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1
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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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Alves, Francisco de Assis, Carlos Roberto Teixeira, Luciano Barbosa, and Jairo Alves Júnior. "NON-VOLANT MAMMALS OF THE SERRA DA MACACA PARK ROAD (SP-139), SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL." Oecologia Australis 26, no. 03 (2022): 494–502. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2022.2603.08.
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The objective of this study was to survey non-volant mammals at Serra da Macaca Park Road (SP-139), particularly during road daily closure. Visual searches and camera traps were used to record mammals, and estimator Jackknife to estimate the expected richness. Differences in diversity were calculated using the Shannon-Wiener index (H’). In total, 12 species of non-volant mammals, four of them considered threatened, were sampled. Additionally, roadkills of the non-volant mammals were recorded too. The absence of some predominantly nocturnal species from the list of the roadkilled non-volant mammals was noticeable. The results highlight the importance of the temporary road closures, during periods of high mammal activity.
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Song, Xiaowei, and Benjamin Rusak. "Acute effects of light on body temperature and activity in Syrian hamsters: influence of circadian phase." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 278, no. 5 (2000): R1369—R1380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.2000.278.5.r1369.
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Light exposure at night causes an acute increase in human body temperature, which normally falls during the night. This change is largely attributable to the suppression by light of the nocturnal rise in melatonin levels. Little is known, however, about the effects of light on body temperature in nocturnally active mammals in which the nightly peak in melatonin secretion coincides with the circadian phase of elevated, rather than decreased, body temperature. We investigated the effects of a 1-h exposure to light on body temperature and activity of Syrian hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, at two phases during the night and at two phases during the projected day. Brain or abdominal temperature was recorded continuously using implanted radio transmitters while locomotor activity was monitored simultaneously using a passive infrared movement detector. Responses to light exposure were strongly circadian phase dependent; light during the night caused elevations in both brain and core body temperature, whereas light during the projected day did not. Temperature increases at night could not be attributed solely to activity increases at the onset of light pulses, indicating a contribution from nonbehavioral mechanisms of thermogenesis. These results provide the first evidence for circadian modulation of acute temperature responses to light in a nocturnal mammal.
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Joly, Marine, and Elke Zimmermann. "Do solitary foraging nocturnal mammals plan their routes?" Biology Letters 7, no. 4 (2011): 638–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0258.
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Large-brained diurnal mammals with complex social systems are known to plan where and how to reach a resource, as shown by a systematic movement pattern analysis. We examined for the first time large-scale movement patterns of a solitary-ranging and small-brained mammal, the mouse lemur ( Microcebus murinus ), by using the change-point test and a heuristic random travel model to get insight into foraging strategies and potential route-planning abilities. Mouse lemurs are small nocturnal primates inhabiting the seasonal dry deciduous forest in Madagascar. During the lean season with limited food availability, these lemurs rely on few stationary food resources. We radio-tracked seven lemurs and analysed their foraging patterns. First change-points coincided with out-of-sight keystone food resources. Travel paths were more efficient in detecting these resources than a heuristic random travel model within limits of estimated detection distance. Findings suggest that even nocturnal, solitary-ranging mammals with small brains plan their route to an out-of-sight target. Thus, similar ecological pressures may lead to comparable spatial cognitive skills irrespective of the degree of sociality or relative brain size.
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Penteriani, Vincenzo, and María del Mar Delgado. "Living in the dark does not mean a blind life: bird and mammal visual communication in dim light." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 372, no. 1717 (2017): 20160064. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0064.
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For many years, it was believed that bird and mammal communication ‘in the dark of the night’ relied exclusively on vocal and chemical signalling. However, in recent decades, several case studies have conveyed the idea that the nocturnal world is rich in visual information. Clearly, a visual signal needs a source of light to work, but diurnal light (twilight included, i.e. any light directly dependent on the sun) is not the only source of luminosity on this planet. Actually, moonlight represents a powerful source of illumination that cannot be neglected from the perspective of visual communication. White patches of feathers and fur on a dark background have the potential to be used to communicate with conspecifics and heterospecifics in dim light across different contexts and for a variety of reasons. Here: (i) we review current knowledge on visual signalling in crepuscular and nocturnal birds and mammals; and (ii) we also present some possible cases of birds and mammals that, due to the characteristics of their feather and fur coloration pattern, might use visual signals in dim light. Visual signalling in nocturnal animals is still an emerging field and, to date, it has received less attention than many other means of communication, including visual communication under daylight. For this reason, many questions remain unanswered and, sometimes, even unasked. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
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Ramesh, Tharmalingam, Riddhika Kalle, Kalyanasundaram Sankar, and Qamar Qureshi. "Role of body size in activity budgets of mammals in the Western Ghats of India." Journal of Tropical Ecology 31, no. 4 (2015): 315–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467415000188.
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Abstract:Body size in animals is an important trait affecting species niche differentiation and restricting similarity. Using camera-trap data over 2008–2010, we used photo-captures from 50 cameras spread throughout Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Western Ghats, India) to assess the activity budgets of 21 mammal species ranging in body size from 1 kg to 2088 kg. Large carnivores were mostly cathemeral whereas small cat and civet species were purely nocturnal. Mongoose species were mainly diurnal possibly due to their terrestrial feeding habits and reduce competition with other sympatric small carnivores. All large and small-bodied herbivores were cathemeral and nocturnal respectively, whereas medium-sized herbivores were active during the day. Overall, small mammals tended to be mostly nocturnal, whereas large mammals were cathemeral mainly due to energy requirements and other ecological constraints. Body size showed significant negative relationship with mean vector length (clustering of activity in time) thus implying that the daily amount of time being active increased with body size. The shorter activity time (12 h) in small mammals resulted in higher mean vector length probably to utilize the available time to fulfil energy needs. The observed cathemeral activity in large mammals may be associated with travel over larger areas to acquire large quantities of food therefore they are active for a longer duration. Our results clearly support the allometric relationship between body size and activity budgets in mammals and its association with niche differentiation.
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van der Vinne, Vincent, Sjaak J. Riede, Jenke A. Gorter, et al. "Cold and hunger induce diurnality in a nocturnal mammal." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111, no. 42 (2014): 15256–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1413135111.
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Clark, Fay E., and Vicky A. Melfi. "Environmental enrichment for a mixed-species nocturnal mammal exhibit." Zoo Biology 31, no. 4 (2011): 397–413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20380.
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Mertens, Jan E. J., Willem-Jan Emsens, Merlijn Jocqué, Lore Geeraert, and Matthias De Beenhouwer. "From natural forest to coffee agroforest: implications for communities of large mammals in the Ethiopian highlands." Oryx 54, no. 5 (2018): 715–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605318000844.
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AbstractIn tropical regions the extent of agricultural land is increasing rapidly at the expense of natural forest, with associated losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Agroforestry has long been proposed as a more sustainable agricultural system, conserving biodiversity while providing significant local livelihoods. In this context, camera traps were deployed to compare communities of large mammals between natural forest (22,272 hours across 24 deployments) and extensively managed coffee forest (19,059 hours, 23 deployments) for the first time in the south-west Ethiopian highlands. Mammal communities in the two forest types were similar in species richness and Shannon diversity but differed in community composition. Significant indicator species of coffee forest were the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata and the Ethiopian hare Lepus fagani, whereas leopards Panthera pardus and civets Civettictis civetta had a preference for natural forest. The number of detections of mammals was higher in coffee forest, where activity patterns were predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal, which may be a direct adaptation to frequent human disturbance. In natural forest, mammal activity peaked during daytime. Despite the high mammal diversity in extensively managed coffee forest, it cannot fully replace natural forest as a habitat for large mammals. We suggest that a balanced landscape mosaic of coffee and natural forest may be a valuable combination for both conservation and coffee cultivation.
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Geryak, Yurii, and Evgen Khalaim. "Detection of secretive mammal species by methods of lepidopterological field research." Theriologia Ukrainica 2020, no. 20 (2021): 132–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/tu2015.
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Information is given on observations of a number of mammalian species with secretive lifestyle and nocturnal activity, including dormice, made during field lepidopterological research. The use of artificial light and aromatic scents in entomological research is one of the most effective methods for obtaining rich and diverse ecological and faunal information. In addition to scale insects, many other invertebrates, primarily insects, are attracted to light and bait. At the same time, large clusters of invertebrates that flock in masse and converge on light and bait, as readily available food attract a number of mammals with nocturnal activity, mostly insectivores (Soriciformes), bats (Vespertilioniformes), and rodents (Muriformes). A number of species that are rare and lead a hidden way of life are attracted to artificial light and aromatic scents, including species of the dormice family (Gliridae) such as the edible, forest, and hazel dormice. The latter are obviously attracted to the light by the insects. Instead, in case of the use of baits, for edible dormice and yellow-necked wood mice, probably the aroma and taste of the bait is what attracts them, because they were repeatedly seem feeding on the bait. At the same time, bright sources of artificial light are obviously of interest to other mammals. In particular, in this way were noted: hare, fox, European roe deer, and wild boar, as well as such rare mammals as lynx, wild cat, great jerboa, and thick-tailed three-toed jerboa. Based on such observations, as an example, a small overview of new findings of the forest dormouse is given, in particular in areas where this rodent species has not been recorded before or it was observed very infrequently. The authors noted this species on traps for scale insects in the highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians (Chornohora ridge) and in the Northern Black Sea coast, within Odesa Oblast. Thus, standard methods of collecting field material often used in lepidopterological research, such as attracting by artificial light and aromatic scents, can be quite effective for detecting a number of mammal species of different taxonomic groups, including nocturnal mammals.
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Geryak, Yurii, and Evgen Khalaim. "Detection of secretive mammal species by methods of lepidopterological field research." Theriologia Ukrainica 2020, no. 20 (2021): 132–38. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14819921.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Information is given on observations of a number of mammalian species with secretive lifestyle and nocturnal activity, including dormice, made during field lepidopterological research. The use of artificial light and aromatic scents in entomological research is one of the most effective methods for obtaining rich and diverse ecological and faunal information. In addition to scale insects, many other invertebrates, primarily insects, are attracted to light and bait. At the same time, large clusters of invertebrates that flock in masse and converge on light and bait, as readily available food attract a number of mammals with nocturnal activity, mostly insectivores (Soriciformes), bats (Vespertilioniformes), and rodents (Muriformes). A number of species that are rare and lead a hidden way of life are attracted to artificial light and aromatic scents, including species of the dormice family (Gliridae) such as the edible, forest, and hazel dormice. The latter are obviously attracted to the light by the insects. Instead, in case of the use of baits, for edible dormice and yellow-necked wood mice, probably the aroma and taste of the bait is what attracts them, because they were repeatedly seem feeding on the bait. At the same time, bright sources of artificial light are obviously of interest to other mammals. In particular, in this way were noted: hare, fox, European roe deer, and wild boar, as well as such rare mammals as lynx, wild cat, great jerboa, and thick-tailed three-toed jerboa. Based on such observations, as an example, a small overview of new findings of the forest dormouse is given, in particular in areas where this rodent species has not been recorded before or it was observed very infrequently. The authors noted this species on traps for scale insects in the highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians (Chornohora ridge) and in the Northern Black Sea coast, within Odesa Oblast. Thus, standard methods of collecting field material often used in lepidopterological research, such as attracting by artificial light and aromatic scents, can be quite effective for detecting a number of mammal species of different taxonomic groups, including nocturnal mammals.
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Newar, Sasha L., Irena Schneiderová, Bryan Hughes, and Jeff Bowman. "Ultrasound and ultraviolet: crypsis in gliding mammals." PeerJ 12 (March 25, 2024): e17048. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17048.
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Gliding is only present in six extant groups of mammals—interestingly, despite divergent evolutionary histories, all mammalian gliders are strictly nocturnal. Gliding mammals also seem to have relatively high rates of ultrasound use and ultraviolet-induced photoluminescence (UVP) in contrast with their close relatives. Therefore, we hypothesized that, despite diverging lineages, gliding mammals use similar modes of cryptic communication compared to their non-gliding counterparts. We developed two datasets containing the vocal range (minimum-maximum of the dominant harmonic; kHz) and UVP of 73 and 82 species, respectively; we report four novel vocal repertoires and 57 novel observations of the presence or absence of UVP. We complemented these datasets with information about body size, diel activity patterns, habitat openness, and sociality to explore possible covariates related to vocal production and UVP. We found that the maximum of the dominant harmonic was significant higher in gliding mammals when vocalizing than their non-gliding relatives. Additionally, we found that nocturnality was the only significant predictor of UVP, consistent with the previous hypothesis that luminophores primarily drive UVP in mammal fur. In contrast, however, we did not find UVP ubiquitous in nocturnal mammals, suggesting that some unknown process may contribute to variation in this trait.
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Pasquet, Alba, Ignasi Torre, and Mario Díaz. "Indirect Human Influences in Fear Landscapes: Varying Effects of Moonlight on Small Mammal Activity along Man-Made Gradients of Vegetation Structure." Life 13, no. 3 (2023): 681. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life13030681.
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Risk of predation is one of the main constraints of small mammal distribution and foraging activity. Aside from numerical effects on population size due to the presence and abundance of predators, indirect cues, such as vegetation structure and moonlight, determine patterns of activity and microhabitat use by small mammals. Indirect cues are expected to interact, as shading provided by vegetation can suppress the effects of changing moonlight. We analyzed the effects of moonlight levels on the activity patterns of three common small mammal species in Mediterranean habitats, and tested whether moonlight effects were modulated by shadowing associated with the development of tall vegetation due to spontaneous afforestation following land abandonment. A. sylvaticus, a strictly nocturnal species, decreased activity under moonlight with no interactive effects of vegetation cover. C. russula showed no activity change with moonlight levels and M. spretus increased activity, although activity in both species was mostly determined by vegetation cover, that favored it. The effects of moonlight on small mammal activity were not homogeneous among species, nor were the interactive effects of man-made gradients of habitat structure, a fact that will produce community changes along vegetation gradients mediated by varying fear landscapes.
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Procko, Michael, Robin Naidoo, Valerie LeMay, and A. Cole Burton. "Human presence and infrastructure impact wildlife nocturnality differently across an assemblage of mammalian species." PLOS ONE 18, no. 5 (2023): e0286131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286131.
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Wildlife species may shift towards more nocturnal behavior in areas of higher human influence, but it is unclear how consistent this shift might be. We investigated how humans impact large mammal diel activities in a heavily recreated protected area and an adjacent university-managed forest in southwest British Columbia, Canada. We used camera trap detections of humans and wildlife, along with data on land-use infrastructure (e.g., recreation trails and restricted-access roads), in Bayesian regression models to investigate impacts of human disturbance on wildlife nocturnality. We found moderate evidence that black bears (Ursus americanus) were more nocturnal in response to human detections (mean posterior estimate = 0.35, 90% credible interval = 0.04 to 0.65), but no other clear relationships between wildlife nocturnality and human detections. However, we found evidence that coyotes (Canis latrans) (estimates = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.46 to 1.17) were more nocturnal and snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) (estimate = -0.87, 95% CI = -1.29 to -0.46) were less nocturnal in areas of higher trail density. We also found that coyotes (estimate = -0.87, 95% CI = -1.29 to -0.46) and cougars (Puma concolor) (estimate = -1.14, 90% CI = -2.16 to -0.12) were less nocturnal in areas of greater road density. Furthermore, coyotes, black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and snowshoe hares were moderately more nocturnal in areas near urban-wildland boundaries (estimates and 90% CIs: coyote = -0.29, -0.55 to -0.04, black-tailed deer = -0.25, -0.45 to -0.04, snowshoe hare = -0.24, -0.46 to -0.01). Our findings imply anthropogenic landscape features may influence medium to large-sized mammal diel activities more than direct human presence. While increased nocturnality may be a promising mechanism for human-wildlife coexistence, shifts in temporal activity can also have negative repercussions for wildlife, warranting further research into the causes and consequences of wildlife responses to increasingly human-dominated landscapes.
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Thapa, Prakash. "An Overview of Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): Its General Biology, Status, Distribution and Conservation Threats in Nepal." Initiation 5 (April 19, 2014): 164–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10267.
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Chinese Pangolin is nocturnal, shy, non-aggressive, solitary, strange and burrowing mammal which has received low scientific attention. Little information is known about its biology, distribution and status. In Nepal it is distributed in many districts and protected areas. The status of this mammal is decreasing in the country but there is no any research regarding its biology, status and distribution. Although, this mammal is protected nationally and internationally, it is facing too much problems due to habitat destruction and illegal trade. This article mainly focuses on the biology, status, distribution and conservation threats of this ecologically beneficial handsome creature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10267 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 164-170
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Buenrostro-Silva, Alejandra, Daniela Sigüenza Pérez, and Jesús García-Grajales. "MAMÍFEROS CARNÍVOROS DEL PARQUE NACIONAL LAGUNAS DE CHACAHUA, OAXACA, MÉXICO: RIQUEZA, ABUNDANCIA Y PATRONES DE ACTIVIDAD." Revista Mexicana de Mastozoología (Nueva Epoca) 5, no. 2 (2015): 39. http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/ie.20074484e.2015.5.2.209.
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RESUMENLos mamíferos carnívoros desempeñan un rol importante en la estructura de las comunidades; sin embargo, los estudios sobre este grupo son complicados debido a sus estilos de vida, por lo que aún existen vacíos de información biológica. En este estudio se utilizaron trampas cámara en cuatro localidades de la costa central de Oaxaca, México. El trabajo se efectuó de septiembre de 2009 a agosto de 2010, con un esfuerzo total de 1012 días/trampa. Se obtuvieron 160 registros fotográficos independientes de ochos especies de mamíferos carnívoros y respecto a las presas potenciales se registraron cinco especies de mamíferos, dos especies de reptiles y dos grupos (aves y ratones). De acuerdo al Índice de Abundancia Relativa obtenido, los carnívoros más abundantes fueron Spilogale pygmaea, Urocyon cinereoargenteus y Nasua narica, mientras que las presas potenciales más abundantes fueron Didelphis virginiana, Dasypus novemcinctus y el grupo de los ratones. El patrón de actividad de las especies registradas mostró que el 73.8% son de hábitos nocturnos. El ganado vacuno de libre pastoreo mostró una abundancia que podría tener impactos en el ambiente natural y el nivel de recursos disponibles para la fauna silvestre de la región.Palabras clave: Cámaras-trampa, Carnívora, Oaxaca, patrón de actividad, Tututepec.ABSTRACTCarnivorous mammals play an important role on the community structure, however information gaps exist on their current situation debt to their nocturnal habits, evasive behavior and low population densities. In this study, we used camera traps to obtain records of mammal carnivores and their potential prey in four localities in the coastal central of Oaxaca, Mexico. The study was conducted from September 2009 to August 2010, with a total sampling effort of 1,012 trap/days. We obtained 160 independent photographs records of eights carnivorous mammal species and regarding potential prey we obtained five mammals species, two reptile species and two groups (birds and mice). According with the two Relative Abundance Index obtained Spilogale pygmaea, Urocyon cinereoargenteus y Nasua narica were the most abundant carnivorous mammals while that Didelphis virginiana, Dasypus novemcinctus and the mice group were the most abundant potential prey. The activity patterns of the species showed that 73.8% of them are nocturnal. The free range cattle showed an abundance that could have impacts in the natural environment and the level of resources available for the wildlife in the region.Key words: Camera-traps, Carnivora, Oaxaca, activity patterns, Tututepec.
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Shawon, Raf Ana Rabbi, Md Matiur Rahman, Md Mehedi Iqbal, Mahfuz A. Russel, and Junji Moribe. "An Assessment of the Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of Small- and Medium-Sized Mammals in Pittachhara Forest, Bangladesh, Using a Camera Trap Survey." Animals 14, no. 24 (2024): 3568. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243568.
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The Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh have a rich biodiversity, hosting a wide range of wild mammal species, underscoring the importance of systematic monitoring focused on conservation efforts. This study aims to assess the diversity and abundance of small- and medium-sized wild mammal species in Pittachhara Forest in the CHTs. A comprehensive wildlife monitoring survey was conducted in this forest using strategically placed camera traps to identify the wild species diversity, and we evaluated the activity patterns and seasonal variations for the period of February 2023 to August 2024. The camera trap identified eight species of small- and medium-sized wild mammals: the Bengal slow loris, northern pig-tailed macaque, leopard cat, large Indian civet, common palm civet, crab-eating mongoose, northern tree shrew, and black rat. The activity patterns showed distinct temporal behaviors among these wild mammals, with nocturnal activity dominating for the Bengal slow loris and leopard cat, while the northern pig-tailed macaque exhibited diurnal activity. Seasonal variations demonstrated a significant difference in increased activity among most wild mammal species throughout the summer, particularly the large Indian civet and crab-eating mongoose, likely due to favorable environmental conditions, and decreased activity in the winter (p < 0.05). The findings suggest an intricate connection between species-specific behaviors and environmental factors that influence activity patterns, with increased activity in summer and a decrease in winter, indicating that summer conditions may enhance the movement and foraging behaviors of mammals. This study underscores the necessity for continuous biodiversity monitoring followed by conservation efforts in Pittachhara Forest to reduce the threats of habitat fragmentation, human disturbances, and inadequate protection, thus protecting the survival of endangered wild mammal species and maintaining the environmental harmony of this small, protected area.
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Vinson, Simon G., Aidan P. Johnson, and Katarina M. Mikac. "Thermal cameras as a survey method for Australian arboreal mammals: a focus on the greater glider." Australian Mammalogy 42, no. 3 (2020): 367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am19051.
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This study developed and tested the efficacy of a real-time thermography technique to improve survey methods for Australian arboreal mammal species, with a focus on the greater glider. Development involved the use of thermal imaging cameras combined with spotlight transect surveys of an endangered greater glider population at Seven Mile Beach National Park. Over 30h of nocturnal spotlight transect surveys were undertaken over 14 (1km) transects within 70ha of dry sclerophyll forest. A protocol for the use of thermography to survey greater gliders was developed. The efficacy of the thermography protocol was then experimentally tested in comparison to traditional spotlighting. Overall, thermography was better at detecting arboreal mammals than spotlighting (P&lt;0.05). However, the effect was not significant for greater gliders (P=0.79), even though there was a trend towards improved detection of the species using thermal cameras. Thermography is a novel approach to undertaking arboreal mammal surveys and future studies should consider its relevance, effectiveness and associated costs to improve survey designs, especially for threatened species.
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Barun, Arijana, Daniel Simberloff, Nikola Tvrtkovic, and Michel Pascal. "Impact of the introduced small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia." NeoBiota 11 (November 30, 2011): 51–61. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.11.1819.
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The small Indian mongoose (<i>Herpestes auropunctatus)</i> is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species (IUCN 2000). It has negative impacts on several small mammals on islands where it was introduced. We assess the abundance of small mammal populations and the activity time of introduced ship rats (<i>Rattus rattus</i>) on three mongoose-infested and three mongoose-free islands in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. We set up three transects on each island with a trapping system consisting of 30 small live traps to capture small mammals under 30 grams and 30 larger traps to capture ship rats and mongooses, on each transect. Our results support an already large but mostly speculative literature that suggests inability of the small Indian mongoose to reduce high abundances of introduced <i>R. rattus</i>. Further, we suggest that the low abundance of native small mammals is probably not solely caused by the mongoose but also by high <i>R. rattus</i> populations on all six islands. In addition, we provide evidence that <i>R. rattus</i> has changed its activity time to become more nocturnal on mongoose-infested islands, possibly to avoid predation by the mongoose. As <i>R. rattus</i> became more nocturnal, the diurnal mongoose may have become the main predator on amphibians, reptiles, and poultry.
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Ríos-Solís, Jesús Alejandro, José Juan Flores-Martínez, Víctor Sánchez-Cordero, and Mario C. Lavariega. "Diversity and activity patterns of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals at the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, México." Therya 12, no. 2 (2021): 237–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.12933/therya-21-1105.
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Studies on diversity of animal communities allow determination of their species richness and composition. This information is particularly relevant to establish sound conservation programs in biosphere reserves, where human activities should be focused on the sustainable use of natural resources and ensure biodiversity protection. This study estimated the diversity and species richness and determined the species composition and activity patterns of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (LTBR) located in Veracruz, Mexico. We set 18 camera traps to record medium and large-sized terrestrial mammals from August 2016 to January 2017. We calculated the trapping rate, guilds, and activity patterns of species. Diversity was estimated with Hill numbers. We compared our estimates with other studies in tropical forest in Mexico. We obtained 308 independent captures of 13 species; Cuniculus paca and Dasyprocta mexicana were the species with the highest trapping rate. Order-0, order-1, and order-2 diversity values were 13.99, 6.50, and 4.75 effective species, respectively, which ranks LTBR the fourth-most diverse reserve of medium- and large-sized terrestrial mammals compared to six other tropical rainforest sites in southern Mexico. We recorded mammals representing five trophic guilds, of which frugivore-folivores (five species) and omnivores (three species) ranked highest. All recorded species were primarily nocturnal (six species) or diurnal (six species). Tamandua mexicana, Leopardus pardalis, L. wiedii, and Eira barbara are listed as endangered in the Mexican Official Standard Norm NOM-059-2019, and L. wiedii is listed as near threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. We were able to record 40.6 % of the terrestrial mammal species known to inhabit the LTBR. The absence of large-sized species such as large predators and herbivores was notable. Comparison of medium and large-sized mammal diversity of camera trapping studies in Mexico show that landscape degradation is impoverishing terrestrial mammal communities.
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Carolina, Rosa M. Meri-Leão, and Carlos EV Grelle. "Temporal and spatial segregation among mammal predators and their prey." Mammalogy Notes 7, no. 2 (2022): 223. http://dx.doi.org/10.47603/mano.v7n2.223.
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Time and space are niche dimensions that allow a local coexistence of predators and their prey. Daily activity patterns are a crucial component of mammalian ecology and behavior, being temporal avoidance often the most important mechanism of coexistence among species. Animal’s daily activity patterns (temporal specialization) can be classified in diurnal, nocturnal, crepuscular or cathemeral. Temporal overlap alone does not define the vulnerability of the prey or the preference of the predator, since there must also be spatial segregation, which can alleviate possible hostile interactions among the animals. In this study, we test if there are any significant differences among the daily activity patterns of predators and prey. We used the camera-trapping data to test if the predator’s species have less occurrence than expected by chance on the trails. The study area is the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO). C-score is used to determine the spatial segregation and the exact test to determine the temporal segregation between predators and prey. Our results suggest spatial segregation among predators and prey in PARNASO. Also, the exact test showed that predators have cathemeral activity while prey are mainly nocturnal, as expected, probably to avoid predators. Despite its importance, the theory of how predation affects species differences and diversity is much less developed than the competition theory, which shows that more studies like this one need to be done
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Ramos, Déborah, Lucian Canto, Felipe Silva, Martín Montes, João Pedro Souza-Alves, and Lucas Gonçalves. "Activity patterns of domestic dogs and native terrestrial mammals in the Tapacurá Ecological Station, Brazil." Mammalogy Notes 10, no. 1 (2024): 359. http://dx.doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n1.359.
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Domestic dogs are a threat to biodiversity. We evaluated the activity patterns of domestic dogs and terrestrial mammals in a patch of Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. We expected native mammals to change their temporal pattern of activity in the presence of domestic dogs. We installed 16 camera traps in 2019 (January-March) and 16 cameras in 2021 (February-April), with a total effort effort of 640 trap days. We classified the activity of the species as diurnal, cathemeral, nocturnal and crepuscular. We found 274 records of 11 mammal species and overlapping activity between domestic dogs and terrestrial mammals. Coatis and agoutis were strictly diurnal in both years, while domestic dogs presented a catemanal activity pattern in 2021. Aguties and domestic dogs presented a uniform pattern, but coatis did not. Although our findings suggest a limited influence of domestic dogs on terrestrial mammals, vaccination or sterilization programs should be implemented to avoid an increase in the negative impact of dogs on native fauna.
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Vanitharani, Juliet. "The Emerging Trends in the Bio-Diversity of Bats in Tamil Nadu." Mapana - Journal of Sciences 2, no. 2 (2004): 14–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.12723/mjs.4.3.
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The news media, legends, 101k lore, television, movies and storybooks perpetuate myths. 'Fears about bots' a surprising number of people believe. Bots are instantly recognised yet poorly known. The hours Of twilight {Oltowed by darkness is the best feeding tirnö for these animals. The night is really alive with such nocturnal creatures. They inhabit Olmos' every comer Offhe globe. They ore not from Antarctica, Arctic tundra remote oceanic islands. Bots are unique elegant and fascinating, They ore the only mammals who mastered true, sustained flight much before man's own lineage began. More than Of all mammal species are bats. They 'See' With their ears, hang upside to sleep by day ond can catch insects while flying even in the darkest 0/ nights. Wing' forms 0 basis for Classifying os separote order Of Mammals. The order Chiroptera (Greek Pteros•wing), Which includes 1242 species.
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Saffer, V. M. "Are diel patterns of nectar production and anthesis associated with other floral traits in plants visited by potential bird and mammal pollinators?" Australian Journal of Botany 52, no. 1 (2004): 87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt02056.
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Plants pollinated predominantly by vertebrates are thought to have suites of floral traits (e.g.�colour, conspicuousness, odour) that favour either birds or mammals, with brightly coloured, conspicuous flowers associated with birds and drab, concealed flowers with non-flying mammals. This study examined two other floral traits, diel patterns of nectar production and pollen presentation (anthesis). It would be expected that these would be nocturnal in putatively mammal-pollinated plants and diurnal in bird-pollinated plants. In four Banksia and two Dryandra species, all known to be visited by honeyeater birds and small marsupials at one site in south-western Australia, there was no clear correspondence between visual cues and diel patterns of resource presentation. This lack of correlation between floral traits does not support the idea of specialised pollination syndromes, but rather is consistent with generalised pollination systems.
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Ramsier, Marissa A., Andrew J. Cunningham, Gillian L. Moritz, et al. "Primate communication in the pure ultrasound." Biology Letters 8, no. 4 (2012): 508–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1149.
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Few mammals—cetaceans, domestic cats and select bats and rodents—can send and receive vocal signals contained within the ultrasonic domain, or pure ultrasound (greater than 20 kHz). Here, we use the auditory brainstem response (ABR) method to demonstrate that a species of nocturnal primate, the Philippine tarsier ( Tarsius syrichta ), has a high-frequency limit of auditory sensitivity of ca 91 kHz. We also recorded a vocalization with a dominant frequency of 70 kHz. Such values are among the highest recorded for any terrestrial mammal, and a relatively extreme example of ultrasonic communication. For Philippine tarsiers, ultrasonic vocalizations might represent a private channel of communication that subverts detection by predators, prey and competitors, enhances energetic efficiency, or improves detection against low-frequency background noise.
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Peacock, Jo, Christopher M. Tonra, Johnathan King, and G. Matt Davies. "Restoration of gallery forest patches improves recruitment of motacú palms (Attalea princeps) while diversifying and increasing wildlife populations." PLOS ONE 16, no. 4 (2021): e0250183. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250183.
Full textAbstract:
Globally, forest-savanna mosaic landscapes are of significant conservation importance but have been widely impacted by human land-use. We studied how restoration, through cessation of long-term cattle grazing impacts (i) forest regeneration; (ii) forest understory structure and composition; and (iii) populations and diversity of large mammals and nocturnal birds, within naturally patchy gallery forests in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia. Comparing grazed and restored sites, we assessed the abundance and composition of tree functional types at different life stages (seedlings, saplings and adults), with focus on the region’s key palm species Attalea princeps (motacú). Additionally, we surveyed habitat structure and composition in the shrub and ground-layer, and monitored occurrence and encounter rates of large mammals and nocturnal birds along dusk and evening transects. We found evidence of lower recruitment of motacú palms on the grazed site and lower potential for natural motacú regeneration. Principal Components Analysis revealed forests on grazed sites had simpler, more open shrub-layers and altered ground-layer structure and composition including increased bare ground. Mammal species richness was greater on the restored site, and there were more declining, globally threatened and site-unique species. Species richness was similar for nocturnal birds within forests on both the grazed and restored site, but nearly all species tended to be encountered more frequently on the restored site. Our results suggest cattle negatively impact forest regeneration and alter the structure and composition of the shrub and ground layer with potential consequences for the diversity and abundance of wildlife. Our study represents one of only a handful completed in the Beni region of Bolivia to date. The Beni is currently under pressure from widespread, largely unregulated cattle ranching. Our results thus provide vital evidence to support development of restoration and conservation policy, and its integration with rangeland management in this threatened and critically understudied region.
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Galván, Ismael, Juan Carlos Vargas-Mena, and Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera. "Tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in Stenodermatinae bats." Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 58, no. 1 (2020): 519–27. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13417120.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The recent discovery of the first mammal that deposits significant amounts of carotenoid pigments in the skin (the Honduran white bat Ectophylla alba) has highlighted the presence of conspicuous yellow coloration in the bare skin of some bats. This is patent in the subfamily Stenodermatinae, where many species build tents with plant leaves for communal roosting at daytime. On the basis that tents offer rich light conditions by partly allowing sunlight to pass through the leaves and this makes that yellow coloration probably provides camouflage benefits to tent-roosting bats, that gregariousness facilitates visual communication, and that all Stenodermatinae bats possess retinal L-cones that allow the perception of long-wavelength light and have a frugivorous diet from which carotenoids are obtained, we hypothesized that tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in this group of bats. We tested this prediction in 71 species within Stenodermatinae. Reconstructions of ancestral states showed that the common ancestor was most likely not colorful and did not roost in tents, but both traits early appeared in the first phylogenetic ramification. Phylogenetically controlled analyses showed that, as predicted, yellow skin coloration and tent-roosting coevolved after their appearance. This is the first explanation for the evolution of body coloration in nocturnal mammals. As the light environment of nocturnal forests is dominated by yellow-green wavelengths that coincide with the spectral sensitivity of some bats, nocturnal light conditions may have acted jointly with diurnal light conditions in tents to favor the evolution of yellow skin coloration in these animals.
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Galván, Ismael, Juan Carlos Vargas-Mena, and Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera. "Tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in Stenodermatinae bats." Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 58, no. 1 (2020): 519–27. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13417120.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The recent discovery of the first mammal that deposits significant amounts of carotenoid pigments in the skin (the Honduran white bat Ectophylla alba) has highlighted the presence of conspicuous yellow coloration in the bare skin of some bats. This is patent in the subfamily Stenodermatinae, where many species build tents with plant leaves for communal roosting at daytime. On the basis that tents offer rich light conditions by partly allowing sunlight to pass through the leaves and this makes that yellow coloration probably provides camouflage benefits to tent-roosting bats, that gregariousness facilitates visual communication, and that all Stenodermatinae bats possess retinal L-cones that allow the perception of long-wavelength light and have a frugivorous diet from which carotenoids are obtained, we hypothesized that tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in this group of bats. We tested this prediction in 71 species within Stenodermatinae. Reconstructions of ancestral states showed that the common ancestor was most likely not colorful and did not roost in tents, but both traits early appeared in the first phylogenetic ramification. Phylogenetically controlled analyses showed that, as predicted, yellow skin coloration and tent-roosting coevolved after their appearance. This is the first explanation for the evolution of body coloration in nocturnal mammals. As the light environment of nocturnal forests is dominated by yellow-green wavelengths that coincide with the spectral sensitivity of some bats, nocturnal light conditions may have acted jointly with diurnal light conditions in tents to favor the evolution of yellow skin coloration in these animals.
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Galván, Ismael, Juan Carlos Vargas-Mena, and Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera. "Tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in Stenodermatinae bats." Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 58, no. 1 (2020): 519–27. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13417120.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The recent discovery of the first mammal that deposits significant amounts of carotenoid pigments in the skin (the Honduran white bat Ectophylla alba) has highlighted the presence of conspicuous yellow coloration in the bare skin of some bats. This is patent in the subfamily Stenodermatinae, where many species build tents with plant leaves for communal roosting at daytime. On the basis that tents offer rich light conditions by partly allowing sunlight to pass through the leaves and this makes that yellow coloration probably provides camouflage benefits to tent-roosting bats, that gregariousness facilitates visual communication, and that all Stenodermatinae bats possess retinal L-cones that allow the perception of long-wavelength light and have a frugivorous diet from which carotenoids are obtained, we hypothesized that tent-roosting may have driven the evolution of yellow skin coloration in this group of bats. We tested this prediction in 71 species within Stenodermatinae. Reconstructions of ancestral states showed that the common ancestor was most likely not colorful and did not roost in tents, but both traits early appeared in the first phylogenetic ramification. Phylogenetically controlled analyses showed that, as predicted, yellow skin coloration and tent-roosting coevolved after their appearance. This is the first explanation for the evolution of body coloration in nocturnal mammals. As the light environment of nocturnal forests is dominated by yellow-green wavelengths that coincide with the spectral sensitivity of some bats, nocturnal light conditions may have acted jointly with diurnal light conditions in tents to favor the evolution of yellow skin coloration in these animals.
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Villalba-Briones, Ricardo, Edwin R. Jiménez, and Juan S. Monros. "Release and follow-up of a rehabilitated two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) in a tropical dry forest in Ecuador." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 17, no. 4 (2022): 253–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.17.e91332.
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We present the first records of the post-release follow-up and monitoring of a rehabilitated two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) as well as freezing behavior and an inferred antagonistic interaction for this species. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and arboreal mammals whose survival relies on their capability to remain undetected by predators. Nevertheless, in the Guayas province of Ecuador, they are among the most common mammal species in rehabilitation centers. The liberation of animals back to the forest is the main goal of rehabilitation, while the follow-up of post-release human support of animals facilitates their re-establishment in their natural habitat. Follow-up, direct observation, and Bluetooth-based monitoring of the two-toed sloths secured the survival of this species in this part of Ecuador. The range of detectability of the device used indicates its suitability for tracking low-mobility animals. After the first five days, the number of trees used per day increased, and 19 trees within 1152 m2 were visited. Daylight and movement time range showed a correlation towards detectability. The follow-up effort allowed for keeping the two-toed sloth safe for 10 days after release. Due to the difficulty monitoring nocturnal animals, economic constraints in conservation, accessibility, and safety of the animals, biodegradable Bluetooth-based backpacks are recommended to ease the location of the animal and support its survival in the wild.
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Wells, K., M. B. Lakim, and J.-C. Beaucournu. "Host specificity and niche partitioning in flea-small mammal networks in Bornean rainforests." Medical and Veterinary Entomology 25, no. 3 (2011): 311–19. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13508425.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The diversity of ectoparasites in Southeast Asia and flea–host associations remain largely understudied. We explore specialization and interaction patterns of fleas infesting non-volant small mammals in Bornean rainforests, using material from a field survey carried out in two montane localities in northwestern Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia) and from a literature database of all available interactions in both lowland and montane forests. A total of 234 flea individuals collected during our field survey resulted in an interaction network of eight flea species on seven live-captured small mammal species. The interaction network from all compiled studies currently includes 15 flea species and 16 small mammal species. Host specificity and niche partitioning of fleas infesting diurnal treeshrews and squirrels were low, with little difference in specialization among taxa, but host specificity in lowland forests was found to be higher than in montane forests. By contrast, Sigmactenus alticola (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae) exhibited low host specificity by infesting various montane and lowland nocturnal rats. However, this species exhibited low niche partitioning as it was the only commonly recorded flea from rats on Borneo. Overall complementary specialization was of intermediate intensity for both networks and differed significantly from random association; this has important implications for specific interactions that are also relevant to the potential spread of vector-borne diseases.
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Wells, K., M. B. Lakim, and J.-C. Beaucournu. "Host specificity and niche partitioning in flea-small mammal networks in Bornean rainforests." Medical and Veterinary Entomology 25, no. 3 (2011): 311–19. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13508425.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The diversity of ectoparasites in Southeast Asia and flea–host associations remain largely understudied. We explore specialization and interaction patterns of fleas infesting non-volant small mammals in Bornean rainforests, using material from a field survey carried out in two montane localities in northwestern Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia) and from a literature database of all available interactions in both lowland and montane forests. A total of 234 flea individuals collected during our field survey resulted in an interaction network of eight flea species on seven live-captured small mammal species. The interaction network from all compiled studies currently includes 15 flea species and 16 small mammal species. Host specificity and niche partitioning of fleas infesting diurnal treeshrews and squirrels were low, with little difference in specialization among taxa, but host specificity in lowland forests was found to be higher than in montane forests. By contrast, Sigmactenus alticola (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae) exhibited low host specificity by infesting various montane and lowland nocturnal rats. However, this species exhibited low niche partitioning as it was the only commonly recorded flea from rats on Borneo. Overall complementary specialization was of intermediate intensity for both networks and differed significantly from random association; this has important implications for specific interactions that are also relevant to the potential spread of vector-borne diseases.
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Cripps, Jemma K., Jenny L. Nelson, Michael P. Scroggie, Louise K. Durkin, David S. L. Ramsey, and Linda F. Lumsden. "Double-observer distance sampling improves the accuracy of density estimates for a threatened arboreal mammal." Wildlife Research 48, no. 8 (2021): 756. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19136.
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Abstract ContextDetermining population size or density is often fundamental for wildlife conservation. For nocturnal species, indices are commonly used in place of abundance estimates, with spotlighting indices (e.g. sighting rate per km) being prevalent. Distance sampling is a collection of techniques that provide estimates of wildlife abundance from line-transect data, by correcting raw counts for imperfect detection. These methods have rarely been used to assess the abundance of nocturnal arboreal mammals. AimsTo develop and evaluate a method for estimating the abundance and density of nocturnal arboreal mammals using double-observer distance sampling, and to apply the approach to a survey of the southern greater glider (Petauroides volans) in the Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia. MethodsTwo observers, 15–20 min apart, surveyed 25 randomly located 500 m transects, and recorded greater gliders using spotlights and binoculars. Densities and abundances were derived from the line-transect data by using mark–recapture distance sampling (MRDS) models and were compared with conventional distance sampling analysis (CDS). Key resultsUsing the double-observer approach, we estimated an overall density of 0.96 gliders ha−1 (95% CI 0.60–1.50), giving a population estimate of 24 575 greater gliders across the Strathbogie Ranges (25 865 ha, 95% CI 15 620–38 661). The corresponding estimates for the study area derived using CDS applied to either both observers’ observations or to the first observer’s observations only, were 87% and 53% respectively, of the MRDS estimate. The analysis confirmed that the probability of detection of gliders along the transect line was less than one, justifying the use of the double-observer method to obtain accurate estimates of abundance. ConclusionsThe low detectability of greater gliders means that uncorrected spotlight counts will underestimate abundance, as will CDS. The double-observer method corrects for the negative bias associated with raw counts, enabling more accurate estimation of abundance for survey, monitoring and management purposes. ImplicationsWe recommend that double-observer distance sampling is adopted as a standard technique for estimating the abundance of greater gliders. The double-observer method potentially has wider relevance for assessing population size of other arboreal mammals, providing the assumptions of the approach can be met.
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Prugh, Laura R., Christopher D. Golden, and Stan Boutin. "Does moonlight increase predation risk? Meta‐analysis reveals divergent responses of nocturnal mammals to lunar cycles." Journal of Animal Ecology 83, no. 2 (2014): 504–14. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13434534.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Summary The risk of predation strongly affects mammalian population dynamics and community interactions. Bright moonlight is widely believed to increase predation risk for nocturnal mammals by increasing the ability of predators to detect prey, but the potential for moonlight to increase detection of predators and the foraging efficiency of prey has largely been ignored. Studies have reported highly variable responses to moonlight among species, calling into question the assumption that moonlight increases risk. Here, we conducted a quantitative meta‐analysis examining the effects of moonlight on the activity of 59 nocturnal mammal species to test the assumption that moonlight increases predation risk. We examined patterns of lunarphilia and lunarphobia across species in relation to factors such as trophic level, habitat cover preference and visual acuity. Across all species included in the meta‐analysis, moonlight suppressed activity. The magnitude of suppression was similar to the presence of a predator in experimental studies of foraging rodents (13·6% and 18·7% suppression, respectively). Contrary to the expectation that moonlight increases predation risk for all prey species, however, moonlight effects were not clearly related to trophic level and were better explained by phylogenetic relatedness, visual acuity and habitat cover. Moonlight increased the activity of prey species that use vision as their primary sensory system and suppressed the activity of species that primarily use other senses (e.g. olfaction, echolocation), and suppression was strongest in open habitat types. Strong taxonomic patterns underlay these relationships: moonlight tended to increase primate activity, whereas it tended to suppress the activity of rodents, lagomorphs, bats and carnivores. These results indicate that visual acuity and habitat cover jointly moderate the effect of moonlight on predation risk, whereas trophic position has little effect. While the net effect of moonlight appears to increase predation risk for most nocturnal mammals, our results highlight the importance of sensory systems and phylogenetic history in determining the level of risk.
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Prugh, Laura R., Christopher D. Golden, and Stan Boutin. "Does moonlight increase predation risk? Meta‐analysis reveals divergent responses of nocturnal mammals to lunar cycles." Journal of Animal Ecology 83, no. 2 (2014): 504–14. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13434534.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Summary The risk of predation strongly affects mammalian population dynamics and community interactions. Bright moonlight is widely believed to increase predation risk for nocturnal mammals by increasing the ability of predators to detect prey, but the potential for moonlight to increase detection of predators and the foraging efficiency of prey has largely been ignored. Studies have reported highly variable responses to moonlight among species, calling into question the assumption that moonlight increases risk. Here, we conducted a quantitative meta‐analysis examining the effects of moonlight on the activity of 59 nocturnal mammal species to test the assumption that moonlight increases predation risk. We examined patterns of lunarphilia and lunarphobia across species in relation to factors such as trophic level, habitat cover preference and visual acuity. Across all species included in the meta‐analysis, moonlight suppressed activity. The magnitude of suppression was similar to the presence of a predator in experimental studies of foraging rodents (13·6% and 18·7% suppression, respectively). Contrary to the expectation that moonlight increases predation risk for all prey species, however, moonlight effects were not clearly related to trophic level and were better explained by phylogenetic relatedness, visual acuity and habitat cover. Moonlight increased the activity of prey species that use vision as their primary sensory system and suppressed the activity of species that primarily use other senses (e.g. olfaction, echolocation), and suppression was strongest in open habitat types. Strong taxonomic patterns underlay these relationships: moonlight tended to increase primate activity, whereas it tended to suppress the activity of rodents, lagomorphs, bats and carnivores. These results indicate that visual acuity and habitat cover jointly moderate the effect of moonlight on predation risk, whereas trophic position has little effect. While the net effect of moonlight appears to increase predation risk for most nocturnal mammals, our results highlight the importance of sensory systems and phylogenetic history in determining the level of risk.
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Pelayo-Martínez, Jaime, Liliana Ortíz-Lozada, Vinicio J. Sosa, Claudio Mota-Vargas, and Jessica Durán-Antonio. "Daily activity of threatened canopy mammals in a private protected natural area of tropical southeastern Mexico." Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 94 (August 11, 2023): e944951. http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2023.94.4951.
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Private conservation areas (PCA) are a complementary resource that can be used to favor the conservation of mammals in tropical regions of the world. However, their reduced extent can exert a differential influence on the behavior of the species present, and ultimately affect their coexistence. We investigated the daily activity patterns of canopy mammals during the rainy season of 2016 in a 100 ha PCA in tropical forest. To record activity, 11 camera traps were set up in trees at 15 m above ground level. Sciurus deppei was the only diurnal mammal recorded. Potos flavus was more active around midnight, while Caluromys derbianus and Coendou mexicanus were active before (21:00 to 23:00 h) and after midnight (01:00 to 04:00 h). Tamandua mexicana and Didelphis marsupialis were active throughout the night. The nocturnal mammals showed great overlap in their hours of activity. Overall, there was no difference in activity patterns of canopy mammals in this small PCA compared to those reported in larger protected natural areas. The highest number of records occurred in the tallest trees located in the highest and best-conserved parts of the study area, suggesting the importance of forested PCA to the conservation of canopy mammals.
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Hilário, S. D., and V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca. "Thermal evidence of the invasion of a stingless bee nest by a mammal." Brazilian Journal of Biology 63, no. 3 (2003): 457–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842003000300011.
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Melipona bicolor, an inhabitant of the Atlantic Rainforest, nidifies in hollows of live or dead trees. In order to study thermoregulation of a nest of this species, a temperature data logger was installed inside a hollow tree. After this, an intruder dug a hole, invaded the nest, and probably consumed its honey, pollen and bees, having remained there during three days. Thermal evidence and its behavior allowed the delimitation of a small number of suspects, wich we analized here. The intruder was a small mammal, predominantly nocturnal, that takes shelter in burrows, probably the yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus). Other evidence, if collected immediately after invasion, could precisely indicate precisely the species.
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Ceron, Karoline, Priscilla S. Carvalho, Lydia Möcklinghoff, and Diego José Santana. "DIURNAL FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF CRAB-EATING RACCOON UPON A PARADOXAL FROG, WITH A REVIEW OF ITS DIET." Acta Biológica Colombiana 25, no. 2 (2020): 359–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/abc.v25n2.79721.
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The crab-eating raccoon is considered one of the less studied Neotropical carnivores, once its nocturnal and inconspicuous habit difficult observations about its behavior. This species is considered a frugivorous-omnivorous species, with opportunistic habits, feeding since fruits and invertebrates to other mammals and lizards. Herein, we provide a new report of predation by crab-eating raccoon upon a paradoxal frog (Pseudis platensis) and presenting a detailed literature review about its diet. We compiled a total of 14 papers published from 1986 to 2019, which eight studies were used to characterize the diet of P. cancrivorus. The diet of P. cancrivorus was constituted by 96 animals’ taxa and 35 vegetal taxa. Our record of predation upon a frog reinforces the known generalist and opportunistic diet of P. cancrivorus, besides it is the first evidence of cathemerality for the crab-eating raccoon in Pantanal and the first report of predation upon P. platensis by a mammal.
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Oliveira, Roniel Freitas, Alessandro Ribeiro de Morais, and Levi Carina Terribile. "Medium- and large-sized mammals in forest remnants of the southern Cerrado: diversity and ecology." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 14, no. 1 (2019): 29–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e34835.
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Here we present a complete data set on the richness of medium- and large- sized mammals from a fragmented area of the southern Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). We described the frequency, occurrence status and activity period of the most common species. In each remnant, the community of medium- and large-sized mammals was inventoried across the following methods: tracks/prints, vocalizations, sightings, burrows, and camera trap images between August 2016 and January 2017. We recorded 23 species of medium- and large-sized mammals, of which seven are threatened. The study area presented a great potential, where we recorded 45.1% of all medium- and large-sized mammal species occurring in the Cerrado. Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Dasypus novemcinctus, Tapirus terrestris, Cerdocyon thous and Cuniculus paca were classified as common, which was expected since they have large habitat range, and therefore, can be recorded more frequently. Species with large body size, such as T. terrestris, M. tridactyla and C. thous, were also the ones with the greatest variation in time period of activity, occurring both in nocturnal and diurnal time periods. Therefore, our study underscores that this transition area, although fragmented, still maintains an expressive fauna of medium- and large-sized mammals, including endangered species.
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BICKELMANN, CONSTANZE, JAMES M. MORROW, JOHANNES MÜLLER, and BELINDA S. W. CHANG. "Functional characterization of the rod visual pigment of the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), a basal mammal." Visual Neuroscience 29, no. 4-5 (2012): 211–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523812000223.
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AbstractMonotremes are the most basal egg-laying mammals comprised of two extant genera, which are largely nocturnal. Visual pigments, the first step in the sensory transduction cascade in photoreceptors of the eye, have been examined in a variety of vertebrates, but little work has been done to study the rhodopsin of monotremes. We isolated the rhodopsin gene of the nocturnal short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and expressed and functionally characterized the protein in vitro. Three mutants were also expressed and characterized: N83D, an important site for spectral tuning and metarhodopsin kinetics, and two sites with amino acids unique to the echidna (T158A and F169A). The λmax of echidna rhodopsin (497.9 ± 1.1 nm) did not vary significantly in either T158A (498.0 ± 1.3 nm) or F169A (499.4 ± 0.1 nm) but was redshifted in N83D (503.8 ± 1.5 nm). Unlike other mammalian rhodopsins, echidna rhodopsin did react when exposed to hydroxylamine, although not as fast as cone opsins. The retinal release rate of light-activated echidna rhodopsin, as measured by fluorescence spectroscopy, had a half-life of 9.5 ± 2.6 min−1, which is significantly shorter than that of bovine rhodopsin. The half-life of the N83D mutant was 5.1 ± 0.1 min−1, even shorter than wild type. Our results show that with respect to hydroxylamine sensitivity and retinal release, the wild-type echidna rhodopsin displays major differences to all previously characterized mammalian rhodopsins and appears more similar to other nonmammalian vertebrate rhodopsins such as chicken and anole. However, our N83D mutagenesis results suggest that this site may mediate adaptation in the echidna to dim light environments, possibly via increased stability of light-activated intermediates. This study is the first characterization of a rhodopsin from a most basal mammal and indicates that there might be more functional variation in mammalian rhodopsins than previously assumed.
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Cavaleros, Meropi, Rochelle Buffenstein, F. Patrick Ross, and John M. Pettifor. "Vitamin D metabolism in a frugivorous nocturnal mammal, the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)." General and Comparative Endocrinology 133, no. 1 (2003): 109–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0016-6480(03)00150-3.
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