of detoxification in each mammal. We performed a comprehensive genomic analysis to reveal the evolutionary features of the main xenobiotic metabolizing family: the CYP1-3 families in Carnivora. We found specific gene expansion of CYP2Cs and CYP3As in omnivorous animals, such as the brown bear, the black bear, the dog, and the badger, revealing their daily phytochemical intake as providing the causes of their evolutionary adaptation. Further phylogenetic analysis of CYP2Cs revealed Carnivora CYP2Cs were divided into CYP2C21, 2C41, and 2C23 orthologs. Additionally, CYP3As phylogeny also revealed the 3As’ evolution was completely different to that of the Caniformia and Feliformia taxa. These studies provide us with fundamental genetic and evolutionary information on CYPs in Carnivora, which is essential for the appropriate interpretation and extrapolation of pharmacokinetics or toxicokinetic data from experimental mammals to wild Carnivora.

Importance of private working lands for the conservation of neotropical birds on an urban-wilderness gradient

Global biodiversity and land conservation initiatives rely on an accurate understanding of the spatial distribution of species populations and communities. Identifying the spatial habitat use of wildlife communities across land uses and levels of human modification provides the opportunity to produce more efficient and effectual conservation plans. Our goal was to model breeding bird community occupancy across a complete spectrum of human land use modification to determine the habitat characteristics that best maximized the conservation of bird diversity. We used repeat-visit point counts on private and public lands to record the detection/non-detection of breeding bird species across the land use gradient. We modeled multiple proportional land cover and landscape structure covariates and employed a hierarchical multi-species occupancy model to analyze the habitat use of each species and to estimate guild-level species richness dynamics across the study area. We detected a total of 70 breeding bird species and our model estimated a total of 78 species within the total metacommunity. We found that insectivorous species richness was lowest in urban and suburban areas (xˆ = 7), but highest on multiple use working lands with low to moderate levels of human modification (xˆ = 22), not in the fully preserved protected areas (xˆ = 16). In contrast, the richness of the predominately human commensal omnivorous species was highest in urban and suburban areas (xˆ = 10) and across much of the more human modified landscape and lowest in the preserved lands (xˆ = 3). Moderately disturbed working lands, which primarily consisted of a mixture of rotating silvicultural tracts, agriculture, low density housing, and riparian corridors, supported the most species (xˆ = 36) and were especially important for the occupancy of breeding neotropical insectivores. These findings highlight the potential conservation benefits for incorporating private working lands with multiple land uses and land covers into future conservation planning scenarios, both for their wildlife conservation potential and as buffers around traditional protected areas.

Patterns of vertebrate biodiversity in a tropical dry and mangrove forest matrix

Introduction: Tropical dry forests and mangroves, two of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, each host a different set of environmental conditions which may support unique assemblages of species. However, few studies have looked at the unique vertebrate biodiversity in regions where both habitats occur side-by-side. Objective: To assess the vertebrate diversity and patterns of habitat usage in a mangrove and tropical dry forest matrix in an unprotected region of Northwestern Costa Rica. Methods: The study was conducted in a 7 km2 matrix of mangrove and tropical dry forests between Cabuyal and Zapotillal bays in Northwestern Costa Rica, South of Santa Rosa National Park. From September 2017 to March 2018, we used 13 automatic camera traps over 1 498 trap days to capture species utilizing the region and assess their patterns of habitat usage both spatially and temporally. Results: Seventy vertebrate species from 42 families in 27 orders were detected, including several globally threatened species. Over half of all species were detected in only one habitat, particularly amongst avian (78 %) and mammalian (42 %) species. Tropical dry forests hosted the greatest number of unique species and supported a greater percentage of herbivores than mangrove or edge habitats, which were dominated by carnivorous and omnivorous species. Mean detections per camera trap of all species increased significantly from the coldest and wettest month (Oct) to the hottest and driest months (Jan &amp; Feb) in tropical dry forests. Sample-based rarefaction analysis revealed that survey length was sufficient to sample the tropical dry forest and edge habitats, though mangroves require further sampling. Conclusions: Taxa found to utilize different forest types may utilize each for different stages of their life cycle, moving between areas as environmental conditions change throughout the year. General patterns of global biodiversity favoring carnivore and omnivore usage of mangrove forests was confirmed in our study.

Multispecies Assessment of Anthropogenic Particle Ingestion in a Marine Protected Area.

Simple SummaryPlastic pollution presents a growing concern for marine biodiversity, and among these, anthropogenic particles (APs) are entering marine ecosystems at an alarming rate from land and sea sources. In this study, we quantify the ingestion of APs across fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers (echinoderms), bivalves (molluscs), and jellyfish (cnidarians), identify biotic and abiotic factors that might influence the ingested items; and identify ingestion patterns based on taxonomic groups, trophic guilds, and habitats. Ingestion of APs was observed in the majority of the species analyses with occurrence ranging from 0% to 100%. The study results indicate that plastic pollution poses a threat to species found within the marine protected area of the Cabrera Marine-Terrestrial National Park despite their protection status. The multispecies approach provided a better understanding of the high level of AP exposure to species, highlighting the associated damage to marine biodiversity related to marine waste.We have applied a multispecies ecosystem approach to analyse the ingestion of anthropogenic particles (AP) in the gastrointestinal tract of 313 individuals (17 fish species and 8 invertebrate species) from pelagic, demersal and benthic habitats in a marine protected area off the Western Mediterranean (Cabrera National Park). We have quantified and characterized the ingestion at several taxonomic levels of fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, bivalves, and jellyfish in relation to biotic/abiotic factors based on taxonomic groups, trophic guilds (functional groups) and habitats. AP ingestion occurrence ranged from 26 to 100% with no significant differences among taxonomic groups. The fish within the MPA showed an overall ingestion occurrence ranging from 0 to 100%, the echinoderms from 29 to 100%, the bivalves from 72 to 96% and the jellyfish 36% ingestion. The ecosystem approach applied to evaluate overall AP ingestion within the species reported that for trophic guilds, the omnivorous species ingested the highest amounts of anthropogenic items, while herbivores ingested significantly fewer items than all other trophic guilds. Moreover, no significant differences were found amongst habitats, indicating a homogeneous spatial distribution of APs at all studied habitats. The multispecies approach provided insight into the high APs exposure to species within Cabrera MPA, highlighting the potential harm linked with marine litter that threatens marine biodiversity.