Academic literature on the topic 'Nocturnal mammal'
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Journal articles on the topic "Nocturnal mammal"
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Gunn, Annette S., Terence Fuh Neba, and K. A. I. Nekaris. "Local Ecological Knowledge Informs Nocturnal Mammal Conservation in Ba’Aka Culture in the Central African Republic." Diversity 16, no. 11 (2024): 654. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d16110654.
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Local ecological knowledge has been shown to convey key information about elusive mammal species. Many of Africa’s nocturnal mammals are not yet considered globally threatened, yet behavioural ecology and population trends across their diverse ranges remain effectively unknown. We conducted semi-structured oral and visual interviews with eight groups of Ba’Aka in three villages (n = 53 males; n = 17 females) using trigger cards, to gain insights into beliefs about nocturnal mammals in the Central African Republic (CAR). We aimed to (1) explore the presence and local knowledge of nocturnal mammals; (2) determine cultural attitudes regarding nocturnal species; and (3) report on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in the CAR. Using trigger cards, interviewees identified nine nocturnal mammals. Frequency of key words was measured and presented in word clouds, depicting that angwantibos (Arctocebus aureus) (n = 14), genets (Genetta spp.) (n = 11) and tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis) (n = 6) were strongly associated with the supernatural (witchcraft; spiritual protection). The traditional uses of cryptic nocturnal mammals in Ba’Aka culture, including as meat and medicine, may affect the conservation of these species. We suggest a need to protect and include nocturnal mammals with unknown or decreasing populations in wildlife management strategies and community conservation programmes.
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Laurance, William F., Barbara M. Croes, Nicaise Guissouegou, Ralph Buij, Marc Dethier, and Alfonso Alonso. "Impacts of Roads, Hunting, and Habitat Alteration on Nocturnal Mammals in African Rainforests." Conservation Biology 22, no. 3 (2008): 721–32. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13512735.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Nocturnal mammals are poorly studied in Central Africa, a region experiencing dramatic increases in logging, roads, and hunting activity. In the rainforests of southern Gabon, we used spotlighting surveys to estimate abundances of nocturnal mammal species and guilds at varying distances from forest roads and between hunted and unhunted treatments (comparing a 130-km2 oil concession that was nearly free of hunting, with nearby areas outside the concession that had moderate hunting pressure). At each of 12 study sites that were evenly divided between hunted and unhunted areas, we established standardized 1-km transects along road verges and at 50, 300, and 600 m from the road. We then repeatedly surveyed mammals at each site during 2006. Hunting had few apparent effects on this assemblage. Nevertheless, the species richness and often the abundance of nocturnal primates, smaller ungulates, and carnivores were significantly depressed within approximately 30 m of roads. Scansorial rodents increased in abundance in hunted forests, possibly in response to habitat changes caused by logging or nearby swidden farming. In multiple-regression models many species and guilds were significantly influenced by forest-canopy and understory cover, both of which are altered by logging and by certain abiotic variables. In general, nocturnal species, many of which are arboreal or relatively small in size (<10 kg), were less strongly influenced by hunting and more strongly affected by human-induced changes in forest structure than were larger mammal species in our study area.
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Laurance, William F., Barbara M. Croes, Nicaise Guissouegou, Ralph Buij, Marc Dethier, and Alfonso Alonso. "Impacts of Roads, Hunting, and Habitat Alteration on Nocturnal Mammals in African Rainforests." Conservation Biology 22, no. 3 (2008): 721–32. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13512735.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Nocturnal mammals are poorly studied in Central Africa, a region experiencing dramatic increases in logging, roads, and hunting activity. In the rainforests of southern Gabon, we used spotlighting surveys to estimate abundances of nocturnal mammal species and guilds at varying distances from forest roads and between hunted and unhunted treatments (comparing a 130-km2 oil concession that was nearly free of hunting, with nearby areas outside the concession that had moderate hunting pressure). At each of 12 study sites that were evenly divided between hunted and unhunted areas, we established standardized 1-km transects along road verges and at 50, 300, and 600 m from the road. We then repeatedly surveyed mammals at each site during 2006. Hunting had few apparent effects on this assemblage. Nevertheless, the species richness and often the abundance of nocturnal primates, smaller ungulates, and carnivores were significantly depressed within approximately 30 m of roads. Scansorial rodents increased in abundance in hunted forests, possibly in response to habitat changes caused by logging or nearby swidden farming. In multiple-regression models many species and guilds were significantly influenced by forest-canopy and understory cover, both of which are altered by logging and by certain abiotic variables. In general, nocturnal species, many of which are arboreal or relatively small in size (<10 kg), were less strongly influenced by hunting and more strongly affected by human-induced changes in forest structure than were larger mammal species in our study area.
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Linley, G. D., Y. Pauligk, C. Marneweck, and E. G. Ritchie. "Moon phase and nocturnal activity of native Australian mammals." Australian Mammalogy 43, no. 2 (2020): 190–95. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13453822.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Moon phase and variation in ambient light conditions can influence predator and prey behaviour. Nocturnal predators locate prey visually, and prey may adjust their activity to minimise their predation risk. Understanding how native mammals in Australia respond to varying phases of the moon and cloud cover (light) enhances knowledge of factors affecting species' survival and inference regarding ecological and population survey data. Over a two-year period within a fenced conservation reserve, in south-eastern Australia, with reintroduced native marsupial predator and prey species (eastern barred bandicoot, southern brown bandicoot, long-nosed potoroo, rufous bettong, Tasmanian pademelon, brushtailed rock-wallaby, red-necked wallaby, eastern quoll, spotted-tailed quoll, and naturally occurring swamp wallaby, common brushtail possum, common ringtail possum), we conducted monthly spotlight surveys during different moon phases (full, half and new moon). We found an interaction between cloud cover and moon phase, and an interaction of the two depending on the mammal size and class. Increased activity of prey species corresponded with periods of increasing cloud cover. Predators and medium-sized herbivores were more active during times of low illumination. Our findings suggest that moon phase affects the nocturnal activity of mammal species and that, for prey species, there might be tradeoffs between predation risk and foraging. Our findings have implications for: ecological survey design and interpretation of results for mammal populations across moon phases, understanding predator and prey behaviour and interactions in natural and modified (artificial lighting) ecosystems, and potential nocturnal niche partitioning of species.
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Linley, G. D., Y. Pauligk, C. Marneweck, and E. G. Ritchie. "Moon phase and nocturnal activity of native Australian mammals." Australian Mammalogy 43, no. 2 (2020): 190–95. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13453822.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Moon phase and variation in ambient light conditions can influence predator and prey behaviour. Nocturnal predators locate prey visually, and prey may adjust their activity to minimise their predation risk. Understanding how native mammals in Australia respond to varying phases of the moon and cloud cover (light) enhances knowledge of factors affecting species' survival and inference regarding ecological and population survey data. Over a two-year period within a fenced conservation reserve, in south-eastern Australia, with reintroduced native marsupial predator and prey species (eastern barred bandicoot, southern brown bandicoot, long-nosed potoroo, rufous bettong, Tasmanian pademelon, brushtailed rock-wallaby, red-necked wallaby, eastern quoll, spotted-tailed quoll, and naturally occurring swamp wallaby, common brushtail possum, common ringtail possum), we conducted monthly spotlight surveys during different moon phases (full, half and new moon). We found an interaction between cloud cover and moon phase, and an interaction of the two depending on the mammal size and class. Increased activity of prey species corresponded with periods of increasing cloud cover. Predators and medium-sized herbivores were more active during times of low illumination. Our findings suggest that moon phase affects the nocturnal activity of mammal species and that, for prey species, there might be tradeoffs between predation risk and foraging. Our findings have implications for: ecological survey design and interpretation of results for mammal populations across moon phases, understanding predator and prey behaviour and interactions in natural and modified (artificial lighting) ecosystems, and potential nocturnal niche partitioning of species.
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Sulaksono, Nurpana, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, Sumardi Sumardi, Wahyu Wardhana, and Arief Budiman. "The Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Medium–Large Mammals in Tropical Volcanic Landscapes." Animals 13, no. 20 (2023): 3217. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13203217.
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A comprehensive understanding of the consequences of human interactions with mammals is a critical factor in supporting and conserving species in landscapes dominated by humans, which are increasingly threatened. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal interactions between humans and mammals. A non-parametric statistical approach with kernel density was used to detect human–mammal temporal interactions. The species interaction factor (SIF) was applied to calculate the spatial overlap based on the two-species occupancy detection model. The activity patterns of medium mammals were nocturnal, diurnal, and cathemeral. The human–medium mammal pairs with SIF values that were <1 and statistically significant included the human–long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) pair, the human–leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) pair, and the human–barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac) pair. Based on their SIF values and the high overlap in their activity times, the human–macaque pairings had a high risk of conflict. Barking deer and leopard cats displayed a coexistence with humans via time-sharing activities. Due to temporal niche variations with human activities, the existence of nocturnal mammals was relatively uninterrupted. This study showed that most mammals are able to adapt spatially and temporally to various human activities. Nonetheless, efforts to mitigate human–wildlife conflict must be maintained, particularly in the case of severely endangered species, such as the Sunda pangolin.
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Grant, Robyn A., Vicki Breakell, and Tony J. Prescott. "Whisker touch sensing guides locomotion in small, quadrupedal mammals." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285, no. 1880 (2018): 20180592. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0592.
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All small mammals have prominent facial whiskers that they employ as tactile sensors to guide navigation and foraging in complex habitats. Nocturnal, arboreal mammals tend to have the longest and most densely packed whiskers, and semi-aquatic mammals have the most sensitive. Here we present evidence to indicate that many small mammals use their whiskers to tactually guide safe foot positioning. Specifically, in 11, small, non-flying mammal species, we demonstrate that forepaw placement always falls within the ground contact zone of the whisker field and that forepaw width is always smaller than whisker span. We also demonstrate commonalities of whisker scanning movements (whisking) and elements of active control, associated with increasing contact with objects of interest, across multiple small mammal species that have previously only been shown in common laboratory animals. Overall, we propose that guiding locomotion, alongside environment exploration, is a common function of whisker touch sensing in small, quadrupedal mammals.
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Lee, T. M., and S. E. Labyak. "Free-running rhythms and light- and dark-pulse phase response curves for diurnal Octodon degus (Rodentia)." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 273, no. 1 (1997): R278—R286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.1997.273.1.r278.
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Only rarely have precise, short-duration light pulses been used to generate phase response curves (PRCs) in diurnal mammals as done for nocturnal mammals, and a dark-pulse PRC has never been generated for a diurnal mammal. In addition, the relationship between free-running rhythms in different light intensities and PRCs has not been explored in diurnal mammals. We examined these relationships in Octodon degus, a diurnal hystricomorph rodent. Male degus lengthened the circadian period (tau) and duration of daily activity (alpha) after an increase in light intensity from 0 (DD) to 250 lx, and tau was furthered lengthened when light intensity increased from 580 to 5,800 lx. To generate a light-pulse PRC, degus were housed in DD and exposed to 20-min light pulses (250 lx) and phase shifts recorded across the circadian day. Two different PRCs were generated in response to 20-min light pulses. The majority of animals produced significant phase delays between circadian time (CT) 0 and CT 6, phase advances between CT 13 and CT 22, and a nonsignificant response period between CT 8 and CT 13. Two animals produced a PRC devoid of significant phase delays, producing only significant phase advances between CT 17 and CT 24. To generate a dark-pulse PRC, animals were moved to LL (580 lx) and exposed to 1-h dark pulses. After dark pulses degus produced significant phase delays between CT 20 and CT 8, advances from CT 10 to CT 17, and nonsignificant responses between CT 18 and CT 20. This is the first report of a PRC to dark-pulse stimuli for a diurnal mammal. Thus light- and dark-pulse PRCs can be generated in a comparable way to those of nocturnal rodents, and we conclude that nocturnal and diurnal rodents use similar photic signals to produce somewhat different PRCs.
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Scheibler, DR. "Food partitioning between breeding White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus; Aves; Accipitridae) and Barn Owls (Tyto alba; Aves; Tytonidae) in southern Brazil." Brazilian Journal of Biology 67, no. 1 (2007): 65–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842007000100009.
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I examined the diet of breeding White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus; Aves; Accipitridae) and Barn Owls (Tyto alba; Aves; Tytonidae) in an agrarian area of southern Brazil by analyzing regurgitated prey remains. The objective was to evaluate how these raptors, which differ markedly in their hunting activity periods (owls are nocturnal and kites diurnal), share their mammalian food component. 2,087 prey consumed by Barn Owls and 1,276 by White-tailed Kites were identified. They presented a high overlap of food-niches (Pianka’s index was 0.98). Based on the daily activity period of their main small mammal prey, a lower overlap would be expected. The crepuscular/nocturnal Mus musculus was the main prey for the diet of breeding Barn Owls (81%) and White-tailed Kites (63%). This small exotic rodent provided 63% of the small mammal biomass ingested by owls and 44% by kites. Larger native small mammals were also considered important for the diet of kites, mainly because of their biomass contribution. Although these raptors differ markedly in their hunting activity periods, Barn Owls and White-tailed Kites are very similar predators in southern Brazil, overlapping their diets.
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Goosem, M. "Effects of tropical rainforest roads on small mammals: fragmentation, edge effects and traffic disturbance." Wildlife Research 29, no. 3 (2002): 277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01058.
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In north-eastern Queensland, impacts on small mammals of traffic disturbance were compared with those caused by physical presence of rainforest roads by trapping in the rainforest interior and adjacent to narrow, unsealed roads with traffic volumes of 264 ± 71 or 4.2 ± 1 vehicles per day. Of the three small mammal species that were most commonly trapped, the proportion and abundance of native Rattus sp. increased at higher-traffic and decreased at lower-traffic sites; the abundance of Melomys cervinipes was relatively constant at both traffic treatments and in the forest interior, and Uromys caudimaculatus decreased at higher-traffic treatments. Road crossings by the smaller rodents, Rattus sp. and M. cervinipes, were primarily influenced by the presence of the road, rather than increased levels of traffic, as crossings were significantly inhibited at both traffic treatments compared with the forest-interior control and there was no difference between traffic levels. Crossings by the larger, more mobile U. caudimaculatus were unaffected by road presence or traffic level. Therefore, increased traffic volume did not appear to affect small mammal movements or community structure. However, since higher traffic levels were not constant throughout the peak periods for activity of these nocturnal species, further investigations are required to determine whether constant nocturnal traffic disturbance may further restrict road crossings by small mammals and alter community structure adjacent to roads.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Nocturnal mammal"
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Barrett, Eamonn Bernard Michael. "The ecology of some nocturnal arboreal mammals in the rain forest of Peninsular Malaysia." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1985. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/250856.
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Pietersen, Darren William. "Behavioural ecology and conservation biology of ground pangolins Smutsia temminckii in the Kalahari Desert." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/36779.
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Ground pangolins Smutsia temminckii are inconspicuous, mainly nocturnal mammals
that occur at low population densities. As a result, there is scant information available
on the ecology and physiology of this species. To date the handful of studies
focussing on this species were centred in the mesic eastern regions of its range, with
no attention being given to ecological and biological traits in arid environments. To
address these data shortfalls, a study was undertaken in the Kalahari Desert in northwestern
South Africa. Very High Frequency (VHF) transmitters or Global Positioning
System (GPS) loggers were fitted to 16 ground pangolins and their ecology and
physiology studied over a period of three years.
Throughout its range the ground pangolin is increasingly endangered, predominantly
due to anthropogenic threats. Previous studies have identified threats facing this
species, but very few of these studies included quantitative data as to the extent of
these threats. The present study suggests that the main threats to ground pangolins
in southern Africa are electrocution on electrified fences, the traditional medicine
trade, habitat loss, road mortalities and capture in gin traps. Although accidental
poisoning has previously been viewed as a threat, a review of the available literature
suggests that this is not the case and that these views stemmed from two isolated
incidents of captive animals. Electrocutions probably pose the greatest threat to
ground pangolins, with mortality rates of one pangolin per 11 km of electrified fence
per year recorded during this study.
Home range sizes of this arid-zone population are comparable to the home range
sizes recorded in mesic populations. Study animals in the Kalahari had Minimum
Convex Polygon (MCP) home range values of 10.0 ± 8.9 km² SD for adults and 7.1 ±
1.1 km² SD for juveniles, in comparison to the 0.17 – 23.38 km² MCP in Zimbabwe
and 1.3 – 7.9 km2 MCP in mesic north-eastern South Africa. These results are
surprising as arid-zone animals usually have larger home ranges than do their mesic
counterparts. It is hypothesised that this discrepancy is due to the fact that ground
pangolins in the Kalahari are on average 25 – 30 % smaller than their mesic
counterparts. This smaller body size means that individuals require a smaller home
range to meet their dietary requirements, which could be counteracting the trend of
arid-zone individuals requiring larger home ranges.
This research also found ground pangolins to be more active during the day in winter
and nearly entirely nocturnal during summer. These changes in photoperiodicity are
likely driven by adaptations to the extreme climatic conditions present at the study
site rather than predation pressure or changes in food resources, although the latter
may be playing a role as well. By being diurnal in winter, individuals avoid the
extremely cold night-time temperatures, thus saving energy that would otherwise be
spent on maintaining their body temperature. By contrast, becoming nocturnal in
summer allows them to avoid the extreme daytime temperatures, thus conserving
water.
The results of this study reiterate previous findings that ground pangolins are entirely
myrmecophagous and highly selective of the species that they eat. Study animals
were recorded feeding on only four ant and two termite species, representing 7.5 %
and 50 % of the total species richness of each of these families. This is similar to
previous research in mesic savannahs where five ant one termite species constituted
97 % of the ground pangolin’s diet. No seasonal differences in prey selection were
observed, although the species consumed did depend on the habitats that were
available to individual ground pangolins.
This study is the first to investigate the core body temperature (Tb) of a free-ranging
pangolin. These data indicated that Tb fluctuated cyclically between 32 – 35 °C and
reflected the activity periods of the animal, peaking when the animal was active.
When the individual was inactive, Tb steadily decreased, suggesting that it used daily
heterothermy to cope with the low food availability in this unpredictable environment.
In summary, ecological parameters between arid and mesic ground pangolin
populations are similar in some respects, but divergent in others. Arid-zone
populations are smaller overall and show a higher degree of diurnal activity. Despite
this smaller body size, home range values appear to be similar between arid and
mesic populations. Although the prey species eaten by ground pangolins in the
Kalahari differ from prey species in eastern South Africa and Zimbabwe, they
belonged to the same genera and were of similar morphology and ecology. The core
body temperature results confirm findings from previous captive studies that pangolin
body temperatures are lower than those of other eutherian mammals of a similar size. Furthermore, these data indicate that core body temperature is a lot more
variable than previously believed, and thus warrants further study. Overall ground
pangolin densities in the Kalahari appear to be double those in eastern South Africa
and Zimbabwe, although it is unclear whether this is genuine or whether it is an
artefact of individuals being easier to locate in the Kalahari. This study also confirmed
that electrocutions are probably the greatest threat to this species, and new threats
such as accidental capture in gin traps and road mortalities have also come to light.<br>Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.<br>gm2014<br>Zoology and Entomology<br>unrestricted
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Liu, Ching-Yu, and 劉晴語. "Explore the liver-specific post-transcriptional regulation of circadian rhythm related to Nocturnin in mammals." Thesis, 2011. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/38974158792455491505.
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碩士<br>國立臺灣大學<br>生物化學暨分子生物學研究所<br>99<br>Rhythms that occur regularly with a 24-hour periodicity are considered circadian. In mammalian species, circadian rhythms are regulated by a master pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which coordinates many physiological and behavioral processes such as sleep-wake cycles and metabolic functions. Peripheral clocks are also present in almost all mammalian tissues including liver, where they are synchronized by the central clock program by various circulating entraining factors to maintain circadian rhythms and modulate output pathways in a tissue-specific manner. At the molecular level, circadian rhythms are generated by interlocking transcriptional feedback loops and post-translational modifications of several “clock” proteins. Nocturnin is one of the downstream circadian output genes, which encodes an RNA deadenylase, involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism at the post-transcriptional level in multiple tissues, particularly in the liver. Many metabolic events have been shown to exhibit circadian oscillation, and previous studies also revealed miRNAs as important modulators of the circadian processes. Understanding the functional relationships between miRNA and complex metabolic pathway will gain more information to design new therapy strategies for metabolic disease.
In order to identify rhythmic miRNAs in mouse liver and examine the effect of Nocturnin knockout on miRNA stability, we performed miRNA microarray and validated the results by TaqMan qRT-PCR assay. Using this method we have confirmed the rhythmic expression pattern of miR-709 and Nocturnin-dependency of miR-690. miR-709 exhibits rhythmic expression in both wild-type (WT) and Nocturnin knockout (KO) mice, with particular high amplitude at ZT 0, suggesting its possible role in the regulation of circadian processes. miR-690 is significantly upregulated in Nocturnin KO mice at both time points, indicating a potential connection between Nocturnin and miR-690. To distinguish between transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional control for the mature miR-709 diurnal variations, we analyzed the expression levels of miR-709 precursor RNAs by Northern blot analysis. Both pri-miR-709 and pre-miR-709 increase at ZT 0, but the fold-change of pre-miR-709 is disproportionately more than that of pri-miR-709. In addition, mature miR-709 signal was surprisingly undetectable on the blot, compatible with an unusual processing mechanism of pre-miR-709 to mature miRNAs. By unraveling these puzzles, we expect to identify novel post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating circadian rhythm and the metabolic output in mammals.
Books on the topic "Nocturnal mammal"
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Stevenson, Hank. Ultimate Bats Photo Book: Looking Through the Eyes of a Nocturnal Mammal. Independently Published, 2018.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Nocturnal mammal"
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Erkert, Hans G. "Bats — Flying Nocturnal Mammals." In Activity Patterns in Small Mammals. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18264-8_16.
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Charles-Dominique, Pierre. "Food Distribution and Reproductive Constraints in the Evolution of Social Structure: Nocturnal Primates and Other Mammals." In Creatures of the Dark. Springer US, 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2405-9_25.
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Kemp, T. S. "5. Carnivorous mammals." In Mammals: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780198766940.003.0005.
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‘Carnivorous mammals’ considers the various carnivorous mammals that have evolved from the common ancestor of all modern mammals—the small, nocturnal, insectivorous mammal. Several mammals still follow this mode of life today: the placental shrews, moles, and hedgehogs; the tenrecs of Madagascar; and many of the opossums of South America and Australia. These have sharp, pointed incisors and canines for capturing prey, followed by sharp-crested premolar and molar teeth. The evolution of a small, insectivorous ancestor into larger bodied, predaceous mammals required relatively few anatomical changes, the main adaptations being for capture of its prey—by stealth hunting by solitary animals or pack hunting by organized social groups.
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Ashokkumar, Mohanarangan, and Rajaratinavelu Nagarajan. "Population Density and Age-Sex Composition of Large Mammals in Tropical Forests, Southern India." In Tropical Forests - Ecology, Diversity and Conservation Status [Working Title]. IntechOpen, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109567.
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The population density, structure, and biomass of mammal species were investigated in the tropical forest of Southern India. The population of large mammals was estimated using distance sampling methods at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the dry seasons from 2004 to 2007. The estimated densities of larger ungulate species such as elephant and gaur were 4.8/sqkm and 7.9/sqkm. Medium-sized ungulate species such as sambar, chital, barking deer, and wild pig densities were 7.1, 27.9, 1.1, and 0.4/sqkm, respectively. The estimated density of primate species, i.e., common langur, was 14.9/sqkm. The smaller rodent species, black-naped hare, had a lower density of 1.3/sqkm, which could be attributed to the nocturnal behaviour of hares. Among these mammal species, barking deer and black-naped hare are solitary species, while others are gregarious. The study area supports herbivore biomass density of 15,198 kg/sqkm. Comparison with earlier estimates, the densities of elephant and gaur is increasing in the study area. The population density of large mammals is compared to other areas and discussed.
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Timm, Robert M., and Richard K. LaVal. "Mammals." In Monteverde. Oxford University Press, 2000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195095609.003.0013.
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Costa Rica is one of the most biotically diverse countries on earth, with 4% of known terrestrial plant and animal species in only 0.04% of the world’s land surface. The country’s mammal fauna is equally diverse, with more than 207 species (4.8% of the world’s 4629 species) in an area of 51,022 km2. The majority of the world’s mammal species and Monteverde’s fauna are small (< 0.5 kg), nocturnal, and secretive. We know considerably less about most neotropical mammals and other vertebrates than we do about birds, which are more easily observed and communicate with sounds audible to humans. Although certain species of mammals have been studied in Costa Rica (Janzen 1983a, Timm 1994, Vaughan and Rodríguez 1994), and Monteverde is one of the best-known regions of the country biologically, there has been little work on the ecology, distribution, abundance, altitudinal zonation, systematic relationships, and biogeography of most mammals. Deforestation and other human disturbances have had a significant impact on the native mammals of the region; knowledge of Monteverde’s mammals is vital to understand how habitat changes affect tropical montane mammals. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the mammal fauna of the Monteverde area. We discuss the biology and abundance of some of the area’s species, document how these are changing, and explore conservation issues. Most of the research on mammals at Monteverde has centered on bats or rodents, the two most diverse groups. Much of our knowledge of other species consists of isolated observations. We augment published reports with unpublished observations made by ourselves and colleagues. We also examined most of the Monteverde mammal specimens in museum collections to verify species identifications and to understand better their systematics, ecology, and distribution. We integrate this information into a list of the mammals that occur in the region, document their occurrence in each life zone, and estimate their overall abundance.
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Mills, M. G. L., and H. C. Biggs. "Prey apportionment and related ecological relationships between large carnivores in Kruger National Park." In Mammals as Predators. Oxford University PressOxford, 1993. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198540670.003.0013.
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Abstract Of the five large carnivores in the Kruger National Park, spotted hyaenas have the widest diet, eating more non-mammal food items than the others. They also scavenge more than the others, about half the biomass of food they consume. The diets of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African wild dogs overlap strikingly with regard to medium-sized and small mammals, particularly impala. Lions removed over 50% of the biomass of prey killed by the large predators in the main study area, having a particularly heavy influence on the wildebeest population. They may also deprive the smaller predators of impala. Hyaenas scavenged a substantial amount of food from lions, but only after the lions had finished eating. Hyaenas chased cheetahs off 14% of their kills, but were not seen to steal food from wild dogs. Lions were observed to kill wild dogs. Hyaenas and lions showed a preference for thickets and plains, leopards for thickets, hills and river banks, cheetahs for plains and wild dogs for thickets and hills. Impala had their highest preference ratio for thickets, followed by hills and plains. Hyaenas, lions and leopards are predominantly nocturnal, wild dogs are crepuscular and cheetahs kill mainly during the middle of the day. The large number of resident prey in the system favours lions and hyaenas. Leopards, with a wide diet and the ability to utilize habitats not favoured by most of the others, outnumber cheetahs and wild dogs. Cheetahs have to cope with sub optimal hunting conditions and pressure from spotted hyaenas. It is unclear why wild dogs, which are such efficient hunters in this area, are not more abundant.
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Teeling, Emma C. "Bats (Chiroptera)." In The Timetree of Life. Oxford University PressOxford, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199535033.003.0078.
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Abstract Bats are nocturnal mammals that have achieved the ability of true self-powered Pight and are members of the monophyletic Order Chiroptera (meaning “hand-wing”; Fig. 1). 7ey are the second most species-rich mammalian order (&gt;1000 species) and account for 20% of all extant mammalian diversity (1). 7ey are found throughout the globe and are only absent from the extreme polar regions, but some bat lineages show high levels of endemism (1). Bats exploit many environmental niches and can feed on insects, Ash, fruit, pollen, nectar, mammals, birds, and blood. 7ey are important pollinators and play an important role in the tropical ecosystems (2).
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Striedter, Georg F., and R. Glenn Northcutt. "The Rise of Endothermy." In Brains Through Time. Oxford University Press, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195125689.003.0006.
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Mammals and birds exhibit many examples of convergent evolution, including endothermy and related traits that helped them survive the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The subsequent diversification of both lineages was accompanied by multiple expansions in relative and (often) absolute brain size. Examples of convergent evolution in the brain include complex folding of the cerebellar cortex, complex auditory circuits, and highly laminar areas within the telencephalon. Of course, birds and mammals also diverged in numerous respects. In particular, early mammals (but not birds!) shifted into a nocturnal niche, which was accompanied by an expansion of the olfactory system and the evolution of highly light-sensitive eyes. In the process, early mammals became “color-blind,” but excellent color vision re-evolved in some diurnal lineages, notably platyrrhine primates. Mammalian brains are also unusual for having strong reciprocal connections between thalamus and dorsal pallium (i.e., neocortex) and extensive commissural connections between the left and right neocortex.
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Korner, Paul. "Obstructive Sleep Apnea." In Essential Hypertension and its Causes. Oxford University PressNew York, NY, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195094831.003.0014.
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Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a primary respiratory disorder, to which obese persons are more susceptible than those who are lean. It gives rise to nocturnal hypertension and, in a proportion of subjects, also to daytime hypertension. In this chapter, some of the features of OSA and its clinical physiology are considered briefly, followed by a discussion of the mechanisms that contribute to the autonomic cardiovascular changes. The responses have features of the diving response of marine mammals and to arterial hypoxia of some terrestrial species. Both conserve O2 and represent distinctive variants of the defense response from the “ready-for-action” variants of exercise and mental stress. The daytime rise in BP depends on repeated nocturnal arousals with unpleasant associations, not unlike the response to mental stress. However, the rise in BP is smaller than in stress-related EH, and the synaptic strengthening also appears to be of a different kind. Moreover, the diurnal elevation of BP affects both lean and obese people, whose BP may be normal or raised.
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Willmer, Pat. "Pollination by Bats." In Pollination and Floral Ecology. Princeton University Press, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.23943/princeton/9780691128610.003.0016.
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This chapter focuses on pollination by bats, or chiropterophily. Bats are classified as two distinct and separately evolved orders, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. They are primarily nocturnal, and as flying endothermic mammals have extremely high energy demands. Furthermore, their flower visits often require hovering for short periods; this increases their energy demand further, albeit not by much. However, having rather large body masses, in practice the bat species that visit blossoms for a major part of their diet are linked with some unusual and very high-reward flowers. The chapter first provides an overview of the bat’s feeding apparatus, sensory capacities such as olfaction, and foraging behavior and learning before discussing different types of bat-pollinated flowers.
Conference papers on the topic "Nocturnal mammal"
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Pregowski, Piotr, Edyta Owadowska, Jan Pietrzak, and Slawomir Zwolenik. "Nighttime activity of moving objects, their mapping and statistic making, on the example of applying thermal imaging and advanced image processing to the research of nocturnal mammals." In Congress on Optics and Optoelectronics, edited by Zbigniew Jaroszewicz, Sergei Y. Popov, and Frank Wyrowski. SPIE, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.621991.
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