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Context: Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis), originally introduced in the 1860s, are still spreading in eastern Australia. The expanding peri-urban rusa deer population in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia is having undesirable impacts on human and ecological communities, but the spatial structure of this population has not been investigated. Genetic information on invasive species is potentially useful in identifying management units to mitigate undesirable impacts. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate population structure, characterise dispersal, and determine if natural and human-made landscape features affected gene flow in rusa deer invading the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Methods: We used reduced representation sequencing (DArT-Seq) to analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms distributed throughout the genomic DNA of rusa deer culled during a management program. We used admixture and Principal Component Analyses to investigate population structure with respect to natural and human-made landscape features, and we investigated whether our genetic data supported the presence of sex-biased dispersal. Key results: Genetic diversity was highest in the north, near the original introduction site. A railway line demarcated restricted gene flow. Surprisingly, the Illawarra escarpment, a prominent landscape feature, did not restrict gene flow. There was no evidence of sex-biased dispersal and seven individuals were identified as genetic outliers. Conclusions: The genetic structure of the Illawarra rusa deer population is consistent with individuals spreading south from their introduction site in Royal National Park. The population is not panmictic, and a landscape feature associated with urbanisation was associated with increased spatial genetic structure. Outliers could indicate hybridisation or secondary incursion events. Implications: Rusa deer can be expected to continue invading southwards in the Illawarra region, but landscape features associated with urbanisation might reduce dispersal across the landscape. The genetic structuring of the population identified three potential management units on which to prioritise ground shooting operations. Understanding spatial structure is important for the management of invasive deer populations. We sequenced DNA from invasive rusa deer culled during a management program in the Illawarra region, New South Wales, Australia. Genetic diversity decreased from north (the original introduction site) to south, and we identified three spatially distinct units for managing rusa deer in the Illawarra region. Photograph by Scarlett Li-Williams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild animals harbour a diverse range of pathogens. In Europe and North America, cervids (Family Cervidae) can act as reservoirs for viral, prion, bacterial, and parasitic infections. Wild deer often inhabit agricultural land, therefore representing a biosecurity risk due to their potential ability to transmit diseases to livestock. Multiple studies have investigated the infection status of wild deer in Australia, mostly during the 1970s and 1980s, and deer populations have increased greatly in abundance and distribution since then. Those studies provide an important baseline for the pathogens carried by wild deer in Australia but are limited by small sample size, the small number of deer species studied, and the disease detection methods used. Recent investigations using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), PCR-based assays, and next-generation sequencing have substantially increased our understanding of viral and parasitic infections in Australian deer. These studies indicate that deer may act as reservoirs for pathogens such as Pestivirus , Neospora caninum and Entamoeba bovis. The use of next-generation sequencing has led to the discovery of novel viruses such as Picobirnavirus and a novel species of the genus Bopivirus , both of which pose transmission risks for domestic animals. Recent research confirms that wild deer could be a future source of viral and parasitic infections for domestic livestock and other wildlife species. We review published information documenting the prevalence of viral and parasitic infection in wild deer populations in Australia, comparing recent studies with previous research conducted about 40 years ago and considering them in a broader international context. Finally, we identify areas of future research and describe what potential role deer may have in a changing environment under the One Health approach. Photograph by Jordan Hampton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information regarding the food habits of tropical cervids is limited. We studied the food habits of rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), a tropical cervid in the Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. The faecal composition of the rusa deer collected over a year was analysed using microscopy of plant fragments. The results showed marked seasonal changes: in the rainy season, the rusa deer mainly fed on Cynodon dactylon, a lawn‐like grass, which accounted for approximately 50% of the faecal composition. During the dry season, C. dactylon in the faeces decreased to approximately 20%, while the composition of fruits increased, suggesting that food conditions for the deer were better in this season. This pattern differs from that of temperate cervids which can feed on abundant plant leaves during summer but are forced to consume low‐quality foods such as bark and dead leaves during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: The aim of this study was to evaluate home‐made and commercial extenders for the cryopreservation of Rusa deer semen. After collection by electroejaculation, six ejaculates were diluted and frozen in TES‐based, Tris‐based and Triladyl® extenders. Subjective motility, viability, morphology, acrosome integrity and membrane functionality were assessed post‐thawing and after 1‐hr incubation at 37°C (Thermal stress test). Total and progressive motility, and kinematic parameters were also assessed through CASA system. Post‐thawing sperm progressive motility (PM), velocity according to the straight path (VSL) and linearity (LIN) showed significant differences, and higher values were detected for spermatozoa diluted with Triladyl® and TES (p < 0.05) as compared with Tris (PM of Triladyl® 14.7% vs. 3.2% TES and 2.5% Tris; VSL 56 for Triladyl®, 59.2 for TES and 41.7 for Tris; LIN 45.6 for Triladyl®, 52 for TES and 36.5 for Tris). Triladyl® and TES extender led to better post‐thawing sperm parameters, but these preliminary results need to be verified through artificial insemination trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer are among the world's most successful invasive mammals and can have substantial deleterious impacts on natural and agricultural ecosystems. Six species have established wild populations in Australia, and the distributions and abundances of some species are increasing. Approaches to managing wild deer in Australia are diverse and complex, with some populations managed as 'game' and others as 'pests'. Implementation of cost-effective management strategies that account for this complexity is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the nature, extent and severity of deer impacts. T o clarify the knowledgebase and identify research needs, we conducted a systematic review of the impacts and management ofwild deer in Australia. Most wild deer are in south-eastern Australia, but bioclimatic analysis suggested that four species are well suited to the tropical and subtropical climates of northern Australia. Deercould potentially occupy most of the continent, including parts of the arid interior. The most significant impacts are likely to occur through direct effects of herbivory, with potentially cascading indirect effects on fauna and ecosystem processes. However, evidence of impacts in Australia is largely observational, and few studies have experimentally partitioned the impacts of deer from those of sympatric native and other introduced herbivores. Furthermore, there has been little rigorous testing of the efficacy of deer management in Australia, and our understanding of the deer ecology required to guide deer management is limited. We identified the following six priority research areas: (i) identifying long-term changes in plant communities caused by deer; (ii) understanding interactions with other fauna; (iii) measuring impacts on water quality; (iv) assessing economic impacts on agriculture (including as disease vectors); (v) evaluating efficacy of management for mitigating deer impacts; and (vi) quantifying changes in distribution and abundance. Addressing these knowledge gaps will assist the development and prioritisation of cost-effective management strategies and help increase stakeholder support for managing the impacts of deer on Australian ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to present baseline data on the reproductive anatomy of a poorly known tropical deer species, Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis). The anatomy of female reproductive system is described using seven uniparous hinds, aged between four and eight years. The various reproductive structures were studied via standard descriptive methods. There was a significant difference in the length and width of both right and left ovaries. The left ovary was slightly larger than the right ovary which indicates that it is physiologically more active. The results of the study showed that the anatomy of female reproductive system of R. timorensis was similar to that observed in domestic ruminants except that the uterus did not have an interconual ligament and this implies that the uterine horns are anchored in such a way that sperm deposited into only one uterine horn of the Rusa deer will be transported to the other uterine horn (interconual transport). Unlike the red brocket deer and pampas deer, the cervix of R. timorensis was characterized by six cervical rings projecting into the cervical canal. This feature should be taken into account when designing effective instrumentation and techniques for transcervical passage of semen during artificial insemination in this species. The results from this study have provided baseline data on the reproductive anatomy of this vulnerable species and the knowledge generated can be useful in the development of appropriate reproductive techniques in order to increase its population in captivity and also enable easy detection of its reproductive anomalies, thus strategies to propagate and conserve the species can be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population of approximately 70 000 rusa deer ( Cervus timorensis russa) represents the most important mammal species reared for food on the island of Mauritius, being the main source of red meat for the local population. However, very limited information is available on the circulation of pathogens affecting the productivity and health of this species. To produce baseline data on the circulation of infectious pathogens in rusa deer under production, a serological survey and/or direct pathogen detection for six selected infectious diseases was undertaken in 2007 in a sample of 53% of the herds reared in semi-free-ranging conditions in hunting estates. Seropositive results were recorded for Johne's disease with an indirect ELISA test (1.7%, n = 351), heartwater with an immunofluorescence antibody test ( IFAT) (95.5%, n = 178) and leptospirosis with a Microscopic Agglutination Test ( MAT) (25.9%, n = 363). Significant associations were found between seroprevalence to some of the leptospiral serogroups detected (Tarassovi, Pomona, Sejroe and Mini) and age of the animals, animal density or location of the estates (being more prevalent in hotter and more humid areas). In addition, Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis were confirmed in two deer carcasses by culture and PCR, respectively. No antibodies against Brucella spp. nor Rift Valley Fever virus were detected with the use of respective indirect ELISA's. The results obtained suggest that the population of rusa deer from Mauritius is exposed to a wide range of pathogens which may affect their productivity. In addition, the results highlight the potential public health risks incurred by deer industry workers and consumers. This survey fills an important gap in knowledge regarding the health of tropical deer meat in Mauritius and justifies the need to implement more regular surveys of selected pathogens in the deer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia has a range of native and introduced large herbivores that could affect the abundance of small mammals through direct and indirect effects. Here we study the relationship between occurrence of the introduced rusa deer ( Rusa timorensis) and the native swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor), and the abundance of four species of native small mammals in coastal heath vegetation with varying fire history. The abundance of two species, the brown antechinus ( Antechinus stuartii) and bush rat ( Rattus fuscipes), was related to occurrence of large herbivores and was dependent also on fire history. Abundance of swamp rats ( R. lutreolus) and New Holland mice ( Pseudomys novaehollandiae) was not related to the occurrence of any of the large herbivores, and did not depend on fire history. At sites burned within the last 9 years, captures of brown antechinus were negatively related to both deer and wallaby occurrence, and captures of bush rats were negatively related to deer occurrence. However, at sites that burned more than 15 years ago, captures of brown antechinus and bush rats were not related to large herbivore occurrence. Overall there was either no relationship, or a negative one, between small mammals and the large herbivores. This mensurative study has demonstrated relationships between deer and wallabies and small mammals, with fire as an additional important factor. From the results of the current study we put forward a series of hypotheses that need to be tested by future experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the abundances of prey is important for informing the management of threatened and endangered predators. We evaluated the usefulness of faecal counts and distance sampling for monitoring the abundances of rusa deer Rusa timorensis, feral pig Sus scrofa and water buffalo Bubalus bubalis, the three key prey of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, at 11 sites on five islands in and aroundKomodoNational Park, eastern Indonesia.We used species-specific global detection functions and cluster sizes (i.e. multiple covariates distance sampling) to estimate densities of rusa deer and feral pig, but there were too few observations to estimate densities of water buffalo. Rusa deer densities varied from from 2.5 to 165.5 deer/km2 with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 15-105%. Feral pig densities varied from 0.0 to 25.2 pigs/km2 with CVs of 25-106%. There was a positive relationship between estimated faecal densities and estimated population densities for both rusa deer and feral pig: the form of the relationship was non-linear for rusa deer, but there was similar support for linear and non-linear relationships for feral pig. We found that faecal counts were more useful when ungulate densities were too low to estimate densities with distance sampling. Faecal count methods were also easier for field staff to conduct than distance sampling. Because spatial and temporal variation in ungulate density is likely to influence the population dynamics of the Komodo dragon, we recommend that annual monitoring of ungulates in and around Komodo National Park be undertaken using distance sampling and faecal counts. The relationships reported here will also be useful for managers establishing monitoring programmes for feral pig, rusa deer and water buffalo elsewhere in their native and exotic ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that wild game provides a significant proportion of the dietary protein of the indigenous people of the eastern half of New Guinea (PNG), but almost nothing is known of its importance in the western half (the Indonesian province of Papua or Irian Jaya). We quantified hunting effort, harvest rates and wild meat consumption and sale in the Jayapura region of north-east Papua through interviews with 147 hunters from 21 villages and meal surveys in 93 households. Ten species of mammals, seven species of birds and at least two species of reptiles were harvested in our study area, but the introduced wild pig and rusa deer were the major target species. Hunting in our study area has shifted from a purely subsistence activity towards a more commercial form at least partly due to the emergence of markets created by Indonesian transmigrants. Although the hunting of non-indigenous and certain native species might be sustainable, the maintenance of populations of large threatened species will require sensitive management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined antibodies against Taxoplasma gondii by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in New Caledonia in April 2009. Antibodies to Taxoplasma gondii were detected in 2% of the pigs, 16% of the horses, and 32.8% of the dogs. The study found no difference between Taxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and age or sex, and circulation of Taxoplasma gondii exists in the animal populations of New Caledonia. Sanitary education and respect for good hygiene are suggested.

m.b. ghali, p.t. scott and r.a.m. al jassim. 2004.Isolation and characterization ofStreptococcus bovisfrom the dromedary camel and Rusa deer.Bacteria were isolated from the rumen contents of four camels and two deer fed lucerne hay by culturing on the semi-selective medium MRS agar. Based on Gram morphology and RFLP analysis seven isolates, MPR1, MPR2, MPR3, MPR4, MPR5, RD09 and RD11 were selected and putatively identified asStreptococcus. The identity of these isolates was later confirmed by comparative DNA sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene with the homologous sequence fromS. bovisstrains, JB1, C14b1, NCFB2476, SbR1, SbR7 and Sb5, from cattle and sheep, and theStreptococcus equinusstrain NCD01037T. The percentage similarity amongst all strains was>99%, confirming the identification of the camel isolates asS. bovis. The strains were further characterized by their ability to utilize a range of carbohydrates, the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactate and the determination of the doubling time in basal medium 10 supplemented with glucose. All the isolates producedl-lactate as a major fermentation end product, while four of five camel isolates produced VFA. The range of carbohydrates utilized by all the strains tested, including those from cattle and sheep were identical, except that all camel isolates and the deer isolate RD11 were additionally able to utilize arabinose.Streptococcus boviswas successfully isolated from the rumen of camels and deer, and shown by molecular and biochemical characterization to be almost identical toS. bovisisolates from cattle and sheep.Streptococcus bovisis considered a key lactic acid producing bacterium from the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, and has been implicated as a causative agent of lactic acidosis. This study is the first report of the isolation and characterization ofS. bovisfrom the dromedary camel and Rusa deer, and suggests a major contributive role of this bacterium to fermentative acidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal heathlands of the Royal National Park are impacted by both fire and herbivory by introduced deer, and to date these two factors have been dealt with independently in the management of natural areas. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition for a more integrated approach to manage these two disturbance agents. Fire and its role in Australian heathlands are well known, while impacts from introduced deer and the combined effects of fire and introduced deer are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of fire and Javan rusa deer ( Cervus timorensis) on both vegetation cover and floristics. The percentage cover of plants at different height layers and the presence/absence of individual species were recorded at sites representing two different burn histories (1993/1994 and 2000/2001) and deer presence or absence. Fire significantly reduced vegetation cover at low (<50 cm) and intermediate heights (50-100 cm), while deer presence affected grasses and sedges, and low vegetation at more recently burnt sites. Rusa deer also affected composition of the plant species assemblages, but no such effect was found for fire. Understanding the influence of each disturbance factor independently and together in the heathlands will be critical for implementing a more robust framework for future management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We applied an adaptive management approach to reduce extinction risks faced by a disjunct and ecologically significant population of Black Cypress Pine ( Callitris endlicheri), listed as an endangered population on the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. In summer 2001–2002, an unplanned fire burnt the population, resulting in mortality of most standing plants. Concerns were raised about the potential impact of herbivores, particularly feral Rusa Deer ( Cervus timorensis), on the recruitment of post-fire seedlings that might replace the loss of fire-killed standing plants. We applied an adaptive management approach to detect trends in the population following the fire, and to evaluate and trial in situ management options for mitigating threats to the remaining plants. Post-fire monitoring detected continuing declines in both the remaining adult population and the post-fire cohort of seedlings, and identified browsing by Deer as a serious and ongoing threat to the population. We designed a controlled experiment, with the aid of natural and artificial ‘nurse plants’ to assess the effects of herbivore exclusion on seedling growth and survival, and to test for differences in those effects under alternative management strategies. The experiment was designed and implemented with little cost other than field time and with logistic constraints on replication. By protecting exposed seedlings from browsing using woody debris, we were able to significantly increase seedling growth and survival, and to quickly arrest the population decline. Our results suggest that excluding Deer from the population by more permanent means will have a significant positive effect on its long-term persistence. Our case study demonstrates the utility of adaptive management approaches in threatened species conservation, their feasibility even under severe budgetary and logistical constraints, and how ongoing monitoring and experimentation are crucial for successful management of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]