Wild Ungulates Research Articles

Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from the wild mountain ungulates mouflon and chamois in 4 regions of France.

Ticks are major vectors of various pathogens of health importance, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. The problems associated with ticks and vector-borne pathogens are increasing in mountain areas, particularly in connection with global climate change. We collected ticks (n=2,081) from chamois and mouflon in 4 mountainous areas of France. We identified 6 tick species: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. sanguineus s.l., Haemaphysalis sulcata, H. punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. We observed a strong variation in tick species composition among the study sites, linked in particular to the climate of the sites. We then analysed 791 ticks for DNA of vector-borne pathogens: Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. ovis, and Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Theileria ovis was detected only in Corsica in Rh. bursa. Babesia venatorum (2 sites), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (B. afzelii and B. garinii; 2 sites) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3 sites) were detected in I. ricinus. Anaplasma ovis was detected at one site in I. ricinus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. SFG Rickettsia were detected at all the study sites: R. monacensis and R. helvetica in I. ricinus at the 3 sites where this tick is present; R. massiliae in Rh. sanguineus s.l. (1 site); and R. hoogstraalii and Candidatus R. barbariae in Rh. bursa in Corsica. These results show that there is a risk of tick-borne diseases for humans and domestic and wild animals frequenting these mountain areas.

Host movement dominates the predicted effects of climate change on parasite transmission between wild and domestic mountain ungulates.

Climate change is shifting the transmission of parasites, which is determined by host density, ambient temperature and moisture. These shifts can lead to increased pressure from parasites, in wild and domestic animals, and can impact the effectiveness of parasite control strategies. Understanding the interactive effects of climate on host movement and parasite life histories will enable targeted parasite management, to ensure livestock productivity and avoid additional stress on wildlife populations. To assess complex outcomes under climate change, we applied a gastrointestinal nematode transmission model to a montane wildlife-livestock system, based on host movement and changes in abiotic factors due to elevation, comparing projected climate change scenarios with the historic climate. The wildlife host, Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex), undergoes seasonal elevational migration, and livestock are grazed during the summer for eight weeks. Total parasite infection pressure was more sensitive to host movement than to the direct effect of climatic conditions on parasite availability. Extended livestock grazing is predicted to increase parasite exposure for wildlife. These results demonstrate that movement of different host species should be considered when predicting the effects of climate change on parasite transmission, and can inform decisions to support wildlife and livestock health.

Influence of topsoil manure mix on affects germination in Pea and Onion seeds

Nutrient-rich southern chernozems have lost a significant part of their fertility during their exploitation in agrocenoses. The decrease in the fertility of the surface layer of soils in the steppe landscapes of the Orenburg Cis-Urals contributed to a decrease in the yield of grain crops and an increase in the volume of applied mineral fertilizers. The use of reverse technology of mechanical tillage contributed to the weathering of the surface fertile soil layer and its degradation. Plowing of the Orenburg steppes for agrocenoses led to a decrease in the number of wild ungulates and their adaptation to new living conditions in agrocenoses. Our work was devoted to modeling the process of the influence of the soil-manure mixture of the surface layer of southern chernozem and the manure of large phytophages on the germination of pea and onion seeds in laboratory conditions. Changes in the composition of bacterial communities during the preparation of the soil-manure mixture are one of the factors influencing the germination and morphometric growth parameters of onion and pea seeds. There is no doubt that the nutritional composition of the manure of large phytophages is of decisive importance for stimulating the growth of onions and peas. However, the differences we have shown in the bacterial composition of soil-manure mixtures of two large phytophages raises the problem of increasing or decreasing the nutritional value of the soil-manure mixture depending on the composition of the microbial communities of the manure of large phytophages.

Main Parasitic Infestations of Wild Ungulates Used for Food

Main Parasitic Infestations of Wild Ungulates Used for Food

Apparent fatal winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) infestation in captive reindeer (Rangifertarandus)

The winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Ixodidae), commonly infests a wide variety of wild and domestic ungulates throughout North America. This one-host-tick infests animals from October to April, with moose (Alces alces) particularly affected. Animals highly infested may present with anemia, tick-induced alopecia, and alterations in thermoregulation, often resulting in death. Mortality from winter tick infestation has been reported in free-ranging woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and captive reindeer in Alberta, Canada. This historic report raises concern about mortality due to D. albipictus in a wider host range, specifically on translocated caribou. The aim of this report was to describe three cases of winter tick infestation in captive reindeer resulting in severe anemia and mortality likely due to the infestation in New Hampshire, northeastern United States (US). Additionally, ticks were screened molecularly for the detection of tick-borne pathogens. At time of necropsy, all three reindeer showed decreased nutritional status, marked submandibular edema, and had heavy D. albipictus infestation. None of the reindeer exhibited alopecia, which is a common clinical manifestation in moose that die from winter tick infestation. No pathogens were detected via qPCR screening. This report highlights the risk that captive cervids face in areas where winter tick is endemic; therefore, the adoption of preventive control measures should be encouraged to reduce the risk of tick infestation and potential death of these animals.

Дикі та свійські копитні степових регіонів України: оцінки для Луганщини на початок 21 століття

This article deals with the analysis of abundance and distribution of wild and domestic ungulates in Luhansk Oblast (eastern Ukraine). Descriptions of 10 ungulate species are given, including one species of the family Suidae (Sus scrofa), five species of Cervidae (Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, Dama dama, Capreolus capreolus, and Alces alces), three species of Bovidae (Bos taurus, Capra hircus, and Ovis aries), and one species of Equidae (Equus caballus). It shows the decline of populations of many ungulate species, including a 73.8% reduction in the number of cattle and a corresponding 23.4% reduction in the area of major crops in the region. In order to save the lands that have never been ploughed before, and to restore the steppe, we propose to increase the abundance of horses.

The varied diet of the golden jackal (Canis aureus): Experiences from stomach analyses

The golden jackal population shows a rapid expansion in Europe during the recent decades, raising several management and conservation issues. Among others, the opportunistic feeding strategies might be a reason which is responsible for the invasive spreading and survival success of the species in various parts of Hungary. Our aim was to analyze the diet composition of the jackal through stomach content analysis to provide an insight about the evolution and behavioural adaptations of this mesopredator. The stomach samples were collected between 2003 and 2014 from different parts of Hungary. The percentage frequency of occurrence (%FO) as well as the biomass (%B) of the stomach content data were analyzed. Statistical analysis tests based on the presence and absence data of the remains of wild ungulates (cervids and wild boar) from seasonal data (winter-spring and summer-autumn) and between gender groups were conducted. Also, comparisons of the presence and absence data for the three main food categories (rodents, big game and vegetative/plant parts) were statistically tested.The results of the comparisons did not show any significant differences between the classes. This can be explained due to the high spatio-temporal variation of the data. The findings of our study shows the presence of a varied composition of food items such as rodents, insects, fruits, plant parts, ungulates (wild boar, cervids), reptiles (such as lizards and pond turtles), bird species (such as pheasants) as well as jaw remains of the red fox. It is noteworthy to mention in this context that majority of the ungulate remains from the stomach contents were associated with maggots, which indicated the presence of carrion consumption. Our study, based on varied diet composition, supports and confirms the opportunistic, scavenging and highly adaptive foraging of the golden jackal.

Ungulate co-occurrence in a landscape of antagonisms

Protected areas largely now exist as coupled natural-human ecosystems where human activities are increasingly forcing wildlife to adjust behaviors. For many ungulate species that rely on protected areas for their persistence, they must balance these anthropogenic pressures amid natural regulators. Here, we investigated the pressures exerted from humans and livestock, apex predators, and within guild competitors on ungulate co-occurrence patterns in a fragile protected area complex in West Africa. Specifically, we used multi-species occupancy modeling to quantify co-occurrence among four ungulates (Tragelaphus scriptus, Redunca redunca, Kobus kob, Phacochoerus africanus) and applied structural equation models to discern the relative contributions of pressures on co-occurrence patterns. We observed a strong spatial gradient across with higher co-occurrence in the wetter western portion of our ~13,000 km2 study area. Co-occurrence patterns among ungulate dyads ranged from 0.15 to 0.49 with the smallest body sized pair showing highest levels of sympatry, warthog and reedbuck. We found that anthropogenic pressures, namely cattle had the greatest effect in reducing sympatry among wild ungulates more strongly than the presence of African lions that also exhibited negative effects. Humans, hyenas, and competitors showed positive effects on ungulate co-occurrence. In a region of the world ongoing rapid socio-ecological change with increasing threats from climate and environmental instability, protected areas in West Africa represent a major safeguard for wildlife and human livelihoods alike. Our findings highlight the need for effective interventions that focus on large carnivore conservation, habitat restoration, and containment of livestock grazing to promote the coexistence of biodiversity and socio-economic goals within the region.

Overgrazing effects on seasonal variations in availability of palatable grasses in the foraging grounds of blackbucks Antilope cervicapra

Despite the diverse and wide-ranging forage availability in abundance in grassland habitat systems, wild ungulates perform selective grazing under their natural foraging conditions as an adaptation to the variation in palatability and availability of forage grasses in different seasons in a given area by retaining the less palatable species as the dry season diet. The study elucidated how the domestic livestock exerts overgrazing pressures on the grass community, removing all the grass stand before the arrival of dry season and restricting forage availability for blackbucks Antilope cervicapra in Basur Amruth Mahal Kaval Conservation Reserve, Karnataka. Direct observations on the feeding behaviours of herbivores were done and opportunistic sampling for the collection and identification of grasses at the same time, covering all different microhabitat characteristic locations of the grassland in all seasons. 29 grass species were identified with different palatability grades and variations in their seasonal availability as forage. Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf and Sehima nervosum (Rottler) Stapf with the highest palatability grade, are spatially declining with the increase of less palatable grasses in the Kaval i.e. Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. and Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov under overgrazing pressures. A limitation of three to four months shortage of forage grass availability was created under overgrazing pressures by domestic livestock when compared to selective grazing expectations by blackbucks throughout the year. The forage grasses were grazed to empty by domestic livestock before the arrival of dry seasons. In prolonged overgrazing effects, a competitive replacement of palatable grasses by unpalatable or less palatable species can be expected in these grasslands. Competitive exclusion of blackbucks by the domestic herbivores was modelled using Lotka-Volterra equations. The model revealed that the populations of wild boar and domestic herbivores tend to increase up to their carrying capacities K2 with time ti and attain stable populations, but the blackbuck populations tend to extinction with continuous exposure to competition due to their shy nature. The grass composition can be expected to recover with palatable grasses only if external grazing forces are controlled or avoided.

The effects of wild ungulates on small mammals: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Wild ungulates are increasing in several regions of the world, recolonizing the empty niche left by previous livestock systems. Due to their important role as ecosystem engineers, wild ungulates can modify and change vegetation structure, as well as modulate soil ecological processes, affecting the remaining components of communities and posing new management challenges. Several studies have evaluated the effects of wild ungulates on other guilds, but the results are taxonomically biased. Thus, our goal is to synthesise the overall effects of wild ungulates on smaller mammals on a broad scale. Due to the complexity of assessing these impacts throughout the ecological network, we focused on mammals since they occupy different trophic levels and are key taxa in food webs. We conducted a review of the documented effects of wild ungulates on the guild's abundance of mammals with less than 10 kg, which revealed a gap in the literature regarding how higher trophic levels respond to wild ungulate disturbances. Using a hierarchical meta‐analytic approach, we assessed, on a subset of articles, whether the presence of wild ungulates affects the guild of small mammals and whether these effects were associated with biome, wild ungulates' body mass and foraging strategy, and small mammals' body mass. A quantitative meta‐analysis was possible only for small mammals (Rodentia/Soricomorpha/Macroscelidea <1 kg) and revealed that their abundance tended to decrease with increasing abundance of wild ungulates. The magnitude of this impact, however, was modulated by body mass, being greater for larger small mammals than for smaller ones. The impacts of wild ungulates might result in changes in the abundance of small mammals through direct and indirect pathways. Our results motivate a more holistic evaluation of rewilding projects and the correct assessment of the effects concerning wild ungulates' reintroductions.

Testing a conservation compromise: No evidence that public wolf hunting in Slovakia reduced livestock losses

AbstractVariation in the legal status and management of wolves (Canis lupus) across EU Member States provides a good opportunity to test the effectiveness of different practices to reduce livestock losses. This opportunity for testing is particularly useful for lethal interventions, as they are among the most controversial actions within the large carnivore management toolbox. We aimed to test a conservation compromise adopted in Slovakia, based on a public wolf‐hunting scheme and annual hunting quotas between 2014 and 2019, and partially justified to reduce livestock losses. We assessed whether this hunting scheme influenced livestock depredation levels (at the district level). Wolves in the area fed mainly on wild ungulates (98.9% of consumed biomass). While domestic sheep comprised only 0.5% of the diet, they were dominant among the reported livestock killed by wolves (91.1%). Using two different approaches, we did not observe a relationship between the number of killed wolves and livestock losses. Alternatively, a negative relationship between wild prey biomass and livestock losses was found. Since 2021, public wolf hunting has not been conducted in Slovakia, and there is no merit in the previous justification for this conservation compromise to reduce livestock losses.

A novel, post-Soviet fire disturbance regime drives bird diversity and abundance on the Eurasian steppe.

Many grassland ecosystems and their associated biodiversity depend on the interactions between fire and land-use, both of which are shaped by socioeconomic conditions. The Eurasian steppe biome, much of it situated in Kazakhstan, contains 10% of the world's remaining grasslands. The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, widespread land abandonment and massive declines in wild and domestic ungulates led to biomass accumulation over millions of hectares. This rapid fuel increase made the steppes a global fire hotspot, with major changes in vegetation structure. Yet, the response of steppe biodiversity to these changes remains unexplored. We utilized a unique bird abundance dataset covering the entire Kazakh steppe and semi-desert regions together with the MODIS burned area product. We modeled the response of bird species richness and abundance as a function of fire disturbance variables-fire extent, cumulative burned area, fire frequency-at varying grazing intensity. Bird species richness was impacted negatively by large fire extent, cumulative burned area, and high fire frequency in moderately grazed and ungrazed steppe. Similarly, overall bird abundance was impacted negatively by large fire extent, cumulative burned area and higher fire frequency in the moderately grazed steppe, ungrazed steppe, and ungrazed semi-deserts. At the species level, the effect of high fire disturbance was negative for more species than positive. There were considerable fire legacy effects, detectable for at least 8 years. We conclude that the increase in fire disturbance across the post-Soviet Eurasian steppe has led to strong declines in bird abundance and pronounced changes in community assembly. To gain back control over wildfires and prevent further biodiversity loss, restoration of wild herbivore populations and traditional domestic ungulate grazing systems seems much needed.

Molecular Detection and Distribution of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Infections in Wild and Domestic Animals in Portugal

Enteric protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and, to a lesser extent, the ciliate Balantioides coli are responsible for severe human and animal intestinal disorders globally. However, limited information is available on the occurrence and epidemiology of these parasites in domestic, but especially wild species in Portugal. To fill this gap of knowledge, we have investigated G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and B. coli occurrence, distribution, genetic diversity, and zoonotic potential by analyzing 756 fecal samples from several wild carnivores (n = 288), wild ungulates (n = 242), and domestic species (n = 226) collected across different areas of mainland Portugal. Overall, infection rates were 16.1% (122/756; 95% CI: 13.59–18.96) for G. duodenalis and 2.7% (20/756; CI: 1.62–4.06) for Cryptosporidium spp., while no ungulate sample analyzed yielded positive results for B. coli. Giardia duodenalis was found across a wide range of hosts and sampling areas, being most prevalent in the Iberian lynx (26.7%), the Iberian wolf (24.0%), and the domestic dog (23.9%). Cryptosporidium spp. was only identified in wild boar (8.4%), red fox (3.4%), Iberian lynx (3.3%), red deer (3.1%), and Iberian wolf (2.5%). Sequence analysis of G. duodenalis determined zoonotic assemblage A (subassemblage AI) in one roe deer sample, canine-specific assemblages C and D in Iberian wolf, red fox, and domestic dog, and ungulate-specific assemblage E in wild boar, sheep, cattle, and horse. Six Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. scrofarum in wild boar, C. canis in the Iberian wolf and red fox, C. ubiquitum in red deer and wild boar, C. felis in the Iberian lynx, and both C. ryanae and C. occultus in red deer. Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. coinfections were observed in 0.7% (5/756) of the samples. This is the first, most comprehensive, and largest molecular-based epidemiology study of its kind carried out in Portugal, covering a wide range of wild and domestic hosts and sampling areas. The detection of zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis subassemblage AI demonstrates the role of wild and domestic host species in the transmission of these agents while representing a potential source of environmental contamination for other animals and humans.

Large scale spatio-temporal modelling of risk factors associated with tuberculosis exposure at the wildlife-livestock interface.

The management of animal tuberculosis (TB) is a priority for European Union animal health authorities. However, and despite all the efforts made to date, a significant part of Spain has as yet been unable to obtain the officially tuberculosis-free (OTF) status. Information regarding wildlife disease status is usually scarce, signifying that the role played by wildlife is usually ignored or poorly assessed in large-scale TB risk factor studies. The National Wildlife Health Surveillance Plan in Spain now provides information on infection rates in wildlife reservoirs at a national level, but there are limitations as regards the sample size, the spatio-temporal distribution of the samples, and the lack of homogeneity of the diagnostic techniques employed. The objective of the study described herein was, therefore, to employ a Bayesian approach with the intention of identifying the risk factors associated with four TB rates in cattle: prevalence, incidence, maintenance and persistence in Spain during the period 2014-2019. The modeling approach included highly informative spatio-temporal latent effects with which to control the limitations of the data. Variation partitioning procedures were carried out, and the pure effect of each factor was mapped in order to identify the most relevant factors associated with TB dynamics in cattle in each region. This made it possible to disclose that the movement of cattle, particularly from counties with herd incidence >1%, was the main driver of the TB dynamics in cattle. The abundance of herds bred for bullfighting was retained in all four models, but had less weight than the movements. After accounting for farm-related factors, the TB prevalence in wild boar was retained in all the models and was significantly related to incidence, maintenance and persistence. With regard to the incidence, variation partitioning revealed that wildlife was the most explicative factor, thus suggesting that it plays a role in the introduction of the pathogen into uninfected herds, and consequently highlighting its importance in breakdowns. These results show, for the first time on a national scale, that wild ungulates play a relevant role in the spatio-temporal variability of TB in cattle, particularly as regards their disease status. Moreover, the spatial representation of the pure effect of each factor made it possible to identify which factors are driving the disease dynamics in each region, thus showing that it is a valuable tool with which to focus efforts towards achieving the OTF status.

Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation.

The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf-cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa, 44% occurrence) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves' diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts.

Trichinella spp. detection in hunted wild boar (Sus scrofa) diaphragm biopsies in Central Italy.

Trichinellosis is a globally diffused foodborne parasitic disease caused by nematodes of the Trichinella complex. During evolution, guided by ecological interactions, natural selection, and biochemical "intelligence", these parasites developed admirable strategies to infect the host's organism. One of the most fascinating is represented by the nurse cell formation in muscular tissue (e.g., diaphragm, skeletal muscle, extrinsic ocular muscles, etc.). This strategy allowed the parasite to adapt and conquer the wider host species spectrum, including ungulates and humans. Consumption of undercooked meat from infected wild ungulates constitutes the most important source of infection for the human species. In this study, we show the prevalence of Trichinella spp. in hunted wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Central Italy. During the hunting season 2021/2022 in the province of Rieti, 554 wild boar diaphragm biopsies were collected for Trichinella spp. screening, in accordance with Regulation EU 1375/2015. An artificial digestion method was used for the detection of Trichinella spp. larval forms. The results revealed a positivity of 0.18% (1/554), and molecular biology identification demonstrated the presence of Trichinella britovi in the positive sample. This species is the most diffused in wild ungulate populations in Central Italy and the most frequently isolated in human patients with trichinellosis from this area, showing a close epidemiological relation between Homo sapiens and Sus scrofa for Trichinella spp. diffusion in an ecosystem. Epidemiological surveillance, in receptive animal species destined for human consumption and at any One Health level, represents the main "winning" strategy in the control of this worldwide, widespread foodborne parasitic disease.

Protostrongylus caprae Zdzitowiecki et Boev, 1971 (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) – First record in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex Linnaeus, 1758) from Europe

In the course of a survey of the endoparasites of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) from Austria, examination of the lungs revealed male Protostrongylus nematodes presenting morphological characters which differed from those of the three Protostrongylus species previously reported from this host. Fragments of 16 adult male and 4 adult female nematodes extracted from the lung tissue of two female ibex following peptic digestion were subjected to close microscopic examination. Based on their morphology, the lungworms were identified as Protostrongylus caprae Zdzitowiecki et Boev, 1971. This species was originally described from Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) in Asia and previously only reported from this host from Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The identification of P. caprae in Alpine ibex represents a new host and geographical record and reinforces the interest to further study the parasite diversity of wild ungulates for a better understanding of complex host-parasite associations and biogeography.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar and Red Deer in Portugal.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic foodborne virus with an annual infection prevalence of 20 million human cases, which seriously affects public health and economic development in both developed and developing countries. To better understand the epidemiology of HEV in Central Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2023 with sera samples from wild ungulates. The seroprevalence and risk factors for HEV seropositivity were evaluated in the present study. Specifically, antibodies against HEV were determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that in the 650 sera samples collected from 298 wild red deer and 352 wild boars in Portugal, 9.1% red deer and 1.7% wild boar were positive for antibodies to HEV. Regarding age, the seropositivity in juvenile wild ungulates was 1.3%, whereas it was 7.2% in adults. Logistic regression models investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds of being seropositive was 3.6 times higher in adults than in juveniles, and the risk was 4.2 times higher in red deer than in wild boar. Both wild ungulate species were exposed to HEV. The higher seroprevalence in red deer suggests that this species may make a major contribution to the ecology of HEV in Central Portugal. Further research is needed to understand how wildlife affects the epidemiology of HEV infections in Portugal.

Native lagomorphs facilitate noxious weeds in a semi-arid rangeland

Rangeland management has traditionally focused on the grazing effects of livestock, or on wild ungulates because they are potential competitors with livestock. However, herbivory by smaller herbivores, such as lagomorphs, could play a much greater role in shaping the plant community than is commonly thought. Being selective feeders with high mass-specific metabolic rates, we hypothesized that lagomorphs impose an herbivory regime on the rangeland that differs from that of ungulates and drives the plant community toward a different composition. We used an 8-year exclosure experiment with three plot types (complete exclosure, partial exclosure, open rangeland), each 5.95 m2, to separate the effects of grazing by lagomorphs (jackrabbits and cottontails) from the effects of the large grazers (mainly cattle and bison) on vegetation structure and plant community composition. We replicated the experiment across 20 sites in a semiarid rangeland in the western US. The plant community in the complete exclosure plots (lagomorphs and ungulates excluded) developed a fivefold greater standing crop of grass than the open rangeland but supported the lowest biomass, density, and aerial cover of forbs. Partial exclosure plots (ungulates excluded, lagomorphs included) developed a community with higher forb phytomass (33.6% increase relative to open rangeland) and lower forb species richness (16.4% decrease relative to open rangeland). This effect was mainly caused by the encroachment of noxious weeds, including Salsola tragus (prickly Russian thistle/tumbleweed), which covered up to 37% of the ground in plots that lagomorphs had exclusive access to. We infer that selective grazing by lagomorphs facilitates noxious weeds that are elsewhere controlled to some extent by (a) the coarse grazing and trampling effects of large ungulates and (b) competition with native herbaceous species. For semiarid rangelands that have been degraded by livestock grazing, our complete and partial exclosures show that a reduction in stocking rate might not return the rangeland to its former state due to a hysteresis effect resulting from the facilitation of noxious weeds by lagomorphs. Rangeland management should be informed by an understanding of the entire food web, which includes the direct and indirect grazing effects of small herbivores such as lagomorphs.

Social and ecological outcomes of tropical dry forest restoration through invasive species removal in central India

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) support endemic biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions of people globally. Invasive species, such as Lantana camara, are a predominant cause of degradation of TDFs. We examined lesser-studied vocalizing fauna and social outcomes of TDF restoration through Lantana removal, focusing on a Central Indian TDF. We quantified biodiversity using acoustics in 55 locations in restored, unrestored, and Low Lantana Density (LLD) forest sites and surveyed 656 households across villages adjacent to these forest sites. Our ecological analysis showed that in comparison to unrestored and LLD sites, restoration was not significantly associated with a different acoustic space occupancy (ASO) in higher frequencies (9–24 kHz) during night time hours, meaning restoration does not impact nocturnal vocalising or stridulating species. However, restored and LLD sites had significantly lower ASO in the day time hours, potentially due to differences in the insect community when Lantana is absent. Through the household surveys, we found that the highest number of respondents across all the three types of sites valued the cash payment they received for participating in restoration efforts. Perceptions of lower amounts of crop raiding by wild ungulates were associated by villagers with a restored site. This perception was mediated by the total number of households in a village with a restored site. Focusing restoration efforts on forests surrounding villages, restoration planners could reduce potential negative human-wildlife interactions. Combining ecological and social outcomes, we found that there are immediate positive outcomes of restoration for people. However, in the short term (three years following restoration), there was no significant biodiversity ‘benefit’. Based on our results, we recommend that restoration planners (1) consult local people about their perception of forest degradation and restoration because people’s perceptions can accurately mirror the condition of the forest; (2) provide a cash income for participating in restoration activities and (3) anticipate potential changes in the faunal species community in the short term when large scale invasive species removal takes place.