1
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Jarman AK, Shaw ME, Liu SY, Grueber CE. An insight into vitamin E and lipid nutrition of the plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus. Zoo Biol 2024; 43:213-223. [PMID: 38294092 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin E, as α-tocopherol, is an essential antioxidant protecting the body from free radicals. The vitamin E requirement of managed wildlife species is known to be greater than their wild counterparts, predominantly due to higher dietary lipid content and potentially stressful environments. The plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus, Family Pedionomidae [monotypical]) is a critically endangered, superficially quail-like bird that is the focus of an ongoing captive breeding programme in Australia. It is estimated that plains-wanderers have a high vitamin E requirement (compared with domestic poultry species) to offset a high lipid diet and their naturally flighty temperament. This study therefore aims to gain a greater understanding of the nutritional status and vitamin E requirements of plains-wanderers in managed environments. Total lipid and α-tocopherol intake were quantified for 26 zoo-managed plains-wanderers over a series of diet intake trials in addition to measurement of plasma α-tocopherol and cholesterol concentrations. Plains-wanderers that consumed higher portions of dietary fat had significantly lower circulating α-tocopherol concentrations than birds that consumed lower total dietary fat (p < .001). Additionally, plasma cholesterol concentrations of managed plains-wanderers were found to be significantly greater than all other bird species reviewed, irrespective of Family or feeding type. We also present the first published data quantifying the nutritional makeup of stomach contents of a wild plains-wanderer for use as a potential guide for diet formulation. This study forms a vital foundational insight into the nutritional management of plains-wanderers, but further research is required to understand their dietary habits and cholesterol metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Jarman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Taronga Animal Nutrition Centre, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle E Shaw
- Taronga Animal Nutrition Centre, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sonia Y Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Poultry Research Foundation, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Meng D, Si Y, Wang J, Li Z, Khattak RH, Liu Z, Teng L. The Effect of Sexes and Seasons on the Morphological Structures of the Ruminant Digestive System of Blue Sheep ( Pseudois nayaur). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061084. [PMID: 36978625 PMCID: PMC10044206 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Constant adaptation to environmental changes is required by ruminants to allow them to adapt to different ecological niches and feeding habits. In addition, the morphology and function of ruminant digestive systems reveal some adaptive evolutionary characteristics. Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) display a variety of morpho-physiological adaptations that are typical of grazers. In this study, we collected 64 adult blue sheep samples (whole animal carcasses) from the Helan Mountains, China, during different seasons. The external morphological parameters, digestive system morphological indexes, and rumen surface enlargement factors were determined. Our results reveal that the rumen and reticulum weights were positively correlated with the body weight (p = 0.004), while the food channel aperture, intestinal length, and weight of the blue sheep digestive tract presented no significant differences between different seasons (p > 0.05) and sexes (p > 0.05). There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the density, length, and width of mastoids, and the rumen surface enlargement factor was 2.85 ± 1.37, which is typical of roughage feeders. The nutritional and ecological characteristics of blue sheep represent obvious morphological and physiological adaptations to an herbivorous diet. Adopting a quick foraging strategy allows blue sheep to rapidly consume and excrete large amounts of feed, thus obtaining the required energy for their activities and facilitating better adaption to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehuai Meng
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yuhui Si
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jifei Wang
- National Nature Reserve of Nanhua Mountains in Ningxia, Zhongwei 755200, China
| | - Zongzhi Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Romaan Hayat Khattak
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhensheng Liu
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Liwei Teng
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin 150040, China
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3
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Joshi BD, Kumar V, De R, Sharma R, Bhattacharya A, Dolker S, Pal R, Kumar VP, Sathyakumar S, Adhikari BS, Habib B, Goyal SP. Mitochondrial cytochrome b indicates the presence of two paraphyletic diverged lineages of the blue sheep Pseudois nayaur across the Indian Himalaya: conservation implications. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:11177-11186. [PMID: 36097126 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07832-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Populations exhibit signatures of local adaptive traits due to spatial and environmental heterogeneity resulting in microevolution. The blue sheep is widely distributed across the high Asian mountains and are the snow leopard's principal prey species. These mountains differ in their evolutionary history due to differential glaciation and deglaciation periods, orography, and rainfall patterns, and such factors causes diversification in species. METHODS AND RESULTS Therefore, we assess the phylogeographic status of blue sheep using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (220 bp) across the Indian Himalayan region (IHR) and its relationship with other populations. Of the observed five haplotypes, two and three were from the western Himalayas (WH) and eastern Himalayas (EH) respectively. One of the haplotypes from WH was shared with the population of Pamir plateau, suggesting historical maternal connectivity between these areas. The phylogenetic analyses split the blue sheep into two paraphyletic clades, and western and eastern populations of IHR were within the Pamir and Tibetan plateau clades, respectively. We observed a relatively higher mean sequence divergence in the EH population than in the WH. CONCLUSION We propose five 'Evolutionary Significant Units' across the blue sheep distribution range based on observed variation in the species' ecological requirements, orography, climatic conditions, and maternal lineages, viz.; Western Himalaya-Pamir plateau (WHPP); Eastern Himalaya-Tibetan plateau (EHTP); Qilian mountains; Helan mountains and Hengduan mountains population. Despite the small sample size, population divergence was observed across the IHR, therefore, we suggest a transboundary, collaborative study on comparative morphology, anatomy, ecology, behaviour, and population genetics using harmonized different genetic markers for identifying the overall taxonomic status of the blue sheep across its range for planning effective conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bheem Dutt Joshi
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.,Zoological Survey of India, 700020, Kolkata, India.,ENPROTEC INDIA FOUNDATION, 222161, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Rahul De
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Reeta Sharma
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | - Ranjana Pal
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | | | - Bilal Habib
- Wildlife Institute of India, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
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4
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Li Z, Wang J, Khattak RH, Han X, Liu P, Liu Z, Teng L. Coexistence mechanisms of sympatric ungulates: Behavioral and physiological adaptations of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) in Helan Mountains, China. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.925465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the coexistence mechanisms of sympatric wildlife helps to shed light on why the earth has so many different species. When ungulates share ranges, food and habitat requirements may partially or fully overlap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how sympatric ungulates share limited resources. Carcasses of 27 adult blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and three adult red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) were collected in the Helan Mountains, China. Nutritive indices of plant species foraged and morphometric measurements of the digestive system of the two sympatric ungulates were determined. In addition, 120 passive, infrared motion-triggered cameras recorded spatial overlap and temporal overlap between the two species. Camera trapping revealed relatively limited spatial overlap and significantly different activity rhythms between blue sheep and red deer. Differences were also observed in stomach weight, surface enlargement factor of the rumen, and intestine length between the two species. However, the combined relative weight of the stomach and intestine was not different between species. The low spatiotemporal overlap decreased opportunities for encounters between sympatric blue sheep and red deer, and significant differences in digestive systems allowed the two species to consume different plant species or different parts of the same species. Thus, the two sympatric ungulates coexist harmoniously in the Helan Mountains because of long-term evolutionary behavioral and physiological adaptations that eliminate negative effects on the survival of the other species.
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5
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Mwinyi AM, Nnko HJ. Seasonality of Pemba flying fox (
Pteropus voeltzkowi
) in selected habitats of Pemba Island, and its roles in seed dispersal and germination. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali M. Mwinyi
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies University of Dodoma Dodoma Tanzania
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6
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Palmioli E, Dall’Aglio C, Bellesi M, Tardella FM, Moscatelli S, Scocco P, Mercati F. The Apelinergic System Immuno-Detection in the Abomasum and Duodenum of Sheep Grazing on Semi-Natural Pasture. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113173. [PMID: 34827905 PMCID: PMC8614516 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The semi-natural pastures in the Apennines represent the feed source for ovine, whose grazing activity helps to preserve the grassland’s biodiversity. Summer drought stress decreases the grassland pastoral value and affects the morpho-functional features of sheep’s digestive systems. A better knowledge of the gastrointestinal system of sheep may contribute to guaranteeing their welfare, a prerequisite for the sustainability of livestock production. This study aimed to immune-localize the apelinergic system in the abomasum and duodenum of sheep grazing on semi-natural pasture during the spring–summer season and to compare its behavior among animal groups fed with or without supplementation. The apelinergic system, composed of apelin and its receptor, is involved in foodintake and the secretion and absorption activities of the digestive apparatus. Apelinergic system molecules were localized at the abomasum lining epithelium and fundic glands level and at the duodenum lining and crypt epithelium, in addition to the neuroendocrine cells. Variations in reactivity were observed in the different feed groups; feed supplementation seemed to maintain the functionality of the apelinergic system in the organs near the status related to the better pasture phase, suggesting that it may be a suitable solution able to counteract the harmful effects of summer drought stress. Abstract Apelin (APLN) is an adipokine mainly produced by adipose tissue and related to an individual’s nutritional status as well as digestive apparatus functions. In this work, APLN and its receptor (APLNR) were investigated, by immunohistochemistry, in the abomasum and duodenum of 15 Comisana × Appenninica adult sheep reared in a semi-natural pasture. Organ samples were collected after maximum pasture flowering (M × F group) and after maximum pasture dryness (M × D group); the experimental group (E × p group) received a feed supplementation of 600 grams/day/head of barley and corn in addition to M × D group feeding. APLN and APLNR were identified in the lining epithelium and the fundic gland chief cells of the abomasum. APLNR was observed in the lining epithelium, in the crypts and the serotonin secreting cells of the duodenum. Similar reactivity was observed between the M × F and E × p groups, while the M × D group showed a lower intensity of immunostaining for both APLN and APLNR in all positive structures but the duodenal serotonin neuroendocrine cells. Hence, our findings show that the E × p group presents a picture quite overlapped with M × F and suggest that food supplementation has a maintaining effect on the apelinergic system expression in the investigated digestive tracts of the sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Palmioli
- Department of FISSUF, PhD Course in “Ethics of Communication, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation” Medical-Health Curriculum, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini, 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Cecilia Dall’Aglio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0755857633
| | - Michele Bellesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.T.); (S.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Federico Maria Tardella
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.T.); (S.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Sara Moscatelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.T.); (S.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Paola Scocco
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.T.); (S.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Francesca Mercati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
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7
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Hecker LJ, Edwards MA, Nielsen SE. Assessing the nutritional consequences of switching foraging behavior in wood bison. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16165-16176. [PMID: 34824819 PMCID: PMC8601871 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Diet is one of the most common traits used to organize species of animals into niches. For ruminant herbivores, the breadth and uniqueness of their dietary niche are placed on a spectrum from browsers that consume woody (i.e., browse) and herbaceous (i.e., forbs) plants, to grazers with graminoid-rich diets. However, seasonal changes in plant availability and quality can lead to switching of their dietary niche, even within species. In this study, we examined whether a population of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in northeast Alberta, Canada, seasonally switched their foraging behavior, and if so, whether this was associated with changes in nutrient acquisition. We hypothesized that bison should switch foraging behaviors from grazing in the winter when standing, dead graminoids are the only foliar plants readily available to browsing during spring and summer as nutritious and digestible foliar parts of browse and forbs become available. If bison are switching foraging strategy to maximize protein consumption, then there should be a corresponding shift in the nutritional niche. Alternatively, if bison are eating different plants, but consuming similar amounts of nutrients, then bison are switching their dietary niche to maintain a particular nutrient composition. We found wood bison were grazers in the winter and spring, but switch to a browsing during summer. However, only winter nutrient consumption of consumed plants differed significantly among seasons. Between spring and summer, bison maintained a specific nutritional composition in their diet despite compositional differences in the consumed plants. Our evidence suggests that bison are selecting plants to maintain a target macronutrient composition. We posit that herbivore's can and will switch their dietary niche to maintain a target nutrient composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee J. Hecker
- University of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Royal Alberta MuseumEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Mark A. Edwards
- University of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Royal Alberta MuseumEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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8
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Lundgren EJ, Schowanek SD, Rowan J, Middleton O, Pedersen RØ, Wallach AD, Ramp D, Davis M, Sandom CJ, Svenning JC. Functional traits of the world's late Quaternary large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores. Sci Data 2021; 8:17. [PMID: 33473149 PMCID: PMC7817692 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prehistoric and recent extinctions of large-bodied terrestrial herbivores had significant and lasting impacts on Earth's ecosystems due to the loss of their distinct trait combinations. The world's surviving large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores remain among the most threatened taxa. As such, a greater understanding of the ecological impacts of large herbivore losses is increasingly important. However, comprehensive and ecologically-relevant trait datasets for extinct and extant herbivores are lacking. Here, we present HerbiTraits, a comprehensive functional trait dataset for all late Quaternary terrestrial avian and mammalian herbivores ≥10 kg (545 species). HerbiTraits includes key traits that influence how herbivores interact with ecosystems, namely body mass, diet, fermentation type, habitat use, and limb morphology. Trait data were compiled from 557 sources and comprise the best available knowledge on late Quaternary large-bodied herbivores. HerbiTraits provides a tool for the analysis of herbivore functional diversity both past and present and its effects on Earth's ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Simon D Schowanek
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - John Rowan
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Rasmus Ø Pedersen
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Matt Davis
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | | | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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9
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Filla M, Lama RP, Ghale TR, Signer J, Filla T, Aryal RR, Heurich M, Waltert M, Balkenhol N, Khorozyan I. In the shadows of snow leopards and the Himalayas: density and habitat selection of blue sheep in Manang, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:108-122. [PMID: 33437417 PMCID: PMC7790628 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing agreement that conservation needs to be proactive and pay increased attention to common species and to the threats they face. The blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) plays a key ecological role in sensitive high-altitude ecosystems of Central Asia and is among the main prey species for the globally vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia). As the blue sheep has been increasingly exposed to human pressures, it is vital to estimate its population dynamics, protect the key populations, identify important habitats, and secure a balance between conservation and local livelihoods. We conducted a study in Manang, Annapurna Conservation Area (Nepal), to survey blue sheep on 60 transects in spring (127.9 km) and 61 transects in autumn (134.7 km) of 2019, estimate their minimum densities from total counts, compare these densities with previous estimates, and assess blue sheep habitat selection by the application of generalized additive models (GAMs). Total counts yielded minimum density estimates of 6.0-7.7 and 6.9-7.8 individuals/km2 in spring and autumn, respectively, which are relatively high compared to other areas. Elevation and, to a lesser extent, land cover indicated by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) strongly affected habitat selection by blue sheep, whereas the effects of anthropogenic variables were insignificant. Animals were found mainly in habitats associated with grasslands and shrublands at elevations between 4,200 and 4,700 m. We show that the blue sheep population size in Manang has been largely maintained over the past three decades, indicating the success of the integrated conservation and development efforts in this area. Considering a strong dependence of snow leopards on blue sheep, these findings give hope for the long-term conservation of this big cat in Manang. We suggest that long-term population monitoring and a better understanding of blue sheep-livestock interactions are crucial to maintain healthy populations of blue sheep and, as a consequence, of snow leopards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Filla
- Department of Conservation BiologyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | | | | | - Johannes Signer
- Wildlife SciencesFaculty of Forest Sciences and Forest EcologyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | - Tim Filla
- Institute of Medical Biometry and BioinformaticsHeinrich Heine University DuesseldorfDuesseldorfGermany
| | - Raja Ram Aryal
- Forest Research and Training CentreBabarmahalKathmanduNepal
| | - Marco Heurich
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and ManagementFaculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park MonitoringBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Matthias Waltert
- Department of Conservation BiologyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | - Niko Balkenhol
- Wildlife SciencesFaculty of Forest Sciences and Forest EcologyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | - Igor Khorozyan
- Department of Conservation BiologyUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
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10
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Hecker LJ, Coogan SCP, Nielsen SE, Edwards MA. Latitudinal and seasonal plasticity in American bison
Bison bison
diets. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lee J. Hecker
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
- Royal Alberta Museum Edmonton AlbertaT5J 0G2Canada
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
| | - Scott E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
| | - Mark A. Edwards
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AlbertaT6G 2H1Canada
- Royal Alberta Museum Edmonton AlbertaT5J 0G2Canada
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11
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Gao H, Li N, Huang Y, Qiao F, Li J, Li Z, Li Y, Wang Z, Teng L, Liu Z. Taxonomic status of Chinese blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur): new evidence of a distinct subspecies. Integr Zool 2020; 15:202-212. [PMID: 31773863 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The blue sheep is an endemic species to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding regions. It has been regarded as having 2 subspecies: Pseudois nayaur nayaur and P. n. szechuanensis. However, such a classification remains controversial. Herein, we analyze 10 microsatellite loci and part of the mitochondrial control region for clarification in such taxonomic debates. We use samples from 168 individuals from 6 geographic populations covering almost all the distribution areas of the species in China to carry out comparisons. Phylogenetic trees derived from both the microsatellite and mitochondrial markers combined with the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and the STRUCTURE analysis reveal that the individuals in the Helan Mountains are well grouped with a distinct evolutionary lineage and are significantly different from the other populations of P. n. szechuanensis according to Fst values, implying that this isolated population should be categorized as a valid subspecies; namely, Pseudois nayaur alashanicus. The isolation-by-distance (IBD) analysis shows a significant positive relationship between genetic and geographical distances among the populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Nannan Li
- Forestry Science and Technology Research Institute of Greater Hinggan in Inner Mongolia, Yakeshi, China
| | - Yongjie Huang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Fujie Qiao
- School of Life Sciences, Lvliang Univiersity, Lvliang, China
| | - Junle Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zongzhi Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yanxiang Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhenghuan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liwei Teng
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.,Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin, China
| | - Zhensheng Liu
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.,Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin, China
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12
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Shrestha TK, Hecker LJ, Aryal A, Coogan SCP. Feeding preferences and nutritional niche of wild water buffalo ( Bubalus arnee) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6897-6905. [PMID: 32760500 PMCID: PMC7391305 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The nutritional characteristics of food resources play an important role in the foraging behavior of animals and can provide information valuable to their conservation and management. We examined the nutritional ecology of wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee; hereafter "buffalo") in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve of Nepal during autumn using a multidimensional nutritional niche framework. We identified 54 plant species as being foraged by buffalo. We found that buffalo consumed graminoids and forbs 2-3 times more frequently than browse items. Proximate analyses of the 16 most frequently foraged plants indicated that buffalo diets were highest in carbohydrate (40.41% ± 1.82%) followed by crude protein (10.52% ± 0.93%) and crude fat (1.68% ± 0.23%). The estimated macronutrient balance (i.e., realized nutrient niche) of the buffalo diet (20.5% protein: 72.8% carbohydrate: 6.7% lipid) was not significantly different than the average balance of all analyzed food items based on 95% confidence regions. Our study suggests that buffalo are likely macronutrient specialists, yet may be generalists in the sense that they feed on a wide range of food items to achieve a nutrient balance similar to that available in forage items. However, the four most frequently consumed items tended to be higher in protein energy than less frequently consumed foods, suggesting some preference for higher protein forage relative to relatively abundant carbohydrates. Although limited in scope, our study provides important information on the nutritional ecology of buffalo, which may be useful for the conservation and management of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee J. Hecker
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Achyut Aryal
- CC Group Limited/CC Training AcademyAucklandNew Zealand
- Save Dot International LimitedAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
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13
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Kui H, Liu X, Liu J, Liang W, Zhang S, Qian Z, Ren L. The Passive Contact Stability of Blue Sheep Hoof Based on Structure, Mechanical Properties, and Surface Morphology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:363. [PMID: 32426345 PMCID: PMC7212375 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the only component that contacts the ground and rock, the hooves of blue sheep may play a crucial role in their excellent climbing abilities. In this study, we used a combination of techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and nanoindentation, to characterize the surface morphology, structure, material composition, and mechanical properties of blue sheep hoof and investigate the potential contributions of these properties to the establishment of passive contact stability. Straight and curled microscopic lamellar morphology were found on the hoof surfaces. The cross section of the hoof revealed four layers, and each layer had a unique structure. Finite element analysis was employed to verify that the surface morphology and microstructure effectively contributed to the slip resistance and impact cushioning, respectively. Analyses of the energy and infrared spectra showed that the organic and inorganic substances in different regions of the hoof had similar components but different contents of those components. The hoof was mainly composed of keratin. From the outside to the inside, gradients in both the modulus and hardness were observed. These factors help the hoof alleviate high impact strengths and increase contact stability. These findings further our understanding of the unique mechanism of blue sheep hoof and may help in the development of novel biomimetic materials and mechanical components with enhanced friction and contact stability properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailin Kui
- College of Transportation, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- College of Transportation, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhihui Qian
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lei Ren
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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14
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Soofi M, Qashqaei AT, Aryal A, Coogan SC. Autumn food habits of the brown bear Ursus arctos in the Golestan National Park: a pilot study in Iran. MAMMALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2016-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Food consumed by brown bears in the Golestan National Park in Iran was analyzed during autumn 2011. We identified 22 food items in 61 scats, with the most important food items being hawthorn fruit, cherry plum fruit and chestnut-leaved oak hard mast, based on importance value (IV) estimates of 26.4%, 18.1% and 12.9%, respectively. The overall bear diet (percent digestible dry matter) was composed of 77.9% soft mast (i.e. fruit), 21.3% hard mast and small proportions of other vegetation (0.3%) or animal matter (0.4%). One anthropogenic food was identified (vine grape) and was of minor importance (IV=0.2%).
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15
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Oli CB, Panthi S, Subedi N, Ale G, Pant G, Khanal G, Bhattarai S. Dry season diet composition of four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis in tropical dry deciduous forests, Nepal. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5102. [PMID: 29967747 PMCID: PMC6022733 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is essential to assess the feeding strategies of threatened species during resource-scarce seasons to understand their dietary niche breadth and inform appropriate habitat management measures. In this study, we examined the diet composition of four-horned antelope (FHA) Tetracerus and quadricornis, one of the least studied ungulate species, in Banke National Park, Nepal. A total of 53 fresh pellet groups were collected between December 2015 and January 2016 and analyzed using micro-histological fecal analysis technique. First, we prepared 133 micro-histological photographs of different parts of 64 reference plant species. Then we compared 1,590 fragments of 53 fecal samples with photographs of reference plants to assess the percentage of occurrence of different plant species in FHA diet. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 18 different families were identified in fecal samples. Chi-square goodness of fit tests showed that FHA appeared not to feed all plant uniformly. Out of 1,520 identified fragments in fecal samples, 1,300 were browse species and 220 were grass species. Browse represented 85.5% of the identified plant fragments, suggesting that FHA might be adopting a browser strategy at least during winter when grasses are low in abundance and their nutritive quality is poor. Tree species had the highest contribution in the diet (46.55%) followed by shrubs (24.52%). The family Gramineae was consumed in the highest proportion (27.68%) followed by Euphorbiaceae (11.95%). Overall, our results suggest that FHA has the feeding plasticity to adapt to resource fluctuation. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that dicot plant species-particularly fruit trees and shrubs, which are the major source of nutrients for FHA during resource-lean, dry season-be conserved and natural regeneration of these taxa be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chet Bahadur Oli
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Saroj Panthi
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of Forests, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gagan Ale
- Tribhuvan University, Central Department of Environmental Science, Nepal
| | - Ganesh Pant
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Gopal Khanal
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of Forests, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Post-Graduate Programme in Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, India Program, National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, India
- Centre for Ecological Studies, Lalitpur, Nepal
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16
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Ismaili B, Diouri M, Ouijja A. Getting the dietary knowledge to restore a missing species: seasonal diet of Atlas deer Cervus elaphus barbarus in Tazekka National Park, Morocco. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brahim Ismaili
- B. Ismaili , No. 140, Ex-Pépinière des eaux et forêts, BP 35000, Taza, Morroco
| | - Mohammed Diouri
- M. Doiuri (http://orcid.org/00000003-1242-5746), BVRV Research Team, Biology Dept, Moulay Ismail Uni
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17
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Silva-Soares NF, Nogueira-Alves A, Beldade P, Mirth CK. Adaptation to new nutritional environments: larval performance, foraging decisions, and adult oviposition choices in Drosophila suzukii. BMC Ecol 2017; 17:21. [PMID: 28592264 PMCID: PMC5463304 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-017-0131-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding how species adapt to new niches is a central issue in evolutionary ecology. Nutrition is vital for the survival of all organisms and impacts species fitness and distribution. While most Drosophila species exploit rotting plant parts, some species have diversified to use ripe fruit, allowing earlier colonization. The decomposition of plant material is facilitated by yeast colonization and proliferation. These yeasts serve as the main protein source for Drosophila larvae. This dynamic rotting process entails changes in the nutritional composition of the food and other properties, and animals feeding on material at different stages of decay are expected to have behavioural and nutritional adaptations. Results We compared larval performance, feeding behaviour and adult oviposition site choice between the ripe fruit colonizer and invasive pest Drosophila suzukii, and a closely-related rotting fruit colonizer, Drosophila biarmipes. Through the manipulation of protein:carbohydrate ratios in artificial diets, we found that D. suzukii larvae perform better at lower protein concentrations and consume less protein rich diets relative to D. biarmipes. For adult oviposition, these species differed in preference for substrate hardness, but not for the substrate nutritional composition. Conclusions Our findings highlight that rather than being an exclusive specialist on ripe fruit, D. suzukii’s adaptation to use ripening fruit allow it to colonize a wider range of food substrates than D. biarmipes, which is limited to soft foods with higher protein concentrations. Our results underscore the importance of nutritional performance and feeding behaviours in the colonization of new food niches. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12898-017-0131-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno F Silva-Soares
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande nº6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - A Nogueira-Alves
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande nº6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - P Beldade
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande nº6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.,Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Bâtiment 4R1, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Christen Kerry Mirth
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande nº6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal. .,School Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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18
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Furusaka S, Kozakai C, Nemoto Y, Umemura Y, Naganuma T, Yamazaki K, Koike S. The selection by the Asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus) of spring plant food items according to their nutritional values. Zookeys 2017:121-133. [PMID: 28769668 PMCID: PMC5527342 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.672.10078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the nutritional aspects of the bear diet quantitatively, in order to understand plant food selection in spring. Bears were observed directly from April to July in 2013 and 2014, to visually recognize plant species consumed by bears, and to describe the foraging period in the Ashio-Nikko Mountains, central Japan. Leaves were collected from eight dominant tree species, regardless of whether bears fed on them in spring, and their key nutritional components analyzed: crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total energy. Bears tended to consume fresh leaves of specific species in May, and nutritional analysis revealed that these leaves had higher CP and lower NDF than other non-food leaves. However, CP in consumed leaves gradually decreased, and NDF increased from May to July, when the bears’ food item preference changed from plant materials to ants. Bears may consume tree leaves with high CP and low NDF after hibernation to rebuild muscle mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shino Furusaka
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Chinatsu Kozakai
- Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, 499 Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan.,Present address: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-18 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8518, Japan
| | - Yui Nemoto
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Umemura
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tomoko Naganuma
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Ibaraki Nature Museum, 700 Osaki, Bando, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan.,Present address: Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Koike
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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