Chionomys Nivalis Research Articles

Redefining the MIS 3 climatic scenario for Neanderthals in northeastern Iberia: A multi-method approach

One of the major challenges in scientific research is to understand past climate and the mechanisms of climate change. Small vertebrates, and especially rodents, are very sensitive to shifts in climate and habitat, and their variations over time in terms of taxa and abundance can be successfully used to reconstruct past environments. The vast array of approaches to palaeoclimatic reconstruction reflects the great effort that has gone into this line of investigation. Recently, the UDA-ODA discrimination technique has been postulated as a more reliable ecologically-based methodology compared to the classical MER method.To provide biogeographical information to be analysed by the UDA-ODA discrimination technique, the distributions of four species (Sorex minutus, Chionomys nivalis, Talpa europaea and Crocidura russula) documented in levels O, N, E and D of the Abric Romaní site were processed. The results reveal a statistical difference between the climatic values for the occupied distribution areas (ODA) and those for the uncertain distribution areas (UDA). This technique was then applied to small-mammal assemblages from the above-mentioned levels of Abric Romaní, to test whether the use of the ODAs of the species improves the precision of the climatic reconstruction compared to the atlas distributions of the species used in MER procedures. Our results suggest an improvement in the discrimination analysis over the previous MER reconstructions when wider distributions for an assemblage are obtained. The coldest values obtained for level O of Abric Romaní seem to reinforce the pollen interpretation of the level as coetaneous with a cold period. For the whole MIS 3 climatic scenario for Neanderthals, a colder and wetter climate is derived from the small-mammal analysis. However, as different methods and analyses have inherent limitations, a standardization of the methods applied to the different levels and sites should be carried out in order to provide comparable results.

A Comparison of Small Rodent Assemblages after a 20 Year Interval in the Alps.

Human-induced environmental alterations in the Alps may importantly affect small mammal species, but evidence in this sense is limited. We live-trapped small rodents in the Central-Eastern Italian Alps in three close-by habitat types (rocky scree, alpine grassland, and heath) at 2100 m a.s.l. during summer-fall, in 1997 and 2016. We compared small rodent assemblages through a Redundancy Detrended Analysis (RDA). In both surveys, we detected two specialist species, i.e., the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the snow vole (Chionomys nivalis), and, unexpectedly, the forest generalist bank vole (Myodes glareolus). In 1997, grassland was mainly occupied by the common vole, while the bank vole and the snow vole were sympatric in the other habitats. In 2016, the snow vole was detected only in the scree, while other species did not show distribution changes. We discuss a series of hypotheses that might have driven the differences observed across decades, among which is a species-specific response to abiotic and biotic environmental alterations, with the alpine habitat specialist moving out of sub-optimal habitats. We encourage further research on this topic, e.g., via long-term longitudinal studies.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of Chionomys roberti and Chionomys nivalis (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Turkey: Insight into their phylogenetic position within Arvicolinae

Complete mitochondrial genomes of Chionomys roberti and Chionomys nivalis (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Turkey: Insight into their phylogenetic position within Arvicolinae

Temporal changes in proportions of small mammals in the diet of the mammalian and avian predators in Slovakia

The paper presents a brief account of the temporal changes found in proportions of the mammal components in the diets of several species of predators (owls and carnivores) collected from various sites in Slovakia and originating in various periods (Late Pleistocene–Recent). The material collected from the Šarkanica Cave (Muráňska planina Mts.) contained bones in three layers, dated using the radiocarbon analysis (14C) to 18,000–21,000 years BP (18–21 Ka), showing relatively small differences in composition of the fossil diet of Bubo scandiacus with predominance of Lasiopodomys gregalis (73.3%) and Chionomys nivalis (6.9%). A similar type of material from the Nový 3 Cave (Belianske Tatry Mts.), dated to the period of 30 Ka, contained more numerous remnants of Lemmus cf. lemmus and Sorex tundrensis. Undated samples from the Nový 1 Cave and from the Šarkania diera Cave (Súľovské skaly Mts.), which differ in their higher abundance of Dicrostonyx cf. gulielmi, are probably dated from the colder period of the last glacial maximum. Three samples from caves in the Veľká Fatra Mts. dated from the Late Pleistocene (Upper Dryas) originated from carnivores, with differences in relative proportions of predominant prey species: Chionomys nivalis (80.0%) and Lasiopodomys gregalis (14.3%), while remains of Cricetus cricetus (0.6%) also appear there. Two examples of differences in the diet composition of Strix aluco in the Veľká Fatra Mts. are present in samples dated to the Holocene period: natural development of forest fauna in the environs of Dolný Harmanec and anthropogenic influence in the form of three deforestation periods in the Tlstá massif near Blatnica (both Veľká Fatra Mts.). A sample set of the diet of Tyto alba dated >500 years BP from a church in Žilina is compared with a recent sample set of this owl diet from the Turčianska kotlina Basin and from the Danubian Lowland (Tekovské Lužany). The main difference lies in the greater proportion of the murid rodents and the relatively lower abundance of Microtus arvalis in the sample from the 16th century. Similar results were found comparing samples of Tyto alba diet, taken from a cave near Hatiny (Slovenský kras Mts.) and expected to be 100 years old, with more recent samples from the Košická kotlina Basin. The collection from the Hatiny Cave differs from the recent material in the presence of Sicista trizona and Alexandromys oeconomus. The recent samples of the diet of Bubo bubo taken from the Horné Považie Basin differ from the samples dated back more than 70 years ago by a high proportion of the genus Apodemus and a predominant incidence of frogs, while the old samples come from the period of the communist influence of the agricultural production causing serious environmental changes in the countryside (1950s) and as a result, a greater volume of large prey species, Rattus norvegicus, Arvicola amphibius, Lepus europaeus, and Erinaceus roumanicus. Since 1990, the availability of large prey for Bubo bubo has decreased due to the decline of livestock farming and a consequent successional overgrowing of pasture land by trees.

Long-standing taxonomic confusion over the identity of Hypudaeus syriacus Brants, 1827, at last resolved

Abstract In this study we address the taxonomic identity of Hypudaeus syriacus, an arvicoline (Arvicolinae) from the Middle East which was described and named by Anton Brants in 1827. Although the type specimen is preserved, an exact conclusion regarding its identity was not achieved until recently. Currently, syriacus is reported as a synonym of Microtus socialis. Our analysis of the M1 occlusal pattern has convincingly demonstrated that the type clusters with the European snow vole Chionomys nivalis and does not match any species of Microtus from the Middle East. H. syriacus predates Arvicola nivalis Martins, 1842, which is in use for the European snow vole and is therefore the oldest available name for the species. Under the provision specified by Article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, syriacus is not a forgotten name (nomen oblitum) because several authors writing after 1899 used it as a valid name. Referring to the principle of priority, as stipulated in the Code, the valid name combination for the European snow vole is Chionomys syriacus (Brants, A. (1827). Het geslacht der muizen door Linneaus opgesteld, volgens de tegenswoordige toestand der wettenschap in familien, geslachten en soorten. Akademische Boekdrukkery, Berlyn [Berlin]). We restrict the type locality for syriacus to Mount Sanine in the Mount Lebanon range, northern Lebanon.

Sediment transport by the burrowing activity of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in subalpine prairies of the Parâng Mountains (Romania): Quantitative modelling and methodological perspectives

Over the last decades, animal activity has been explored and reported as a potential source of natural hazards, such as the destruction of a beaver dam potentially triggering a flash flood downriver. However, the sediment source or sediment budget related to animal activity has received very little attention from geoscientists to date. The main goal of this study is to quantify the biogenic activity of the European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) as a sediment source in the subalpine prairies of the Parâng Mountains, Southern Carpathians. Only the direct action of this rodent was analyzed, namely the spatial distribution and frequency of burrowing, quantitative analysis of the mounds, and rate of sediment excavation and mass transfer caused by burrowing and tunnel digging. To do this, 838 burrows and mounds were mapped and measured in eleven plots, and excavated volumes of sediment and mass transfers were calculated following three approaches: 1) measuring the weight of excavated debris; 2) measuring the dimensions of excavated debris; and 3) measuring burrow dimensions. The fieldwork revealed three preferred aspects: south, southeast, and west. The amount of displaced soil was highly variable depending on the approach used, ranging from 3.41 m3/ha to 21.08 m3/ha. As such, snow vole biogenic activity, which is due to the long-term opening of the landscape for traditional transhumance and sheep farming, should be considered to be an important sediment source in the subalpine and alpine prairies of the Parâng Mountain.

Relationship between heavy metal accumulation and histological alterations in voles from alpine and forest habitats of the West Carpathians.

The interaction between toxic heavy metals and bio-elements in internal organs and femoral bones and their potential impacts on bone structural properties and renal histopathological changes in bank voles and snow voles were investigated. Our results reveal that heavy metals Hg and Pb accumulate more in femoral bones of alpine habitats than forests. In snow voles, the parameters of the primary osteons' vascular canals (length, average perimeter and area) simultaneously decreased with an increase of Pb and Sr. Wider primary osteons' vascular canals of snow voles contained decreased levels of K, but increased Ba. In bank voles, the number of primary osteons increased in alpine habitats along with K, Hg, and Pb accumulation. In the kidneys of bank voles, rising levels of Rb, Hg, and Zn were detected in alpine habitats. Hg increases the most in kidney tissue from alpine habitats in both vole species, and Hg levels (mean value 0.25μg/g, max. value 0.55μg/g) in the renal tissues of bank voles from alpine localities are similar to Hg levels from Hg-polluted industrial areas in other studies. This reflects that alpine areas of the Tatra Mountains are highly contaminated with Hg. The intensity of renal hemosiderosis relates significantly to Zn, Fe, and Cu levels in snow voles, with Fe and Zn levels in bank voles from forest habitats, and with Rb in bank voles from alpine habitats. The intensity of tubule necrosis in renal tissues of bank voles from alpine habitats was negatively related to Se content. In bank voles from forest habitats, significant positive correlations were found between the intensity of glomerular hyperplasia and amounts of Zn. The interactions of the detected element's association with bone tissue and internal organs are discussed.

Limited mass-independent individual variation in resting metabolic rate in a wild population of snow voles (Chionomys nivalis).

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is a potentially important axis of physiological adaptation to the thermal environment. However, our understanding of the causes and consequences of individual variation in RMR in the wild is hampered by a lack of data, as well as analytical challenges. RMR measurements in the wild are generally characterized by large measurement errors and a strong dependency on mass. The latter is problematic when assessing the ability of RMR to evolve independently of mass. Mixed models provide a powerful and flexible tool to tackle these challenges, but they have rarely been used to estimate repeatability of mass-independent RMR from field data. We used respirometry to obtain repeated measurements of RMR in a long-term study population of snow voles (Chionomys nivalis) inhabiting an environment subject to large circadian and seasonal fluctuations in temperature. Using both uni- and bivariate mixed models, we quantify individual repeatability in RMR and decompose repeatability into mass-dependent and mass-independent components, while accounting for measurement error. RMR varies among individuals, that is, is repeatable (R=.46) and strongly co-varies with BM. Indeed, much of the repeatability of RMR is attributable to individual variation in BM, and the repeatability of mass-independent RMR is reduced by 41% to R=.27. These empirical results suggest that the evolutionary potential of RMR independent of mass may be severely constrained. This study illustrates how to leverage bivariate mixed models to model field data for metabolic traits, correct for measurement error and decompose the relative importance of mass-dependent and mass-independent physiological variation.

The European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in Ukraine: a species in the far northeast of its distribution

The European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in Ukraine: a species in the far northeast of its distribution

A Preliminary Report of the Sucking Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Anoplura) of Some Small Mammals of Turkey with Four New Records

A preliminary study was performed to detect the sucking lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera: Anoplura) on small mammals in different localities of Turkey, between the years of 2017–2018. Six specimens of sucking lice were collected from six different small mammalian species belonging to five different genera. The lice were identified as Polyplax borealis Ferris, Polyplax reclinata (Nitzsch), Polyplax serrata (Burmeister), Hoplopleura acanthopus (Burmeister) and Hoplopleura affinis (Burmeister). Polyplax borealis, P. reclinata, H. acanthopus and H. affinis are here reported from Turkey for the first time. With the present study, Microtus arvalis for P. borealis, Crocidura suaveolens for P. reclinata, Apodemus uralensis for P. serrata, Nannospalax leucodon and Apodemus witherbyi for H. affinis are reported as new-host associations. In addition, H. acanthopus was reported from Chionomys nivalis in Turkey, for the first time.

Ссавці Карпат у Червоній книзі України

The composition of the mammal fauna of the Ukrainian Carpathians is analysed, which includes 77 species of 19 families. Compared to the previous checklist of Carpathian mammals (1997), 5 species that occur only in adjacent plains or have not been recorded in the region for a long time were excluded and 4 new alien and sibling species were added to the current checklist. According to the latest (third) edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009), 39 mammal species from the Carpathians obtained protected status. Compared to the previous edition, in which 20 mammal species were listed, the number of rare species in the new edition increased twice. Most species belong to bats (24 species), carnivores (7), and rodents (5). Among them, the distribution of 5 species in Ukraine as of 2009 was restricted to the Carpathian region: Spalax graecus, Terricola tatricus, Chionomys nivalis, Sorex alpinus, and Ursus arctos. Analysis of changes in the content of the new list of protected species and of their statuses shows an essential deterioration of population state of many species. According to the results of this review, two species obtained the status “extinct” (Miniopterus schreibersii and Eliomys quercinus). The status of a number of species was risen and six species were entitled by the status “disappearing” (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis dasycneme, Barbastella barbastellus, Chionomys nivalis, and Ursus arctos) and two species became “critically endangered” (Spalax graecus, Mustela lutreola, and Bison bonasus). At the same time, the status of 4 species was soften (Myotis daubentonii, Plecotus austriacus, Eptesicus nilssonii, and Felis silvestris), while 8 species are beyond the risk of disappearance (Plecotus austriacus, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Arvicola scherman, and Mustela putorius). The issues of coordination of conservation statuses of different mammal species were considered in detail since IUCN criteria have not been used in Ukraine, as well as the shortcomings in approaches to the creation of red lists. The effectiveness of maintaining open access and constantly updated databases for the assessment of conservation statuses of species, similarly to the IUCN database, is highlighted.

Mercury contamination of the snow voles (Chionomys nivalis) in the West Carpathians.

The subject of this research is mercury pollution in the alpine zone of the High Tatra Mountains (the West Carpathians). The snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) was chosen as a bioindicator. Mercury concentrations in the tail tips from captured individuals were examined. The samples were collected over the span of 2 years, from May 2016 to November 2017. The smaller (1-year-old) individuals had higher mercury concentrations in their tails than the bigger (2-year-old) individuals, suggesting recent aerial contamination of alpine habitats. The amount of mercury found in the tails did not differ between sexes. The differences in mercury concentration between animals caught in the spring and autumn were also insignificant. The possible relationship between mercury in the tissues and the seasonal variability of the water cycle in the mountains (snow melting, precipitation) is discussed.

Predictive modelling in paleoenvironmental reconstruction: The micromammals of Manot Cave, Israel

This paper describes the micromammalian remains and paleoenvironment of the Upper Paleolithic sequence of Manot Cave (46-34 ka), southern Levant. Micromammal remains were identified from Ahmarian (46-42 ka), Levantine Aurignacian (38-34 ka) and post-Levantine Aurignacian (34-33 ka) layers. To identify taphonomic agents, molar digestion was modelled for seven local raptor species, and model predictions were compared with observed digestion scores in the Manot Cave material. Raptor species differed significantly in molar digestion patterns, allowing us to identify Tyto alba as the bone accumulator in the Ahmarian and Post-Levantine Aurignacian units. Data were insufficient for species-level identification of the taphonomic agent in the Levantine Aurignacian. Günther's voles (Microtus guentheri) were dominant, though woodland species (Apodemus spp., Sciurus anomalus and Dryomys nitedula) also occurred through the entire sequence. Manot Cave furnished the first fossil record of the Eurasian snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in the southern Levant during the Late Pleistocene and its first secure record of the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) outside the Hula Valley. Records of other taxa (Acomys dimidiatus and D. nitedula) provide the earliest occurrence datum in the region. Using counts of both identified specimens and distinct elements (lower first molars) we modelled paleoenvironmental conditions through both Weighted Averaging Partial Least Squares regression and a qualitative analysis considering niche preferences of species. Model predictions indicate the unexpectedly pronounced dominance of open habitats compared to present conditions near the cave, though the occurrence and abundance of woodland species also indicate some woodland expansion relative to the preceding Middle Paleolithic period. Combining statistical models and species niche considerations we show that the time span between the Ahmarian, Levantine Aurignacian and post-Levantine Aurignacian was marked by a clear-cut climatic oscillation to cooler and likely wetter conditions.

Changes of small mammal communities with the altitude gradient

The influence of altitude gradient on the animal communities in the Eastern Tatra Mountains of Slovakia has never been studied. There are some rare, endemic and relict animal species and even a group of small terrestrial mammals native to the Tatra Mountains. Between 2009 and 2014, research was conducted on the impact of altitude gradient on the species richness, abundance and composition of small mammal communities in the Eastern Tatras. In total, more than 16 species were trapped, including snow voles, tatra voles and alpine shrews, three species endemic to the Carpathian Mountains. The species richness of small mammals declined at higher elevations. The endemic alpine shrew was found at altitudes of 914 and 1007 m above sea level, while tatra voles were recorded almost along the entire gradient studied. Snow voles ranged only above the tree line at altitudes of 1574 to 1775 m, in the Rock slope habitat. On the other hand, generalists colonised various parts of the gradient at different altitudes, while specialists were bound to specific habitats whose presence was limited by altitude. The composition of small mammal communities evidently and significantly varied with rising elevation and with the biotope type in the area under observation. Our results suggest that the composition of the community reflects changes in environmental conditions and the biological limits of the particular small mammal species in the altitude gradient as well as the combination of neighbouring habitats and the resources they provide.

Taxonomic identification matters: Comment on “Exploring the impact of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) burrowing activity in the Făgăraș Mountains, Southern Carpathians (Romania): Geomorphic characteristics and sediment budget”

Taxonomic identification matters: Comment on “Exploring the impact of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) burrowing activity in the Făgăraș Mountains, Southern Carpathians (Romania): Geomorphic characteristics and sediment budget”

The Snow Vole and Tatra Marmot as Different Rodent Bioindicators of Lead Pollution in an Alpine Environment: A Hibernation Effect

The Snow Vole and Tatra Marmot as Different Rodent Bioindicators of Lead Pollution in an Alpine Environment: A Hibernation Effect

Behavioral response of the endemic Martino’s vole Dinaromys bogdanovi (Martino 1922) to environmental complexity

The Martino’s vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi) is a rare species that lives in differently structured karst habitats, varying from open rocky plains to deep fissures, mostly residing under boulders and in crevices. Populations of the species are declining, probably due to its strict habitat preferences and competition with the European snow vole. Since the species is difficult to study in the wild, we tested its behavioral response to a differently complex environment and novel object presence in captivity. We exposed 14 individuals to differentially complex setups, from open and unsheltered to rocky with covered tunnels. We measured the effect of the presented setup and season on vole behavior. Analysis showed seasonal differences with higher movement frequency and longer time spent still during the breeding season, and a higher number of attempts due to the lack of vole entry into the experimental terrarium in the non-breeding season. Additionally, movement significantly differentiated between an open and simple setup in comparison to more complex ones, with higher frequencies of moving and peeping and the duration of peeping in the simple setup, indicating restlessness. We also found significant differences between the novel object and control setup. The results of this study could be useful for future assessment of the influence of habitat complexity on mobility in the wild. Moreover, this is the first study on the behavior of this endemic and rare rodent.

Heritability, selection, and the response to selection in the presence of phenotypic measurement error: Effects, cures, and the role of repeated measurements.

Quantitative genetic analyses require extensive measurements of phenotypic traits, a task that is often not trivial, especially in wild populations. On top of instrumental measurement error, some traits may undergo transient (i.e., nonpersistent) fluctuations that are biologically irrelevant for selection processes. These two sources of variability, which we denote here as measurement error in a broad sense, are possible causes for bias in the estimation of quantitative genetic parameters. We illustrate how in a continuous trait transient effects with a classical measurement error structure may bias estimates of heritability, selection gradients, and the predicted response to selection. We propose strategies to obtain unbiased estimates with the help of repeated measurements taken at an appropriate temporal scale. However, the fact that in quantitative genetic analyses repeated measurements are also used to isolate permanent environmental instead of transient effects requires that the information content of repeated measurements is carefully assessed. To this end, we propose to distinguish "short-term" from "long-term" repeats, where the former capture transient variability and the latter help isolate permanent effects. We show how the inclusion of the corresponding variance components in quantitative genetic models yields unbiased estimates of all quantities of interest, and we illustrate the application of the method to data from a Swiss snow vole population.

Molecular Survey of Tularemia and Plague in Small Mammals From Iran.

Introduction: Plague and tularemia are zoonoses and their causative bacteria are circulating in certain regions of Iran. This study was conducted to investigate potential disease reservoirs amongst small wildlife species in different regions of Iran.Methods: Rodents, insectivores and hares from 17 different provinces of the country were collected in 2014 and 2015. Samples were taken from the spleens of the animals and Real-time PCR was applied to detect nucleic acid sequences that are specific to Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis, respectively.Results: Among 140 collected rodents, 25 distinct species were identified out of which five were the most common: Microtus paradoxus (21% out of 140 rodents), Apodemus witherbyi (12%), Microtus irani (11%), Mus musculus (11%) and Microtus socialis (10%). Seventeen insectivores were collected and identified as Crocidura suaveolens (82%) and C. leucodon (18%). Fifty-one hares were collected and identified as Lepus europaeus (57%), Lepus tolai (14%) and Lepus sp. (29%). Three out of 140 explored rodents (1.91%) were positive for F. tularensis, an A. witherbyi, a Mus musculus domesticus, and a Chionomys nivalis collected from Golestan, Khuzestan and Razavi Khorasan provinces, respectively. Two hares (3.92%) were F. tularensis-positive, a L. europaeus from Khuzestan and a Lepus sp. from the Sistan and Baluchistan province. None of the tested animals were positive for Y. pestis.Conclusion: This is the first report of direct detection of F. tularensis in mammals of Iran and the first-time observation of the agent in a snow vole, C. nivalis worldwide. The results indicate that tularemia is more widespread in Iran than previously reported including the Northeast and Southwestern parts of the country. Future studies should address genetic characterization of F. tularensis positive DNA samples from Iran to achieve molecular subtyping and rule out assay cross-reactivity with near neighbor Francisella species.

Lead Levels in the Bones of Small Rodents from Alpine and Subalpine Habitats in the Tian-Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

High mountain areas are an appropriate indicator of anthropogenic lead (Pb), which can reach remote mountain ranges through long distance atmospheric transport. We compared the content of Pb in ecologically equivalent rodent species from Tian-Shan with European mountain ranges including the Tatra, Vitosha and Rila mountains. We used bone tissues from terminal tail vertebrae of small rodents for detection of Pb levels through electro-thermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The tailbones of Tian-Shan rodents had significantly lower Pb levels than snow voles from the Tatra Mountains, but there was no significant difference in comparison with the Vitosha and Rila mountains. We can conclude that Tian-Shan shows lower pollution by Pb than the Tatras, which may be a result of prolonged industrialization of north-western Europe and strongly prevailing west winds in this region.