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Khvatov IA, Sokolov AY, Kharitonov AN. Ferrets ( Mustela furo) Are Aware of Their Dimensions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030444. [PMID: 36766333 PMCID: PMC9913545 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-awareness is a complex phenomenon expressed as the ability of an individual to separate "self-entity" from "other entity". One of its earliest evolutionary components is body size awareness, namely, the ability to consider the boundaries of one's own body as factors influencing interaction with surrounding objects. For ferrets, Mustela furo, the task requiring the penetration of various holes is ecologically relevant. We designed an experimental study in which the ferrets were supposed to select one opening out of three to get the bait. The first experiment was aimed at studying whether ferrets would prefer the holes basing on the hole size. In the second experiment, we tested the ferrets' ability to select a single passable hole on the first try while the impassable ones were larger in area. Results from the first experiment show that when choosing from the three passable openings, the animals preferred the shortest path to the bait and ignored the size of the holes. In the second experiment, all tested ferrets preferred to penetrate the passable opening on the first attempt, even though the areas of the two impenetrable ones were larger. We argue that these data indicate that ferrets are aware of their own body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan A. Khvatov
- Center for Biopsychological Studies, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, 121170 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (I.A.K.); (A.N.K.); Tel.: +7-926-339-23-00 (I.A.K.); +7-916-370-3656 (A.N.K.)
| | - Alexey Yu. Sokolov
- Center for Biopsychological Studies, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, 121170 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N. Kharitonov
- Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 129366 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (I.A.K.); (A.N.K.); Tel.: +7-926-339-23-00 (I.A.K.); +7-916-370-3656 (A.N.K.)
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Ratnayaka AAW, Serieys LEK, Hangawatte TA, Leung LKP, Fisher DO. Plastic ingestion by fishing cats suggests trophic transfer in urban wetlands. Environ Pollut 2023; 316:120694. [PMID: 36402417 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that plastic contamination in some terrestrial and freshwater environments is estimated to be greater than that detected in marine environments. Urban wetlands are prone to plastic pollution but levels of contamination in their wildlife are poorly quantified. We collected 276 fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) scat samples in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a dietary study of urban fishing cats. We used traditional dietary analysis methodology to investigate the contents of the scats by washing, isolating, and identifying prey remains; while sorting prey remains of individual scats, we unexpectedly detected macroscopic (>1 mm) plastic debris in six (2.17%) of the samples. Across all scat samples, we detected low occurrences of microplastics (0.72%), mesoplastics (1.09%) and macroplastics (1.45%). All three plastic types were found in scats containing rodent remains, while meso-, and macroplastics were found in scats with avian remains, and micro- and macroplastics in scats containing freshwater fish remains. Given that felids are obligate generalist carnivores that eat live or recently dead prey and do not consume garbage, our findings suggest that trophic transfer of plastics occurred whereby fishing cats consumed prey contaminated with plastic. Although macroscopic plastic detection was low, our findings suggest that accumulation of plastics is occurring in wetland food webs, and plastic pollution in freshwater terrestrial systems could pose a risk to predators that do not directly consume plastics but inhabit contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya A W Ratnayaka
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia; Small Cat Advocacy and Research, 381/14, Spring Hills Estate, Bowalawatta, Kandy, 20024, Sri Lanka.
| | | | - Therangika A Hangawatte
- Small Cat Advocacy and Research, 381/14, Spring Hills Estate, Bowalawatta, Kandy, 20024, Sri Lanka; School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Luke K P Leung
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Diana O Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Hisano M, Evans MJ, Soga M, Tsunoda H. Red foxes in Japan show adaptability in prey resource according to geography and season: A meta‐analysis. Ecol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Hisano
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Maldwyn J. Evans
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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Fonda F, Chiatante G, Meriggi A, Mustoni A, Armanini M, Mosini A, Spada A, Lombardini M, Righetti D, Granata M, Capelli E, Pontarini R, Roux Poignant G, Balestrieri A. Spatial distribution of the pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina) in the Italian Alps. Mamm Biol 2021; 101:345-56. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Tsunoda H, Saito MU. Variations in the trophic niches of the golden jackal Canis aureus across the Eurasian continent associated with biogeographic and anthropogenic factors. Journal of Vertebrate Biology 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Tsunoda
- Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Kazo, Saitama 347-0115, Japan; e-mail:
| | - Masayuki U. Saito
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan; e-mail:
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Tsunoda H, Newman C, Peeva S, Raichev E, Buesching CD, Kaneko Y. Spatio-temporal partitioning facilitates mesocarnivore sympatry in the Stara Planina Mountains, Bulgaria. ZOOLOGY 2020; 141:125801. [PMID: 32563175 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2020.125801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The top trophic level in many terrestrial food webs is typically occupied by mammalian carnivores (Order Carnivora) that broadly affect and shape ecosystems through trophic cascades. Their inter-specific interactions can further complicate effects on community dynamics as a consequence of intra-guild competition. The capacity for competitive mammalian carnivores to segregate their hunting and activity regimes is in major part a function of their similarity, in terms of body-size and dietary niche; termed the 'niche variation hypothesis'. In this study, we used camera-trapping to investigate intra-guild interactions and spatio-temporal partitioning among five mesocarnivores, the golden jackal (Canis aureus), European badger (Meles meles), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), European wildcat (Felis sylvestris) and stone marten (Martes foina), in the Stara Planina Mountains, Bulgaria. We collected a total of 444 images of golden jackals, 236 images of European badgers, 200 images of red foxes, 171 images of stone martens, and 145 images of European wildcats, from 6612 camera-days across fifteen camera-trapping stations. With respect to body size, the three smaller species (fox, wildcat and marten) were active in different time periods than the two larger competitors (jackal and badger) through both the warm and cold season. The more similar the trophic niche between species pairs (particularly relating to rodent consumption), the greater the spatio-temporal partitioning we observed within the pair; however, this adapted to seasonal dietary shifts. In conclusion, spatial and temporal (fine-scale and seasonal) niche partitioning appeared to reduce encounter probabilities and competition and may act to facilitate sympatric coexistence among this regional mesocarnivore guild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Tsunoda
- Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, 914 Kamitanadare, Kazo-shi, Saitama, 347-0115, Japan.
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 5QL, UK.
| | - Stanislava Peeva
- Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Student's Campus, Stara Zagora, 6000, Bulgaria.
| | - Evgeniy Raichev
- Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Student's Campus, Stara Zagora, 6000, Bulgaria.
| | - Christina D Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 5QL, UK.
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Hisano
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, UK
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Tsunoda H, Peeva S, Raichev E, Ito K, Kaneko Y. Autumn Dietary Overlaps among Three Sympatric Mesocarnivores in the Central Part of Stara Planina Mountain, Bulgaria. Mammal Study 2019. [DOI: 10.3106/ms2018-0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Tsunoda
- Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, 914 Kamitanadare, Kazo, Saitama 347-0115, Japan
| | - Stanislava Peeva
- Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Student's Campus, Stara Zagora 6000, Bulgaria
| | - Evgeniy Raichev
- Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Student's Campus, Stara Zagora 6000, Bulgaria
| | - Kairi Ito
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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Hisano M, Newman C, Deguchi S, Kaneko Y. Thermal forest zone explains regional variations in the diet composition of the Japanese marten (Martes melampus). Mamm Biol 2019; 95:173-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Tsunoda H, Ito K, Peeva S, Raichev E, Kaneko Y. Spatial and temporal separation between the golden jackal and three sympatric carnivores in a human-modified landscape in central Bulgaria. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/21658005.2018.1504406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kairi Ito
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stanislava Peeva
- Department of Agricuture, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Evgeniy Raichev
- Department of Agricuture, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- Institute of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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Tsunoda H, Raichev EG, Newman C, Masuda R, Georgiev DM, Kaneko Y. Food niche segregation between sympatric golden jackals and red foxes in central Bulgaria. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Tsunoda
- Center for Environmental Science in Saitama; Kazo-shi Saitama Japan
| | - E. G. Raichev
- Department of Agricultural Science; Trakia University; Stara Zagora Bulgaria
| | - C. Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; The Recanati-Kaplan Centre; University of Oxford; Tubney UK
| | - R. Masuda
- Department of Biological Sciences; Faculty of Science; Hokkaido University; Sapporo Japan
| | - D. M. Georgiev
- Department of Agricultural Science; Trakia University; Stara Zagora Bulgaria
| | - Y. Kaneko
- Carnivore Ecology and Conservation Research Group; Faculty of Agriculture; Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology; Fuchu-shi Tokyo Japan
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Hisano M, Hoshino L, Kamada S, Masuda R, Newman C, Kaneko Y. A Comparison of Visual and Genetic Techniques for Identifying Japanese Marten Scats - Enabling Diet Examination in Relation to Seasonal Food Availability in a Sub-Alpine Area of Japan. Zoolog Sci 2017; 34:137-146. [PMID: 28397597 DOI: 10.2108/zs160148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We compared the reliability of visual diagnostic criteria to DNA diagnostic techniques, including newly designed primers, to discriminate Japanese marten (Martes melampus) feces from those of other sympatric carnivore species. Visual criteria proved > 95% reliable for fresh, odoriferous scats in good condition. Based upon this verification, we then examined if and how Japanese marten diet differs among seasons at high elevation study site (1500-2026 m). We also considered how intra-specific competition with the Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) may shape marten feeding ecology. From 120 Japanese marten fecal samples, high elevation diet comprised (frequency of occurrence) 30.6-66.0% mammals, 41.0-72.2% insects and 10.6-46.2% fruits, subject to seasonal variation, with a Shannon-Weaver index value of 2.77. These findings contrast substantially to seasonal marten diet reported in adjacent lowland regions (700-900 m), particularly in terms of fruit consumption, showing the trophic adaptability of the Japanese marten. We also noted a substantial dietary overlap with the red fox (n = 26 scats) with a Shannon-Weaver index of 2.61, inferring little trophic niche mutual exclusion (trophic niche overlap: 0.95), although some specific seasonal prey selection differences were likely related to relative differences in body size between foxes and martens. This additional information on the feeding ecology of the Japanese marten enables a better assessment of the specific risks populations face in mountainous regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Hisano
- 1 Carnivore Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu City, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Lisa Hoshino
- 1 Carnivore Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu City, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Shouko Kamada
- 2 Department of Natural History Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Masuda
- 2 Department of Natural History Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.,3 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Chris Newman
- 4 Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- 1 Carnivore Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu City, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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