Journal articles on the topic 'Wildlife scat analysis'

Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) often carry food items to caching sites and while making provisioning trips to litters. This behaviour provides opportunities to use camera traps to record Red Foxes carrying food that is likely prey. As part of a larger study using camera-trap surveys to monitor carnivore populations at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, our cameras also recorded Red Foxes carrying food items allowing us to gain insight into the feeding ecology of this predator. Camera traps documented Red Foxes carrying food 71 times; items included mammals (78.9%), birds (19.7%), and fish (1.4%). Small mammals (unknown rodent or soricid species [23.9%] and voles [Microtus or Clethrionomys spp.; 5.6%]) were the most common groups of food items and Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus; 15.5%) was the most common food item identified to species. Our surveys corroborate traditional diet assessments (e.g., scat analysis) of Red Foxes in North America, identifying them as a generalist forager that typically consumes smaller mammals. We also highlight the potential to apply camera trapping as a supplemental technique for gaining additional insight into the feeding ecology of this predator.

Guard hairs were collected from four live domesticated ungulate species and shed guard hairs of six wild ungulate species from zoo captive animals from five individuals each. Photographic reference was prepared showing analytic features of hair characteristics. Study results were analysed and cuticle and medulla patterns were identified along with pigmentation features from the literature available for wild and domestic ungulates from India and abroad. Clear and easily distinguishable morphological characters of hair medulla and cuticle were used in the present study. Scat analysis of big cats used in this study is easy, speedy and efficient which can be used in routine investigations related to wildlife, crime forensics as well as human animal conflicts by studying carnivore feeding habits. In a majority of the animal species, the distal part of the hair showed maximum variation from the rest of the hair portions. The cuticle scales were imbricate in all tested animals. Scale position in almost all the tested animals was transversal except in goat (proximal part and medial part) and mouse deer (Distal part). Majority of the species showed smooth margins at proximal and medial part. Whereas the distal part scale margin was crenate and rippled in appearance the proximal part and medial part of hair of the majority of sampled animals showed a regular wave -type scale pattern whereas the distal part of hair showed irregular wave-type scale pattern in dominance. The composition of the medulla was multicellular in all the sampled deer species. Only the cow calf’s hair medulla was unicellular and uniseriate in appearance. A comparison of the hair of the domestic pig with that of the wild boar and gaur hair with that of cow calf and buffalo calf hair was made for the first time in the present study. Similarly goat hair morphology can also be differentiated from other cervids in this study. Medulla and cuticle characters in combination with each other can help differentiate wild ungulate species from the domestic ones since these wild ungulate species are frequently involved in hunting crime investigations. Therefore, the photographic reference presented in this study can be used in wildlife forensic science as well as predator diet analysis as an appropriate reference for prey species identification.

The selection of methods for wildlife surveys is a decision that will influence the accuracy and comprehensiveness of survey outcomes. The choice of methods is commonly based on the species of interest, yet is often limited by the project budget. Although several studies have investigated the effectiveness of various survey techniques for detecting terrestrial mammal and reptile species, none have provided a quantitative analysis of the costs associated with different methods. We compare the detection success and cost efficiency of cage traps, Elliott traps, pit-fall traps, hair funnels, direct observation, and scat detection/analysis for detecting the occurrence of terrestrial reptile and small mammal species in urban bushland remnants of Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. Cage traps and Elliott traps coupled with hair funnels were the most cost-effective methods for detecting the highest number of ground-dwelling mammal species. Pit-fall traps and direct observations were the most cost-effective methods for maximising the number of reptile species identified. All methods made a contribution to overall detection success by detecting at least one species not detected by any other method. This suggests that a combination of at least two complementary methods will provide the most successful and cost-efficient detection of reptile and mammal species in urban forest remnants. Future studies should explicitly test these findings and examine efficient trapping combinations across different habitat types and for other fauna groups.

Golden Jackal Canis aureus, a medium-sized omnivore belonging to the family Canidae, ranges widely from Europe and extends across the middle-east to India. It’s adaptable social system according to the distribution of food resources enabling it to range widely from desert to evergreen forests, mangroves, rural, and semi-urban human-agro-ecosystems. Despite its wide distribution, the species has not received adequate scientific attention in much of its southern India range. This study was carried out to assess its distribution pattern, diet composition, and prey preference at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, a well-known habitat for the jackal and the only predator of the sanctuary. Data on distribution collected through extensive field surveys revealed that the species distribution is uniform in southern and southeastern parts of the sanctuary, in areas where the habitat is more open with grasslands and mudflats and is patch in the tropical dry-evergreen habitat. Analysis of 155 scat samples revealed that the diet comprised 19 species of food items, including mammals, birds, insects, other invertebrates, and plant matter characterizing omnivorous nature. Temporal variation in diet composition—with significantly higher proportion of birds during winter than in summer—coincides with abundance of prey species in relation to season, which indicate the opportunistic foraging and hunting nature of the species. Data on diet preference showed that jackals in the area preferred Black-naped Hare, Spotted Dove and Lapwing followed by Chital, Grey Francolin, Cattle Egret, and Large Egret, while Blackbuck, Bonnet Macaque, and cattle were not preferred, which is discussed under optimal foraging. The jackal being the only large-sized predator of this natural system, more detailed studies and effective measures to conserve the species are vital not only to understand the prey-predator mechanism, but also to conserve the biodiversity of this unique ecosystem.

Wild prey base is a potential regulatory parameter that supports successful propagation and secured long term survival of large predators in their natural habitats. Therefore, low wild prey availability with higher available livestock in or around forest areas often catalyzes livestock depredation by predators that eventually leads to adverse situations to conservation initiatives. Thus understanding the diet ecology of large predators is significant for their conservation in the areas with low prey base. The present study reports the diet ecology of tiger and leopard in Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve and Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary, in central India to know the effect of wild prey availability on prey predator relationship. We walked line transects to estimate prey abundance in the study areas where we found langur and rhesus macaque to be the most abundant species. Scat analysis showed that despite the scarcity of large and medium ungulates, tiger used wild ungulates including chital and wild pig along with high livestock utilization (39%). Leopards highly used langur (43–50 %) as a prime prey species but were observed to exploit livestock as prey (7–9 %) in both the study areas. Scarcity of wild ungulates and continuous livestock predation by tiger and leopard eventually indicated that the study areas were unable to sustain healthy large predator populations. Developing some strong protection framework and careful implementation of the ungulate augmentation can bring a fruitful result to hold viable populations of tiger and leopard and secure their long term survival in the present study areas in central India, Chhattisgarh.

Early detection of biological invasions is critical to reducing their impact, but because invading organisms are initially at low densities, detection and eradication can be challenging. Here, we demonstrate the utility of faecal DNA analysis for the detection of an elusive invasive species – the red fox, Vulpes vulpes, which was illegally introduced to the island of Tasmania in the late 1990s. Foxes are a devastating pest to both wildlife and agriculture on the Australian mainland, and would have a similarly serious impact in Tasmania if they became established. Attempts to eradicate foxes from Tasmania have been hampered by unreliable distribution data derived mostly from public sightings. In response, we developed a highly accurate and reliable DNA-based PCR-multiplex test that identifies foxes from field-collected faeces. We also developed a sexing test, but it was reliable only for faeces less than three weeks old. Faeces are a useful target for DNA-based diagnostics in foxes because they are deposited in prominent locations and are long-lasting. The species identification test formed a key component of a Tasmania-wide detection and eradication program. In all, 1160 geo-referenced carnivore scats were analysed; of these, 78% contained DNA of sufficient quality for species identification. A single scat from the north-east of the island was identified as belonging to fox, as was a nine-week-old roadkill carcass from the north coast, and a blood sample from near Hobart, triggering increased control and surveillance in these regions. The accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of non-invasive tests make them a critical adjunct to traditional tools for monitoring cryptic invasive species that are at low density in the early stages of invasion and when eradication is still an option.

ABSTRACT Computing technology has advanced to the point where it is now standard practice to employ complex Geographic Information Systems (GIS) within the Incident Command Post (ICP). Simultaneously, field data collection has been migrating to mobile computing applications which output GIS files that are quickly displayed for real-time situational awareness. From the initial emergency response through clean-up and sign-off much data with a spatial component is generated and many disparate data sets are collected. More efficient data integration, management and visual analysis affords Incident Commanders and Section Chiefs the ability to make informed and timely planning, operational and strategic decisions. Traditionally GIS maps were created in the ICP from field sketches, field notes and verbal reports. Processing of these data by the GIS Unit is very time consuming and prone to error. Preliminary efforts to streamline and automate field data collection by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW, formerly the California Department of Fish and Game), Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to record waypoints and track lines. Since then more elegant electronic field data collection applications installed on small, handheld computers have been developed including those for “Wildlife Recovery and Transport”, “Resources at Risk” over flights, and the “Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique” (SCAT). Other recent advancements allow for real-time aerial remote sensing for oil slick detection and detailed mapping of its properties, and displaying the output from coastal High Frequency (HF) radar installations for real-time visualization of local ocean surface current fields. These field data collection applications are explained in more detail in the body of this paper. Once these data are incorporated into the GIS a web-based Common Operational Picture (COP) is utilized for timely dissemination of relevant geospatial data. OSPR has worked closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) to develop “Southwest ERMA” (Environmental Response Management Application) as California's COP for web-based data dissemination and incident situational awareness. At the Deepwater Horizon (MC-252) Incident Command Post (ICP) in Houma, Louisiana many responders were from outside of the region and unfamiliar with the local geography. Area base maps with a standardized coast line and place names were not readily available for several days which added unnecessary confusion to the mix. As a lesson learned and in order to avoid this situation for an oil spill response in California, OSPR and NOAA have pre-loaded Southwest ERMA with pertinent base maps, charts and spill response planning data from the three California Area Contingency Plans (ACPs). These data are deliberately made freely available to the general public via the Southwest ERMA web-viewer without any user login credentials required.

Between October 2013 and May 2016, 506 scat samples were collected from 22 species of wildlife located in a protected watershed of a major municipal water supply in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in the wildlife scat was 13.8% (70/506), with 15 species of wildlife found positive for Cryptosporidium. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium varied among species of wildlife, with higher prevalences observed in cougars (50.0%), mountain beavers (40.0%), and bobcats (33.3%), but none of these species are riparian-dependent. Genotyping of Cryptosporidium by sequencing PCR amplicons from the 18S rRNA gene were successful for seven species of wildlife, including bobcat, unknown predator, black-tailed deer, deer mouse, snowshoe hare, mountain beaver, and western spotted skunk. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses indicated that multiple species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium were present, with some isolates possibly co-circulating within and between wildlife populations in this protected watershed. Evidence of oocyst exchange between infected prey and their predators was also found. During the study period, several zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and genotypes that are uncommon in humans were detected in bobcat (99.58% identical to Cryptosporidium felis), unknown predator (100% identical to Cryptosporidium canis), snowshoe hare (100% identical to Cryptosporidium sp. skunk genotype), and mountain beaver (100% identical to Cryptosporidium ubiquitum). Novel sequences were also found in mountain beaver. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of a unique genotype or species of Cryptosporidium in mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa).

Though large felids are flagship species for wildlife conservation they are threatened due to various anthropogenic impacts. Mapping spatial patterns and quantification of threats to large felines can help conservation planning and resource allocation. The Leopard Panthera pardus, is categorized as Vulnerable by the IUCN as it faces a variety of threats. However, quantified data on the threats faced by leopards is scant. Hunting of wildlife using wire snares is one of the severest threats in India and elsewhere. Snaring, one of the simplest and most effective hunting techniques impacts other non-target species like the leopard. In this study, we document the spatial and temporal trends of snaring of leopards from India. Through content analysis of newspapers and news portals for the period January 2009-December 2020, we documented 113 incidents of leopards caught in snares of which 59.3% (5.5 leopards/year) resulted in mortality of leopards. Most snares (97.5%) were set to catch wild prey. Of the 84 incidents for which exact location details were available, the proportion of leopards caught in snares (54.7%, n = 46) and resulted in mortality (50%) in human-dense areas was significantly higher depicting an elevated threat from snares in these landscapes. Results from Generalised Additive Model indicated that snaring incidences increased with human population density. Percentage of protexted area to the geographical area within a district had little impact on the number of snaring incidents. The study results could help threat monitoring and conservation programs for leopards, especially outside the protexted area system.

Critical evaluations of bait attractiveness for camera trapping wildlife are scant even though use of the most attractive bait should improve detection of cryptic, threatened species. We aimed to determine the most attractive bait for camera trapping the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) and sympatric mammals. We also tested the effectiveness of overhead camera trap orientation in identifying individual northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) as this could be used to define a camera trap event for analysis purposes. Using white-flash camera traps, the attractiveness of four baits (peanut butter with oats, corn, sesame oil and sunflower kernels) and a control were compared for N. aquilo, D. hallucatus, the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) and the agile wallaby (Notamacropus agilis). Spot patterns of D. hallucatus were compared to determine the visitation rate of individuals. Peanut butter– and sesame oil–based baits were significantly more attractive to D. hallucatus, while I. macrourus strongly preferred the peanut butter bait. Bait type did not affect the mean number of events for N. aquilo or N. agilis. The consistently identifiable images of individual D. hallucatus were used to determine the optimal event delineator of 15 min. The improved techniques for camera trapping D. hallucatus should be valuable for future capture–recapture studies of this species. Camera trapping is a viable replacement for the ineffective method of indexing the abundance of N. aquilo using indirect signs.

Correction: The previously published version of the article had additional authors, including J.P. BELINGA, G. ETOGA, Expedit Bernard FOUDA and René MEIGARI. These names have been removed, for they did not really contribute to this work.
 L’écotourisme, alternative d’impulsion du développement et de financement durable, est une solution viable pour faire face à l’insuffisance de moyens financiers rencontrés par les gestionnaires de parcs nationaux. C’est ainsi que la présente étude s’est donnée pour objectif de savoir si les clairières forestières de Pondo situées dans la partie Sud du Parc National de Boumba-Bek possèdent un potentiel faunique susceptible d’être valorisé. Les méthodes du « scan sampling » et les « recces » ont été utilisées. Il ressort de l’analyse des données qu’un total de 16 espèces, représentées par plusieurs espèces emblématiques, entre autres, Loxodonta africana cyclotis, Gorilla gorilla, Panthera pardus. Les sites sont fréquemment visités en matinée (20,1%). Loxodonta africana cyclotis a l’abondance relative la plus élevée avec 0,699 indice au kilomètre. Un total de 68 signes d’activités anthropiques a été recensé pour un taux d’IKA moyen de 0,15 indice au km avec un coefficient de détermination R2 = 0,7674. Le coefficient de corrélation de Spearman r = -0,8760 a été obtenu à travers l’équation y = -44,144 x + 316,72. Il ressort de cette étude que les clairières forestières de Pondo sont régulièrement fréquentées et peuvent faire l’objet d’une valorisation écotouristique.
 Mots clés: Grands et moyens mammifères, clairières forestières, suivi écologique, parc national.
 English Title: Feasibility study of the implementation eco-tourist site in Boumba-Bek national park: case of Pondo forest clearings
 Ecotourism, an alternative to development stimulus and sustainable financing is a viable solution to address the financial constraints by national park managers. The objective of this study is to determine whether Pondo forest clearings in the southern part of Boumba-Bek national park have wildlife potential that can be harnessed for eco-tourism purposes. The “scan sampling” and “recces” methods were used. Analysis of the data shows that a total of 16 species represented by several emblematic species including Loxodonta africana cyclotis, Gorilla gorilla, Panthera pardus. Sites were frequently visited in the morning (20, 1%) and Loxodonta africana cyclotis has the highest relative abundance with 0,699 index per kilometer. A total of 68 signs of anthropogenic activity were identified for an average IKA rate of 0, 15 index per kilometer with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0, 7674. The correlation coefficient of Spearman r = -0, 8760 was obtained from equation y = -44,144 x + 316, 72. This study shows that Pondo forest clearings are regularly used and can be used for ecotourism purposes.Keywords: Large and medium mammals, forest clearings, ecological monitoring, national park.

AbstractIn this study, we investigated wolf feeding ecology in Kars province, north-eastern Turkey, by analysing 72 scat samples collected in spring 2013. Ongoing camera trap surveys suggest that large wild ungulates are exceptionally rare in the region. On the contrary, livestock is abundant. Accordingly, scats analysis revealed that livestock constituted most of the biomass intake for wolves, although small mammals were the most frequent prey items. Wild ungulates were occasional prey, and although wolves make use of the main village garbage dump as a food source, garbage remains were scarce in scat samples. Wolf dependence on anthropogenic resources, primarily livestock, generates human-wildlife conflicts in the study area. Uncontrolled carcass disposal seems to boost this wolf behaviour. Synanthropy enhances the probability of wolf-human encounters and thus increases the risk of direct persecution, vehicle collisions, and hybridisation with dogs. When livestock is not available, small mammals are an important alternative prey for wolves. This may increase interspecific competition, particularly with lynx, which is also lacking natural prey in the area. Our preliminary results contribute to wolf ecology and conservation in the Anatolian-Caucasian range, where further studies are urgently needed to generate baseline data.

Biodiversity informatics have emerged as a key asset in wildlife and ecological conservation around the world. This is especially true in Antarctica, where climate change continues to threaten marine and terrestrial species. It is well documented that the polar regions experience the most drastic rate of climate change compared to the rest of the world (IPCC 2021). Research approaches within the scope of polar biodiversity informatics consist of computational architectures and systems, analysis and modelling methods, and human-computer interfaces, ranging from more traditional statistical techniques to more recent machine learning and artificial intelligence-based imaging techniques. Ongoing discussions include making datasets findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) (Wilkinson et al. 2016). The deployment of biodiversity informatics systems and coordination of standards around their utilization in the Antarctic are important areas of consideration. To bring together scientists and practitioners working at the nexus of informatics and Antarctic biodiversity, the Expert Group on Antarctic Biodiversity Informatics (EG-ABI) was formed under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). EG-ABI was created during the SCAR Life Sciences Standing Scientific Group meeting at the SCAR Open Science Conference in Portland Oregon, in July 2012, to advance work at this intersection by coordinating and participating in a range of projects across the SCAR biodiversity science portfolio. SCAR, meanwhile, is a thematic organisation of the International Science Council (ISC), which is the primary entity tasked with coordinating high-quality scientific research on all aspects of Antarctic sciences and humanities, including the Southern Ocean and the interplay between Antarctica and the other six continents. The expert group is led by an international steering committee of roughly ten members, who take an active role in leading related initiatives. Currently, researchers from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Chile, Germany, France, and the United States are represented on the committee. The current steering committee is comprised of a diverse range of scientists, including early-career researchers and scientists that have primary focuses in both the computational and ecological aspects of Antarctic biodiversity informatics. Current projects that are being coordinated or co-coordinated by EG-ABI include the SCAR/rOpenSci initiative, which is a collaboration with the rOpenSci community to improve resources for users of the R software package in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science. Additionally, EG-ABI has contributed to the POLA3R project (Polar Omics Linkages Antarctic Arctic and Alpine Regions), which is an information system dedicated to aid in the access and discovery of molecular microbial diversity data generated by Antarctic scientists. Furthermore, EG-ABI has trained and helped collate additional species trait information such as feeding and diet information, development, mobility and their importance to society, documented through Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicator taxa, in The Register of Antarctic Species (http://ras.biodiversity.aq/), and the comprehensive inventory of Antarctic and Southern Ocean organisms, which is also a component of the World Register of Marine Species (https://marinespecies.org/). The efforts highlighted are only some of the projects that the expert groups have contributed to. In our presentation, we discuss the previous accomplishments of the EG-ABI from the perspective of a currently serving steering committee member and outline its state in the status quo including collaborations and coordinated activities. We also highlight opportunities for engagement and the benefits for various stakeholders in terms of interacting with EG-ABI on multiple levels, within the SCAR ecosystem and elsewhere. Developing consistent and practical standards for data use in Antarctic ecology, in addition to fostering interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations for the successful deployment of conservation mechanisms, are key to a sustainable and biodiverse Antarctica, and EG-ABI is one of the premier organizations working towards these aims.

Abstract Background Previously, twelve Rickettsia species were identified in ticks, fleas, sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a tick-bitten patient in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks. Methods During 2018–2019, 12 red foxes, one marbled polecat and their ticks were sampled in two counties and a city of the XUAR. The heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of these 13 carnivores were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers (17-kDa, gltA, ompA, sca1). Results A total of 26 adult ticks and 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga, nine Ixodes kaiseri, six Haemaphysalis erinacei and one Dermacentor marginatus) were collected from red foxes, and four Ha. erinacei ticks were removed from the marbled polecat. Analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences indicated that 2–32 nucleotides differed between I. canisuga, I. kaiseri and Ha. erinacei from northwestern China and Europe. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in three red foxes, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae in a red fox, Rickettsia sibirica in a red fox and a marbled polecat, and R. raoultii in two tick species (I. canisuga and D. marginatus). Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, I. canisuga and I. kaiseri have not been previously reported from red foxes in China. The DNA of R. sibirica and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in the organs of red foxes, and R. sibirica in the organs of a marbled polecat. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii in I. canisuga. Our findings expand the range of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife species and associated ticks in China.