Ovis Research Articles

Trait-dependent associations between early- and late-life reproduction in a wild mammal.

Early- versus late-life trade-offs are a central prediction of life-history theory that are expected to shape the evolution of ageing. While ageing is widely observed in wild vertebrates, evidence that early-late trade-offs influence ageing rates remains limited. Vertebrate reproduction is a complex, multi-stage process, yet few studies have examined how different aspects of early-life reproductive allocation shape late-life performance and ageing. Here, we use longitudinal data from a 36-year study of wild Soay sheep to show that early-life reproduction predicts late-life reproductive performance in a trait-dependent manner. Females that started breeding earlier showed more rapid declines in annual breeding probability with age, consistent with a trade-off. However, age-related declines in offspring first-year survival and birth weight were not associated with early-life reproduction. Selective disappearance was evident in all three late-life reproductive measures, with longer-lived females having higher average performance. Our results provide mixed support for early-late reproductive trade-offs and show that the way early-life reproduction shapes late-life performance and ageing can differ among reproductive traits.

In Stanisław Lem's Orbit

In Stanisław Lem's Orbit

Does the Sheep Man Hail from Solaris?

Abstract Starting from Roland Barthes's assertion that “the text is a tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable centers of culture,” the article considers the possibility of the influence of Stanisław Lem upon Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, focusing on a comparison of Solaris (1961) and A Wild Sheep Chase [Hitsuji o meguru bōken, 1982]. Through a close reading of crucial scenes in both books, the essay points out similarities that may indicate that Murakami was familiar with Lem's work and might have been consciously or unconsciously inspired by it. The article develops the idea of intertextuality in Murakami by identifying additional plot elements and themes from other of his works that could have been inspired by Lem, who is probably the most widely read Polish author in Japan.

Wild sheep on St Kilda.

Veterinary RecordVolume 192, Issue 11 p. 450-452 Animal Welfare Wild sheep on St Kilda First published: 02 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3145Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References 1Jewell PA, Milner C, Morton Boyd J. Island Survivors: The Ecology of the Soay Sheep on St Kilda. London, Athlone, 1974 2Clutton-Brock J, Dennis-Bryan K, Armitage P, et al. Osteology of the Soay sheep. https://bit.ly/42X1hMc (accessed 16 May 2023) 3Kijas JW, Lenstra JA, Hayes B, et al. Genomic analysis of the world's sheep breeds reveals high levels of historic mixture and strong recent selection. PLoS Biol 2012; 10:e1001258 4Chessa B, Pereira F, Arnaud F, et al. Revealing the history of sheep domestication using retrovirus integrations. Science 2009; 324: 532– 6 5 Home Office. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Working with animals taken from the wild. https://tinyurl.com/4pkyd2f4 (accessed 24 May 2023) 6Fleming A. Soay sheep: the back story. Cam Archaeol J 2021; 31: 419– 36 7Harman M. An Isle called Hirte: History and Culture of the St Kildans to 1930. Maclean Press, 1997 8Clutton-Brock TH. The causes and consequences of instability. In: TH Clutton-Brock, JM Pemberton eds. Soay Sheep: Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population. Cambridge University Press, 2004: 304, 307 9Buckland D, Charlesworth G. PE2021: Ensure the definition of protected animals in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 applies to the sheep on St Kilda. https://tinyurl.com/276skns9 (accessed 24 May 2023) Volume192, Issue113/10 June 2023Pages 450-452 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Mountain ungulate mating systems: patterns and processes

ABSTRACTMountain ungulates of the subfamily Caprinae, including wild sheep, goats and goat‐antelopes, show remarkable interspecific diversity in habitat preferences, social organisation and morphological features. We review how this diversity relates to their mating behaviour.After introducing the ecology of mating systems and the evolution of the Caprinae, we investigate the pairwise, sequential relationships between habitat preferences, social behaviour, level of polygyny, and morphological features, and discuss the ecological processes underlying the patterns of mate monopolisation and acquisition.From forest‐dwelling, solitary, monogamous and monomorphic goat‐antelopes, to highly dimorphic, polygynous and social wild sheep and goats inhabiting open landscapes, mountain ungulates reveal a close relationship between habitat openness and sexual dimorphism, through the level of sociality and that of mate monopolisation.Although over the last few decades some information has been collected on the biology of Caprinae, our understanding of determinants of their mating systems is still hampered by limited data to estimate opportunities for sexual selection, as well as uncertainties over the occurrence and maintenance of alternative reproductive tactics, and lack of information on female mate choice.The study of mating systems and that of the factors influencing them play a key role from an evolutionary and conservation standpoint. This is relevant to the Caprinae, whose main habitat is expected to be strongly affected by the ongoing climatic change, with potential effects on the phenology of their mating systems, and whose economic value is relevant for consumptive and nonconsumptive uses. A better understanding of the diversity and ecology of mating systems will require a wealth of additional field observations on male and female behaviour, as well as genetic assessments of reproductive success.

Genome-Wide Insights into Intraspecific Taxonomy and Genetic Diversity of Argali (Ovis ammon)

Argali (Ovis ammon), the largest species among all wild sheep, is native to mountainous regions of Central and East Asia, spreading mainly throughout such countries as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Russia and China. Intraspecific taxonomy of argali remains unclear, and currently, most researchers recognize up to nine subspecies. The aim of our work was to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between populations of O. ammon based on genome-wide SNP analysis. Five subspecies, Altai (O. a. ammon) (n = 6), Gobi (O. a. darwini) (n = 5), Pamir (O. a. polii) (n = 12), Tian Shan (O.a. karelini) (n = 15) and Kyzylkum (O. a. severtzovi) (n = 4), were genotyped using Illumina OvineHD BeadChip. In addition, complete mitogenome sequences from 30 of those samples were obtained. After quality control procedures, 65,158 SNPs were selected for the subsequent analyses. Neighbor-Net dendrogram and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the five subspecies could be grouped into four clusters. It was shown that a population from Altai formed a cluster with Gobi subspecies. The highest pairwise FST genetic distance was between O. a. ammon and O. a. severtzovi (0.421) and the lowest were between O. a. polii and O.a. karelini (0.083) and between O. a. ammon and O. a. darwini (0.040) subspecies. Genetic diversity was higher in Central Asian argali as compared to East Asian populations. O. a. severtzovi had an admixed origin and consisted of two genetic components—73.5 ± 0.2% of O. a. polli and 26.5 ± 0.2% of urial (O. vignei). TreeMix analysis revealed a migration event from urial to O. a. severtzovi argali. The analysis of complete mitogenomes supported the results based on whole-genome genotyping. Considering that all the mtDNA sequences of O. a severtzovi belonged to O. ammon and not to O. vignei, we concluded that gene flow in this group was associated with urial males. As this is only the first work on intraspecific taxonomy and genetic diversity of argali based on genome-wide SNP genotyping and the analysis of complete mitogenomes, we suggest that more genetic studies are needed to clarify the status of Gobi and Tian Shan argali.

Haruki Murakami’s Spellbinding Embodiments: Decoding the Feline Mystique

Being a vital spark in Japanese culture, cats made their way through Japanese Literature and became an imperative potion in the writings where they were often associated with mystery and incongruity owing to the rich symbolism and imagery. Murakami’s writing is sequestered with cats that add an exorbitant richness to his works. They possess an eccentric demeanor and play a vital role in his fiction, from their disappearance to the violence imposed on them, they open new pathways to enter the parallel worlds and allow the characters to enter the quest which ultimately leads them to search for their own identity. The present research work analyzes the representation of these cats in his three major novels of Haruki Murakami— The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, and Wild Sheep Chase to show how these cats are used as a medium to enter a parallel world and how they help characters in confronting their darkest fears in order to make them aware of their own existence. Murakami is a prolific Japanese author, known for his surreal, introspective works blending fantasy, reality, and metaphysical themes. His novels, such as Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore, and 1Q84, captivate readers with their poetic prose, symbolism, and enigmatic characters. These cats provide tenderness and warmth to the characters at their lowest and enables them to apprehend a sort of meaning to the relationships they possess. Due to their spellbinding eloquence, they prove to be therapeutic for the characters, aids them in attaining a subjective self and provide them solace in their darkest hours.

Experience of hybridization and prospects for its application in sheep breeding

A unique project on the hybridization of domestic sheep with wild bighorn sheep of the Yakut subspecies (Ovis nivicola lydekkeri) was implemented under extreme conditions in Yakutia. Hybridization was performed to obtain new forms that combine productive indicators with specific adaptation qualities to harsh breeding conditions. Viable hybrids of both sexes were obtained via laparotomy during the artificial insemination of domestic sheep with frozenthawed epididymal male bighorn sheep. We compared the hybrids with domestic lambs. At birth, the hybrids had a live weight of 2.65±0.19 kg, which is 29 % less than that of domestic lambs. A difference in live weight was noted before reaching the age of 20–24 months; however, by 36 months, hybrid males outnumbered domestic rams of the same age. We found that in the early postnatal period, hybrids were satisfied with their mothers’ milk faster and more often, and their daytime sleep was short and shallow. The hybrids also showed a high degree of curiosity, jumping ability, caution, and clear imitation of the mothers’ behavior. In terms of growth and development, the hybrids were tall and narrow-bodied because of their high mobile activity, as well as differences in nutrition. The hybrid offspring differed in chromosome set from the parental forms, having a diploid set equal to 2n = 53, whereas the maternal form of the sheep had 2n = 54, and the paternal form had 2n = 52. The resulting hybrids are fertile, and differ from their peers in the dynamics of development, nutrition, and ethology. They have phenotypic features similar to those of the paternal form, and a new improved form of the genotype is the basis for selection in sheep breeding.

Comparison of genetic diversity and phylogenetic structure of BRCA1 gene of some domestic and wild sheep breeds in different countries

BRCA1 gene plays an important role in DNA damage repair, cell cycle, and transcription process regulation; hence it’s called gate keeper. The current research aims to perform bioinformatics analyzes of the BRCA1 gene of different breeds of domestic and wild sheep from 49 breeds in 14 countries using the NCBI genome database. The desired sequences were aligned using MEGA11 software and a phylogenetic tree was drawn by Neighbor-Joining method. The number of mutations, nucleotide diversity, and haploid diversity were also analyzed using Dnaspv5 software. The analyses showed 296 polymorphisms, which led to the creation of 45 different haplotypes with a haplotype diversity of 0.035. Nucleotide diversity and average nucleotide differences among breeds were estimated as 0.259 and 0.052, respectively. The average genetic distance within the population of countries was calculated as 0.052. The amount of sequence conservation in this research was 0.313 on average, which indicates the high polymorphism of this gene and the emergence of new proteins. Tajima’s D value in Tajima’s neutrality test was −2.421, which was significant (p < 0.05). One of the reasons for the high genetic diversity in Iran’s wild sheep population is the existence of forests and open environments, which prevent genetic drift and reduce inbreeding.

Functional Additive Models on Manifolds of Planar Shapes and Forms

The “shape” of a planar curve and/or landmark configuration is considered its equivalence class under translation, rotation, and scaling, its “form” its equivalence class under translation and rotation while scale is preserved. We extend generalized additive regression to models for such shapes/forms as responses respecting the resulting quotient geometry by employing the squared geodesic distance as loss function and a geodesic response function to map the additive predictor to the shape/form space. For fitting the model, we propose a Riemannian L 2-Boosting algorithm well suited for a potentially large number of possibly parameter-intensive model terms, which also yields automated model selection. We provide novel intuitively interpretable visualizations for (even nonlinear) covariate effects in the shape/form space via suitable tensor-product factorization. The usefulness of the proposed framework is illustrated in an analysis of (a) astragalus shapes of wild and domesticated sheep and (b) cell forms generated in a biophysical model, as well as (c) in a realistic simulation study with response shapes and forms motivated from a dataset on bottle outlines. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Long divergent haplotypes introgressed from wild sheep are associated with distinct morphological and adaptive characteristics in domestic sheep.

The worldwide sheep population comprises more than 1000 breeds. Together, these exhibit a considerable morphological diversity, which has not been extensively investigated at the molecular level. Here, we analyze whole-genome sequencing individuals of 1,098 domestic sheep from 154 breeds, and 69 wild sheep from seven Ovis species. On average, we detected 6.8%, 1.0% and 0.2% introgressed sequence in domestic sheep originating from Iranian mouflon, urial and argali, respectively, with rare introgressions from other wild species. Interestingly, several introgressed haplotypes contributed to the morphological differentiations across sheep breeds, such as a RXFP2 haplotype from Iranian mouflon conferring the spiral horn trait, a MSRB3 haplotype from argali strongly associated with ear morphology, and a VPS13B haplotype probably originating from urial and mouflon possibly associated with facial traits. Our results reveal that introgression events from wild Ovis species contributed to the high rate of morphological differentiation in sheep breeds, but also to individual variation within breeds. We propose that long divergent haplotypes are a ubiquitous source of phenotypic variation that allows adaptation to a variable environment, and that these remain intact in the receiving population probably due to reduced recombination.

Selection signature analysis reveals RDH5 performed key function in vision during sheep domestication process.

As one of the most successful domesticated animals in the Neolithic age, sheep gradually migrated all over the world with human activities. During the domestication process, remarkable changes have taken place in morphology, physiology, and behavior, resulting in different breeds with different characters via artificial and natural selection. However, the genetic background responsible for these phenotypic variations remains largely unclear. Here, we used whole genome resequencing technology to compare and analyze the genome differences between Asiatic mouflon wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) and Hu sheep (Ovis aries). A total of 755 genes were positively selected in the process of domestication and selection, and the genes related to sensory perception had directional evolution in the autosomal region, such as OPRL1, LEF1, TAS1R3, ATF6, VSX2, MYO1A, RDH5, and some novel genes. A missense mutation of c.T722C/p.M241T in exon 4 of RDH5 existing in sheep were found, and the T allele was completely fixed in Hu sheep. In addition, the mutation with the C allele reduced the retinol dehydrogenase activity encoding by RDH5, which can impair retinoic acid metabolism and further influenced the visual cycle. Overall, our results showed significant enrichment for positively selected genes involved in sensory perception development during sheep domestication; RDH5 and its variants may be related to the retinal degeneration in sheep. We infer that the wild sheep ancestors with weaker visual sensitivity were weeded out by humans, and the mutation was selective, swept by the dual pressures of natural and artificial selection.

Going Wild in the City—Animal Feralization and Its Impacts on Biodiversity in Urban Environments

Domestication describes a range of changes to wild species as they are increasingly brought under human selection and husbandry. Feralization is the process whereby a species leaves the human sphere and undergoes increasing natural selection in a wild context, which may or may not be geographically adjacent to where the originator wild species evolved prior to domestication. Distinguishing between domestic, feral, and wild species can be difficult, since some populations of so-called "wild species" are at least partly descended from domesticated "populations" (e.g., junglefowl, European wild sheep) and because transitions in both directions are gradual rather than abrupt. In urban settings, prior selection for coexistence with humans provides particular benefit for a domestic organism that undergoes feralization. One risk is that such taxa can become invasive not just at the site of release/escape but far away. As humanity becomes increasingly urban and pristine environments rapidly diminish, we believe that feralized populations also hold conservation value.

Domesticating details: 3D geometric morphometrics for the zooarchaeological discrimination of wild, domestic and proto-domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus) populations

The domestication and management of livestock provided a critical source of food and textiles in the ancient world. Investigations into the processes of domestication, improvement, and management of these animals underpin interpretations of the economic structures of ancient societies. Despite this significance, zooarchaeologists continue to face significant problems in determining the state of domestication of key taxa, or even their certain osteological identification. This is particularly a problem during the initial stages of the domestication process. Significant advances in the understanding of certain domestic livestock species (e.g., pigs) have occurred as the result of geometric morphometric analyses but the morphology of other domesticates have caused them to lag behind. This study provides a GMM assessment of astragali from ovicaprines (sheep and goats) to demonstrate its capacity to advance our understanding of the domestication process through its ability to differentiate between wild, proto-domestic, and domestic morphotypes of these animals.

Comparison of Serological Methods for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus-Specific Antibody Detection in Wild Boar and Sheep: Impact of the Screening Approach on the Estimated Seroprevalence.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus transmitted by ticks. Serological screenings in animals are performed to estimate the prevalence and distribution of TBEV. Most screenings consist of a primary screening by ELISA, followed by confirmation of positive samples by plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs). In this study, 406 wild boar sera were tested with 2 regularly used commercial ELISAs for flavivirus screening in animals (Immunozym FSME (TBEV) IgG All Species (Progen) and ID Screen West Nile Competition (Innovative Diagnostics)) and PRNTs for TBEV and USUTU virus. The results showed that the Immunozym and IDScreen ELISAs had low relative sensitivities of 23% and 20%, respectively, compared to the PRNT results. The relative specificities were 88% and 84% due to cross reactions with USUTU virus-specific antibodies. The minimal TBEV prevalence in our sample set was 8.6% when determined by PRNT. When the screening approach of ELISA testing followed by PRNT confirmation was applied, a TBEV seroprevalence of only 2.0% and 1.7% was found. The suboptimal performance of the ELISAs was confirmed by testing sera collected from experimentally TBEV-infected sheep. While the PRNT detected TBEV specific antibodies in 94% of samples collected between 7 and 18 days post-infection, the ELISAs classified only 50% and 31% of the samples as positive. Both routinely used ELISAs for TBEV antibody screening in animal sera were shown to have a low sensitivity, potentially leading to an underestimation of the true prevalence, and furthermore cross-react with other flavivirus antibodies.

DYNAMICS OF ARGALI POPULATION (OVIS AMMON LINNAEUS, 1758) IN KAZAKHSTAN

The research materials are based on the processing and analyzing the official results of the air and ground surveys conducted in 2019, providing departmental materials. The habitats with a high number of mountain sheep include the Karaganda, Turkestan, Dzhambul and Almaty regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The paper aims to estimate the changes in argali’s number and reveal the basic influencing factors. The total number of wild mountain sheep in Kazakhstan is 17954 heads. The paper shows that the share of the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the number of argalis is 99.7%. The main influence on the number of snow sheep is exerted by anthropogenic factors such as poaching and economic use of the range of wild mountain sheep by humans. From time to time, severe fires affect the deterioration of the habitat. The authors attribute the creation of specially protected natural territories and the inclusion of subspecies in the Red Book of Kazakhstan to the positive impact of human activity on the argali population. In modern conditions, the natural potential viability and survival of mountain sheep and further naturalization are weak, although there is an increase in the number of argalis. These aspects indicate that the anthropogenic factor affects animals intensely. The analysis of variance shows and testifies to the high influence of the anthropogenic factor on the number of argalis in regions of Kazakhstan. Today, to improve the protection of mountain sheep, it is advisable to organize a network of specially protected natural territories in the mountainous regions of the south and south-east of Kazakhstan.

Ecocritical Hues in Christy Lefteri’s “Songbirds”: The Dissolution of the Human/Nonhuman Distinction

The human/nonhuman distinction is a significant theme in ecocriticism, which tries to undermine this dichotomy and make us rethink the human relationship with nature and other creatures. This paper argues that Christy Lefteri’s latest novel Songbirds (2021) dispels this hierarchical dualism through the portrayal of a golden mouflon ovis, a wild sheep native to the Caspian region and an extremely meaningful animal in the story: it comes to represent nature and eventually leads to the assimilation of the human and nonhuman spheres. By comparing the description of the mouflon ovis with the hedgehog in “The Mower” (1979) by Philip Larkin, I will attempt to bring to the foreground the similarities between both animal representations and the strong ecocritical hues in Lefteri’s description. Furthermore, the paper aims to show how the author depicts an interspecies and inter-elemental community – in which not only the animate dimension, but also the inanimate sphere is given value and importance – through the representation of the mouflon ovis, the motif of gold and specific passages in the novel.

Impact of farming on African landscapes

As the continent with the deepest record of human history, the relationship between landscape formation and human subsistence practices is inseparable. The activities that constitute ‘farming’ are open for some matter of discussion, but essentially speak to the co-evolution of human, plant and animal reproductive systems along a continuum of interdependence. This process is ever evolving, but has resulted in the formation of landscapes in which anthropogenic processes characterize ecosystem functionality in nearly all biomes on the continent. Practices of cultivation, broadly conceptualized, across Africa are varied in the ways in which they have transformed ecological systems and landscapes. The use of fire as a landscape management tool dates to the Pleistocene, and penning of wild sheep to the early Holocene. The alteration of the landscape of fear by these types of human activities had fundamentally restructured trophic systems in Africa prior to the introduction of agriculture. However, the introduction of animal herding and intensive forms of plant cultivation by the middle Holocene correlated to even more significant ecological changes. The creation of agricultural landscapes has had a negative impact on biodiversity in some locations, whereas other some practices at different points in time have positively affected biodiversity. It is now recognized that humans have long influenced the evolution of landscapes wherever they live, but the current research focuses on where, when and how socio-ecological processes become coupled in the palaeoecological record.

Investigating the Genetic Diversity of the BRCA1 Gene in some of Domestic and Wild Sheep Breeds of the World and Drawing their Phylogenetic Structure

Investigating the Genetic Diversity of the BRCA1 Gene in some of Domestic and Wild Sheep Breeds of the World and Drawing their Phylogenetic Structure

Wildlife conservation in Myanmar: trade in wild sheep and goats for meat, medicine, and trophies, with links to China, India, and Thailand

In Myanmar, the hunting and trade of wildlife are increasingly recognised as a major threat to the persistence of species. We here focus on the trade and conservation of wild sheep and goats (Caprinae; Antilopinae) as these species are indeed hunted and traded for a variety of reasons. Seizure reports from 2000 to 2020 and 20 visits to four wildlife markets between 1998 and 2017 resulted in records of ~ 2,000 body parts, the equivalent of ~ 1,200 wild sheep and goats. When combined with data from previous surveys conducted over the same period, the number of wild sheep and goats recorded in trade increase substantially, i.e. serow (the equivalent of 1,243 animals), goral (213 animals), takin (190 animals), blue sheep (37 animals), and Tibetan antelope (10 animals). With records from 10 out of 15 States, trade appears to be widespread and persistent over time. There was poor concordance between seizure data and trade observations, but data from various surveys are largely in agreement. The most prevalent body parts in trade were horns, followed by plates (the frontal portion of the skull with horns still attached) and heads of freshly killed animals. These parts are offered for sale both for decorations and for their purported medicinal properties. Meat, fat, and rendered oils were observed frequently but because of mixture with other wildlife, it was challenging to confirm species identify or to convert this to number of animal equivalents. Tongues and eyes were offered for sale as medicine. In order to better protect wild sheep and goats in Myanmar, it is imperative that the illegal trade in their parts is more effectively curbed than at present. This is the responsibility of both the Myanmar authorities and, given the high prevalence of trade in border towns, their international partners, including China and Thailand.