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Cox DTC, Gaston KJ. Cathemerality: a key temporal niche. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:329-347. [PMID: 37839797 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Given the marked variation in abiotic and biotic conditions between day and night, many species specialise their physical activity to being diurnal or nocturnal, and it was long thought that these strategies were commonly fairly fixed and invariant. The term 'cathemeral', was coined in 1987, when Tattersall noted activity in a Madagascan primate during the hours of both daylight and darkness. Initially thought to be rare, cathemerality is now known to be a quite widespread form of time partitioning amongst arthropods, fish, birds, and mammals. Herein we provide a synthesis of present understanding of cathemeral behaviour, arguing that it should routinely be included alongside diurnal and nocturnal strategies in schemes that distinguish and categorise species across taxa according to temporal niche. This synthesis is particularly timely because (i) the study of animal activity patterns is being revolutionised by new and improved technologies; (ii) it is becoming apparent that cathemerality covers a diverse range of obligate to facultative forms, each with their own common sets of functional traits, geographic ranges and evolutionary history; (iii) daytime and nighttime activity likely plays an important but currently neglected role in temporal niche partitioning and ecosystem functioning; and (iv) cathemerality may have an important role in the ability of species to adapt to human-mediated pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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2
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Probst R, Probst R. Seasonal Changes in Nycthemeral Availability of Sympatric Temperate Mixed Forest Rodents: The Predators' Perspective. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:45. [PMID: 38255659 PMCID: PMC10817278 DOI: 10.3390/life14010045] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and Apodemus mice are of exceptional importance as prey for predators in temperate mixed forests. We hypothesized that overall prey availability would increase linearly with prey frequency, and that the daylight hours, which are considered particularly dangerous, would be used only during seasonal rodent population peaks and only in the twilight hours. (2) Methods: We conducted a two-year camera-trapping study in an inner alpine mixed forest and collected 19,138 1 min videos in 215 camera-trap nights. Prey availability was defined as the pseudo-replication-limited maximum number of the respective rodent taxon per 30 min period, summed per season. (3) Results: Overall prey availability increased with frequency, i.e., the maximum number of rodent individuals per camera-trap night. Seasonally, Apodemus mice were particularly available to predators in the summer and bank voles in the autumn after a tree mast year. In both cases, this was accompanied by a significant increase in diurnal availability. During the population peak of Apodemus mice, the nocturnal availability of bank voles decreased without a concurrent increase in absolute diurnal availability, even though the significant relative shift to diurnal activity superficially suggested this. Bank voles were active throughout the day, while Apodemus mice were nocturnal and (rarely) crepuscular. (4) Conclusions: Availability of rodents to predators, especially during daylight hours, was mainly dependent on their tree mast-induced increased frequencies. Bank voles likewise responded strongly to interspecific competition with the larger and aggressive Apodemus mice, which negatively affected availability to predators. At our seasonal level of evaluation, we conclude that nycthemeral availability of forest-dwelling rodents to generalist predators of temperate mixed forests is predominantly driven by bottom-up mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remo Probst
- Ornis—Biology Engineering Office and Research Institute, Dr. G. H. Neckheimstr. 18/3, A-9560 Feldkirchen, Austria;
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3
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Blašković S, Gomerčić T, Topličanec I, Sindičić M. Temporal overlap of human and apex predator activity on wildlife trails and forest roads. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.22029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Blašković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail: ,, ,
| | - Tomislav Gomerčić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail: ,, ,
| | - Ira Topličanec
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail: ,, ,
| | - Magda Sindičić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail: ,, ,
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4
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What factors relate with the activity synchronization intensity among big cats and their ungulate prey in Northeast China? Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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5
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Lima SL, Gámez S, Arringdale N, Harris NC. Vigilance Response of a Key Prey Species to Anthropogenic and Natural Threats in Detroit. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.570734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid urbanization coupled with increased human activity induces pressures that affect predator-prey relations through a suite of behavioral mechanisms, including alteration of avoidance and coexistence dynamics. Synergisms of natural and anthropogenic threats existing within urban environments exacerbate the necessity for species to differentially modify behavior to each risk. Here, we explore the behavioral response of a key prey species, cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), to pressures from humans, domestic dogs, and a natural predator, coyotes (Canis latrans) in a human-dominated landscape. We conducted the first camera survey in urban parks throughout Detroit, Michigan in 2017–2020 to assess vigilance response corresponding to a heterogeneous landscape created from variation in the occupancy of threats. We predicted a scaled response where cottontail rabbits would be most vigilant in areas with high coyote activity, moderately vigilant in areas with high domestic dog activity, and the least vigilant in areas of high human activity. From 8,165 independent cottontail rabbit detections in Detroit across 11,616 trap nights, one-third were classified as vigilant. We found vigilance behavior increased with coyote occupancy and in locations with significantly high domestic dog activity, but found no significant impact of human occupancy or their spatial hotspots. We also found little spatial overlap between rabbits and threats, suggesting rabbits invest more in spatial avoidance; thus, less effort is required for vigilance. Our results elucidate strategies of a prey species coping with various risks to advance our understanding of the adaptability of wildlife in urban environments. In order to promote coexistence between people and wildlife in urban greenspaces, we must understand and anticipate the ecological implications of human-induced behavioral modifications.
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Carvalho WD, Rosalino LM, Godoy MSM, Giorgete MF, Adania CH, Esbérard CEL. Temporal activity of rural free-ranging dogs: implications for the predator and prey species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.45.30645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Domestic or free-ranging dogs (Canislupusfamiliaris) can have deleterious effects on wildlife, acting as predators or competitors to native species. These impacts can be highly important in fragmented pristine habitats or well-preserved areas located in human dominated landscapes and where biodiversity values are usually high, such as those in southeastern Brazil. Here we explored the level of overlap or mismatch in the distributions of activity patterns of rural free-ranging dogs and potential wild prey (Didelphisaurita, Cuniculuspaca; Sylvilagusbrasiliensis) and a wild predator (Leoparduspardalis) in areas of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. We further explored the possible influence of the wild predator on the dog presence pattern detected in the territory analyzed. Our camera-trap data (714 camera-trap days) showed that while rural free-ranging dogs display a cathemeral activity pattern, with activity peaks at dusk and dawn, ocelot and prey species are mainly nocturnal. Moreover, we found no evidence of an effect of ocelot presence, the distance to human houses and the presence of native forests on site occupancy by dogs. The ocelot activity patterns in this study were similar to those already reported in previous studies. On the other hand, previous studies have indicated that that free-ranging dogs are often reported to be more diurnal, and it seems that the rural free-ranging dogs in our study area may have adjusted their behaviour to be more active at dawn and dusk periods. This might be to both maintain some overlap with potential prey, e.g. Sylvilagusbrasiliensis, and also to avoid ocelots by being less active in periods when this predator is more active (which also coincides with peaks in activity for potential prey species). We hypothesize that the presence of ocelots might be influencing the temporal niche dimension of rural free-ranging dogs. As a sustainable management strategy, we propose conserving territories to promote the presence of medium to large predators in natural areas, in order to control free-ranging dogs and protect their vertebrate prey species.
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Schirmer A, Herde A, Eccard JA, Dammhahn M. Individuals in space: personality-dependent space use, movement and microhabitat use facilitate individual spatial niche specialization. Oecologia 2019; 189:647-660. [PMID: 30826867 PMCID: PMC6418052 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Personality-dependent space use and movement might be crucially influencing ecological interactions, giving way to individual niche specialization. This new approach challenges classical niche theory with potentially great ecological consequences, but so far has only scarce empirical support. Here, we investigated if and how consistent inter-individual differences in behavior predict space use and movement patterns in free-ranging bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and thereby contribute to individual niche specialization. Individuals were captured and marked from three different subpopulations in North-East Germany. Inter-individual differences in boldness and exploration were quantified via repeated standardized tests directly in the field after capture. Subsequently, space use and movement patterns of a representative sample of the behavioral variation (n = 21 individuals) were monitored via automated VHF telemetry for a period of four days, yielding on average 384 locations per individual. Bolder individuals occupied larger home ranges and core areas (estimated via kernel density analyses), moved longer distances, spatially overlapped with fewer conspecifics and preferred different microhabitats based on vegetation cover compared to shyer individuals. We found evidence for personality-dependent space use, movement, and occupation of individual spatial niches in bank voles. Thus, besides dietary niche specialization also spatial dimensions of ecological niches vary among individuals within populations, which may have important consequences for ecological interactions within- and between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Schirmer
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, 14469, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Antje Herde
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jana A Eccard
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Melanie Dammhahn
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
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Brzeziński M, Jedlikowski J, Komar E. Space use, habitat selection and daily activity of water voles Arvicola amphibius co-occurring with the invasive American mink Neovison vison. FOLIA ZOOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.25225/fozo.040.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Brzeziński
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland; e-mail:
| | - Jan Jedlikowski
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland; e-mail:
| | - Ewa Komar
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland; e-mail:
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Yang H, Han S, Xie B, Mou P, Kou X, Wang T, Ge J, Feng L. Do prey availability, human disturbance and habitat structure drive the daily activity patterns of Amur tigers (
Panthera tigris altaica
)? J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Yang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
- College of Life Sciences Northwest University Xi'an China
| | - S. Han
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - B. Xie
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - P. Mou
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - X. Kou
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - T. Wang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - J. Ge
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - L. Feng
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
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Klevezal GA, Shchepotkin DV. Daily Increments on the Incisor Surface in Rodents: Intra-and Interspecific Variations. BIOL BULL+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359017090047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Jancewicz E, Gliwicz J. Niche Dynamics and Biodiversity: Many Rodent Species on One Marshy Meadow. POLISH JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15052249pje2017.65.4.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Jancewicz
- Department of Forest Zoology and Game Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Gliwicz
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Connolly BM, Orrock JL. Habitat‐specific capture timing of deer mice (
Peromyscus maniculatus
) suggests that predators structure temporal activity of prey. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Connolly
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Wisconsin Madison WI USA
- Department of Biology Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti MI USA
| | - John L. Orrock
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Wisconsin Madison WI USA
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13
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Running around the clock: competition, aggression and temporal partitioning of running wheel use in male mice. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Dąbrowski MJ, Pilot M, Kruczyk M, Żmihorski M, Umer HM, Gliwicz J. Reliability assessment of null allele detection: inconsistencies between and within different methods. Mol Ecol Resour 2013; 14:361-73. [PMID: 24119056 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microsatellite loci are widely used in population genetic studies, but the presence of null alleles may lead to biased results. Here, we assessed five methods that indirectly detect null alleles and found large inconsistencies among them. Our analysis was based on 20 microsatellite loci genotyped in a natural population of Microtus oeconomus sampled during 8 years, together with 1200 simulated populations without null alleles, but experiencing bottlenecks of varying duration and intensity, and 120 simulated populations with known null alleles. In the natural population, 29% of positive results were consistent between the methods in pairwise comparisons, and in the simulated data set, this proportion was 14%. The positive results were also inconsistent between different years in the natural population. In the null-allele-free simulated data set, the number of false positives increased with increased bottleneck intensity and duration. We also found a low concordance in null allele detection between the original simulated populations and their 20% random subsets. In the populations simulated to include null alleles, between 22% and 42% of true null alleles remained undetected, which highlighted that detection errors are not restricted to false positives. None of the evaluated methods clearly outperformed the others when both false-positive and false-negative rates were considered. Accepting only the positive results consistent between at least two methods should considerably reduce the false-positive rate, but this approach may increase the false-negative rate. Our study demonstrates the need for novel null allele detection methods that could be reliably applied to natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Dąbrowski
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Wan X, Zhang X, Huo Y, Wang G. Weather entrainment and multispectral diel activity rhythm of desert hamsters. Behav Processes 2013; 99:62-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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16
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Integrating aspects of ecology and predictive modelling: implications for the conservation of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in the Eastern Himalaya. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-013-0145-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Obidziński A, Pabjanek P, Mędrzycki P. Determinants of badgerMeles melessett location in Białowieża Primeval Forest, northeastern Poland. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.2981/11-074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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18
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Ross J, Hearn AJ, Johnson PJ, Macdonald DW. Activity patterns and temporal avoidance by prey in response to Sunda clouded leopard predation risk. J Zool (1987) 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Ross
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
- Global Canopy Programme; Oxford UK
| | - A. J. Hearn
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
- Global Canopy Programme; Oxford UK
| | - P. J. Johnson
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - D. W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
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Liesenjohann M, Liesenjohann T, Trebaticka L, Haapakoski M, Sundell J, Ylönen H, Eccard JA. From interference to predation: type and effects of direct interspecific interactions of small mammals. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1217-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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20
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Circadian activity rhythms in relation to season, sex and interspecific interactions in two Mediterranean voles. Anim Behav 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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21
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Harmsen BJ, Foster RJ, Silver SC, Ostro LE, Doncaster C. Jaguar and puma activity patterns in relation to their main prey. Mamm Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2010.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Pilot M, Dabrowski MJ, Jancewicz E, Schtickzelle N, Gliwicz J. Temporally stable genetic variability and dynamic kinship structure in a fluctuating population of the root vole Microtus oeconomus. Mol Ecol 2010; 19:2800-12. [PMID: 20561198 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2010.04692.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Genetic variability, kin structure and demography of a population are mutually dependent. Population genetic theory predicts that under demographically stable conditions, neutral genetic variability reaches equilibrium between gene flow and drift. However, density fluctuations and non-random mating, resulting e.g. from kin clustering, may lead to changes in genetic composition over time. Theoretical models also predict that changes in kin structure may affect aggression level and recruitment, leading to density fluctuations. These predictions have been rarely tested in natural populations. The aim of this study was to analyse changes in genetic variability and kin structure in a local population of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus) that underwent a fourfold change in mean density over a 6-year period. Intensive live-trapping resulted in sampling 88% of individuals present in the study area, as estimated from mark-recapture data. Based on 642 individual genotypes at 20 microsatellite loci, we compared genetic variability and kin structure of this population between consecutive years. We found that immigration was negatively correlated with density, while the number of kin groups was positively correlated with density. This is consistent with theoretical predictions that changes in kin structure play an important role in population fluctuations. Despite the changes in density and kin structure, there was no genetic differentiation between years. Population-level genetic diversity measures did not significantly vary in time and remained relatively high (H(E) range: 0.72-0.78). These results show that a population that undergoes significant demographic and social changes may maintain high genetic variability and stable genetic composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Pilot
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland.
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