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In North America, most ungulate species exhibit life‐history traits typical of long‐lived, iteroparous species wherein young males tend to prioritize essential life functions including body growth and maintenance that constrains allocation of resources to horn, antler, and pronghorn growth. As a result, males of most ungulate species require several years of growth before reaching asymptotic body size and thereafter, peak weapon size is attained. Unique among ungulate species in North America, pronghorn possess a suite of life‐history traits resulting in a precocious (i.e., unusually early development) pace of life relative to other North American ungulates. We tested the hypothesis that the fast pace of life of pronghorn extends to precocious development of large horns, and evaluated how horn size was affected by environmental conditions during the year they were grown and the potential for cohort effects associated with environmental signatures during the year of birth. We evaluated the influence of age and the environment on horn size of pronghorn using data collected from 1,789 male pronghorn harvested from 2019 to 2022 in Wyoming, USA. Pronghorn attained 95% of their peak horn size by 3.5 years old. Climatic conditions influenced horn growth through cohort effects and year of growth pathways. Snow depth during the year of birth positively influenced horn size, whereas the effects of environmental conditions during the year of horn growth were dependent on age. For young animals, snow depth and moderate drought positively influenced horn size during the year of horn growth, but the effect was negligible for prime aged and old animals. The precocious nature of pronghorn extended to their horn growth characteristics, resulting in early attainment of a large proportion of their peak horn size. The unique ecology of pronghorn and rapid attainment of size early in life can allow for greater flexibility to balance hunter opportunity and production of large‐horned males for pronghorn as compared with other ungulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental feeding of wild ungulates has long been and remains a common practice across Europe and North America. Yet by drawing animals together, supplemental feeding can have unintended, negative effects on individual species and broader ecological processes. These include increased risk of disease transmission, intraspecific and interspecific competition, and predation, which are of management concern for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern United States given the arrival of nonnative wild pigs (Sus scrofa) and coyotes (Canis latrans). We conducted a field experiment between March and July of 2021 to assess the effects of supplemental feeding on spatiotemporal activity patterns of deer and wild pigs at wildlife feeders, and space use of coyotes in the Piedmont region of South Carolina, USA. We observed support for our hypothesis that interspecific competition through increased visitation by larger groups of competitor species reduces use of foraging sites by other subordinate ungulates, where feeders highly visited by wild pigs were rarely visited by deer. While adult deer and wild pigs generally did not shift their temporal activity patterns at feeders, juvenile temporal activity shifted to more frequent visits of feeders during the night, supporting our hypothesis that supplemental feed could increase risk to predator exposure, as coyotes tend to be active during crepuscular hours. Our findings suggest that supplemental feed put out to encourage deer activity could actually deter deer if wild pigs occupy that area, and has potential negative demographic effects if juveniles are at increased risk of predation. Collectively, based on our data, we do not recommend supplemental feeding in the southeastern United States where white‐tailed deer, coyotes, and wild pigs co‐occur. More broadly, given how widespread the legal use of supplemental feed remains across the United States, we encourage landowners and policymakers to consider the full suite of potential direct and indirect, short‐term and long‐term negative impacts supplemental feeding can have on both target and nontarget wildlife populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind farms are still developing dynamically worldwide, with promising prospects for further growth. Therefore, the assessment of their impact on animals has been carried out. So far, few studies have been conducted on game mammals, and their results are divergent. Previous studies on the impact of wind farms on game species were typically based on regional research covering one or, at most, several wind farms. In this study, we aimed to verify the effect of wind farms on the density of game mammals through a large-scale analysis at the country level, using lowland Poland as an example. The study was based on hunting bag data from open-field hunting districts. It covered seven game species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), European badger (Meles meles), European polecat (Mustela putorius), and European hare (Lepus europaeus). We used Corine Land Cover to account for differences in land cover and the area covered by wind farms in generalized linear mixed models. The study showed that in agricultural landscapes, mainly herbivorous species of game mammals were related to land cover types. These species tend to exhibit higher densities in agricultural areas containing more natural landscape features. Conversely, mesocarnivores are primarily driven by the abundance of prey with little to no observable effects from land cover types. Only roe deer and wild boar presented lower densities with an increase in the area covered by wind farms (for roe deer: estimate: − 0.05, 95% CI: − 0.1–0.0; for wild boar: estimate: − 0.03, 95% CI: − 0.11–0.05), while no effect was observed for mesocarnivores or European hare. The underlying reasons for these relationships remain unclear and require more specific studies. The uncertainty regarding the cause of the observed effects did not allow for a large-scale assessment of the impact of further wind energy development on the studied game mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unravelling abrupt alterations in the gut microbiota of wild species associated with nutritional stress is imperative but challenging for wildlife conservation. This study assessed the nutritional status of wild red deer during winter on the basis of changes in faecal nitrogen (FN) and urea nitrogen/creatinine (UN: C) levels and identified gut microbes associated with nutritional status via nutritional control experiments and metagenomic sequencing. The FN of wild red deer in winter 2022 was significantly lower than that in winter 2021 (p < 0.05, winter 2021: 1.37 ± 0.16% and winter 2022: 1.26 ± 0.22%), and the UN: C ratio increased (winter 2021: 2.19 ± 1.65 and winter 2022: 3.05 ± 3.50). Similar trends were found in late winter, which indicated greater nutritional pressure in winter (2022) and late winter. Compared with winter 2021, abundances of Ructibacterium and Butyrivibrio significantly increased, and Acetatifactor and Cuneatibacter significantly decreased during winter 2022 (p < 0.05). Compared with early winter, the cell growth and death pathways increased and lipid metabolism and its subpathway of secondary bile acid synthesis (ko00121) significantly decreased during late winter (p < 0.05), which was similar to the changes in malnourished experimental red deer. Abrupt alterations in the gut microbiota should receive increased attention when monitoring the nutritional health of wild ungulates. This study provides new insights and critical implications for the conservation of wild ungulate populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock‐climbing robots have significant potential in fieldwork and planetary exploration. However, they currently face limitations such as a lack of stability and adaptability on extreme terrains, slow locomotion, and single functionality. This study introduces a novel multimodal and adaptive rock‐climbing robot (MARCBot), which addresses these limitations through spiny grippers that draw inspiration from morpho‐functionalities observed in beetles, arboreal birds, and hoofed animals. This hybrid bioinspired design enables high attachment strength, passive adaptability to different terrains, and quick attachment on rock surfaces. The multimodal functionality of the gripper allows for attachment during climbing and support during walking. A novel control strategy using dynamics and quadratic programming (QP) optimizes attachment wrench distribution, reducing cost‐of‐transport by 20.03% and 6.05% compared to closed‐loop inverse kinematic (CLIK) and virtual model control (VMC) methods, respectively. MARCBot achieved climbing speeds of 0.15 m min−1 on a vertical discrete rock surface under gravity and trotting speeds of up to 0.21 m s−1 on various complex terrains. It is the first robot capable of climbing on rock surfaces and trotting in complex terrains without the need for switching end‐effectors. This study highlights significant advancements in climbing and multimodal locomotion for robots in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) to precisely characterize the body plans of Elephantidae and other large herbivorous mammals; (2) based on this analysis, to determine whether the body plans of the extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and steppe mammoth (M. trogontherii) differ from those of modern‐day Elephantidae: the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the African bush (Loxodonta africana), and forest (L. cyclotis) elephants; (3) to analyze how the body plans have changed in extant perissodactyls and proboscideans compared with their Paleogene ancestors. To accomplish this, we studied mammoth skeletons from the collections of Russian museums and compared this data with a large number of skeletons of extant elephantids, odd‐toed, and even‐toed ungulates, as well as their extinct relatives. We showed that three genera of Elephantidae are characterized by a homogeneous body plan, which is markedly different from other large herbivores. Elephantids break the interrelationship, that exists in artiodactyls and perissodactyls, between the total length of the head and neck on one side and the limb's segments on the other. Their limbs are very tall (inferior in this regard among large ungulates only to the giraffe), and, contrary to the other large herbivorous mammals, elongated due to the length of the proximal segments. This allows them to effectively utilize the principle of inverted pendulum (straight‐legged walking) in locomotion. The biggest differences in the body plan of mammoths compared with extant elephants are a markedly larger pelvis, elongated fore‐ and hindlimbs (due to the increased relative length of their proximal segments), and different proportions of the skull. The body plans of plesiomorphic Paleogene proboscideans and perissodactyls differed markedly from their descendants in every body part; these differences are related, on the one hand, to the allometric growth, and on the other hand, to the advancement of the locomotor apparatus in the course of their evolution. The most notable difference in the body plan between Paleogene proboscidean Moeritherium and extant Elephantidae is the ~2‐fold increase in relative limb height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcasses of wild mammals provide convenient samples for wildlife disease investigators. Specifically, antibodies can persist in the blood and tissues of animals up to a few days after death and can provide information on exposure to specific pathogens, including microorganisms with zoonotic implications, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spp., Brucella spp., and Mycobacterium spp. Although screening samples from decaying wildlife for antibodies is not a new method, an overview of the literature with clear recommendations on best practices is lacking. Here, we present results from a systematic review of 115 studies using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect pathogen antibodies in wild mammals across 298 individual research projects. We discuss the range of mammalian hosts and the pathogens most represented in the literature and suggest improvements to consider when using samples from decaying animals for seroinvestigation. Our results indicate that the most examined mammals were artiodactyl ungulates and that antibodies against the bacteria Brucella spp. are those most examined to date, followed by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, malignant catarrhal fever virus, Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus, and the coccidian Neospora caninum. The effect of haemolysis in serum samples on ELISA results was considered in only 3.7% of the research projects we reviewed, sample size decisions were not outlined in 83% of research projects, and half of the projects did not examine seroprevalence in different age classes. Nevertheless, these details are important for replicability and accurate interpretation of results. We highlight the benefits and limitations of detecting antibodies against pathogens in carcasses from wild mammalian groups. Wild mammals are reservoirs for a wide range of pathogens including those with zoonotic potential and investigating their carcasses can help wildlife investigators to better understand the epidemiology of many diseases with implications for wildlife, livestock, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under an optimal foraging scenario, prey selection would be expected to occur when food resources are abundant. A positive frequency‐dependent prey selection would elicit prey switching when the abundance of main food resources decreases, potentially favouring community resilience to the effects of intensive, selective predation on a single prey. We assessed whether a positive frequency‐dependent prey selection by the wolf Canis lupus occurred in two areas hosting abundant populations of wild ungulates, one in northern (Słowiński National Park, Poland) and the other one in southern (Maremma Regional Park, Italy) Europe, throughout a cold semester. In Słowiński, ungulate community was dominated by red deer Cervus elaphus (57% availability) over wild boar Sus scrofa (35%) and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (8%); wild boar and fallow deer Dama dama (43–37%) were more abundant than roe deer (20%) in Maremma. In both areas, wolf diet was dominated by wild ungulates, with a major use of red deer in Słowiński and wild boar in Maremma. Prey selection occurred in both areas, and it was addressed towards the most abundant prey in Słowiński, that is, the red deer, but only towards the wild boar in Maremma, where the fallow deer was used according to availability. In Slowinski, high red deer density may have driven wolf prey selection, while the shifting of activity rhythms of the fallow deer in the Maremma as antipredator response to wolf presence may have reduced predation. Despite its comparable densities between the two areas, the wild boar was selected in Maremma and under‐used in Słowiński. Results provide partial support to positive frequency‐dependent selection, emphasising the spatiotemporal plasticity of wolf–prey relationships. The relative role of prey density and other factors (e.g., antipredator behavioural responses) should be assessed at longer temporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male‐biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is common in ungulates. The dominant scenario for the evolution of ungulate SSD suggests that habitat openness leads to greater SSD by increasing group size and thus sexual selection through male–male competition for mates. At a more proximate level, adaptive changes in SSD may result from the plastic response of individuals to environmental variation. In this study, we used 161,948 body mass data from a seasonally size‐dimorphic species, the northern chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, to examine the role of forest cover and other environmental variables in the expression of SSD. Data were collected from individuals hunted in the Austrian Alps, grouped into 28 mountain ranges with different forest cover, geological substrate and population density. Population‐specific growth curves were fitted using monomolecular models, and SSD was calculated as the log‐transformed ratio of male to female asymptotic body mass. A path model in which environmental factors indirectly influenced SSD via male or female body mass suggested that SSD increased with increasing density via reduced female body mass and decreased on siliceous substrates via reduced male body mass. Forest cover was negatively associated with body mass in both sexes, but not with variation in SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The extensive field work study between 2020 and 2023 led to the discovery of three new species of wood-inhabiting fungi; Tropicoporus pannaensis, Tropicoporus subindicus, and Tropicoporus xerophyticus from the southern part of India. The detailed descriptions and illustrations along with molecular support are presented. These discoveries may contribute to our understanding of species diversity and ecology, ultimately benefiting the society by informing the conservation efforts and exploring the potential biomolecules. This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of three new species of Tropicoporus from the southern parts of India. The analyses of the ITS and nLSU regions revealed the novelty of these species, which have been named T. pannaensis, T. subindicus, and T. xerophyticus. All three species possess pileate basidiomes, a monomitic hyphal system in the context, and the presence of cystidioles and setae. However, they differ significantly in their phylogenetic placements and other morpho-taxonomic features. Tropicoporus pannaensis is characterized by a meagrely ungulate basidiome, indistinct zones, and an obtuse margin. Tropicoporus subindicus has a triquetrous basidiome and a radially cracked, crusted pileal surface with an acute margin, while T. xerophyticus is distinguished by an imbricate, perennial basidiome with an abundantly warted pileal surface. A phylogenetic tree is provided to show the placement of the three new species, along with detailed descriptions and illustrations. Additionally, a key for the identification of the Asian species of Tropicoporus is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apex predators exert suppressive effects on mesocarnivores; however, they also provide important carrion subsidies. Optimal foraging theory predicts that individuals respond to resource competition by using high-value resources, while competition theory predicts that individuals respond by partitioning resources. This study investigated how the return of wolves (Canis lupus Linneas, 1758) to Washington state impacted the diet of a subordinate carnivore—the coyote (Canis latrans Say, 1823). We collected coyote scats from two areas of northern Washington with differing wolf densities and used traditional analysis of undigested remains to infer diet. We tested for differences in the volumes of prey categories, the proportion of ungulate prey that was scavenged, and diet diversity between seasons, study sites, and inside and outside of wolf pack territories. Coyote scats contained more adult ungulate remains inside of wolf pack territories (27%) compared to outside (14%), while seeds and berries were more commonly consumed outside of wolf pack territories (23%) than inside of wolf pack territories (4%). These findings suggest that coyotes are taking advantage of wolf kills to increase ungulate carrion consumption, as predicted by optimal foraging theory, which may substantially affect plant and wildlife communities as wolves continue to recover and coyote diets shift in response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mother–offspring communication is especially crucial for social species in order to synchronize activities essential for early survival including nursing, resting, maintaining proximity during group movements between food or water sources, and locating one another if separated in a large social group. One of the most social ungulate species in North America is the American Bison (Bison bison), formerly known as buffalo. Adult female bison associate with their young for over a year and communication between mother and offspring is likely essential for establishing and maintaining a bond upon which the life of a calf depends. One goal of this study was to quantify and compare the acoustic form of vocalizations of adult female, subadult, and calf bison and to determine how age classes differed in call structure. The other goal was to identify the contexts in which bison vocalized. Vocalizations of 101 bison (53 adult females, 15 subadults, 33 calves) in a semi-free-ranging herd in Montana were analyzed and found to be pulsatile sounds, unlike vocalizations of bison bulls or domestic cows and calves. Vocalizations of bison cows, subadults, and calves differed significantly in total duration, numbers of pulses, pulse duration, and pulse rate. Seven distinct call contexts were identified. The majority of calls were "moving-on calls" (39%), when a cow called and her calf ran to her side and the 2 moved on together, and "contact calls" (21%) when a cow called and her calf called back but neither changed their location. "Imprinting calls" and "nursing calls" were also identified. Mother–offspring acoustic communication in bison appears especially critical for coordinating movements. Understanding the role of acoustic communication in maintaining the bond between bison mothers and their offspring can contribute to the humane management and welfare of this iconic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of mutual allogrooming in free-ranging wild northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) from dense tropical forests of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha, India. This observation is similar to reciprocal allogrooming behaviour between social partners, reported only in Impala (Aepyceros melampus) in free-ranging conditions. We video-recorded cooperative allogrooming between two female (one adult and another juvenile) northern red muntjacs. Behavioural quantification suggests that although both individuals exchanged equal numbers of grooming bouts, the adult female received a greater share of grooming time and episodes, respectively. The time spent on grooming as well as the number of tongue strokes delivered were found to be negatively correlated between the two individuals. The grooming pattern could possibly be attributed to kin selection and detailed work is required to understand this behaviour in this poorly-studied primitive deer. Our record indicates the possible existence of cooperative allogrooming in other ungulates of the Order Artiodactyla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop damage and vehicle collisions caused by wild ungulates require effective deterrents. Many commercial acoustic devices use ultrasonic signals, presenting them as aversive to these animals. However, unconvincing results reported in previous studies using (non-frequency modulated) ultrasounds bring their effectiveness as deterrent signals into question. Here, we explored the deterrent effectiveness of ultrasounds in several large mammalian species that are expected to perceive these high frequencies. Specifically, we tested the effect of different ultrasonic signals on red deer, peccaries, and wolves. Animals were exposed to sequences of nine acoustic signals in the 20–30 kHz frequency range, and to a lower-pitched signal (2–3 kHz). While red deer showed no aversion to ultrasonic signals (inaudible for humans), lower frequency (audible for humans) modulations increased aversive responses. Conversely, peccaries showed strong flight responses to several ultrasonic signals. Wolves also reacted to ultrasounds but did not flee. Our study confirms that ultrasonic signals are not suitable for deterring European red deer. However, our results suggest that their effectiveness in other species should be systematically tested, without assuming that their hearing frequency range is a reliable predictor of their behavioural responses to ultrasonic signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ungulate species in Africa range in habitats that vary in type and quality over space and time, but ongoing environmental change is substantially altering their habitats. Identifying key environmental variables that regulate ungulate population densities can guide management actions for effective conservation. We studied the local population density responses of a community of sympatric ungulate species in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania, to a suite of environmental factors that vary over space and time, to quantify population trends, determine the primary environmental correlates of densities, and identify covariation in densities among species. We estimated seasonal densities of five commonly detected species (impala, dik–dik, Grant's gazelle, eland, and waterbuck) based on 7 years of distance‐sampling data from 41 replicate surveys of 237 line transects. We systematically analyzed the effects of spatial, seasonal, and annual environmental covariates on variation in transect species‐specific densities across space and time. Large fluctuations in climatic factors mediated highly synchronous temporal density variation among all species. We documented more spatial than temporal variation in four of the five species, suggesting that spatial heterogeneity may provide some buffer against temporal variation in the environment. Protection of sufficient habitats and water sources should allow ungulates to respond to a temporally changing world by moving across space. Further, among‐species covariation patterns identified two potential ungulate guilds (impala—dik–dik—waterbuck; eland—Grant's gazelle) that should aid in developing efficient and coordinated management actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overabundant ungulate populations are frequently hard to control in woodlands and protected areas, such as El Palmar National Park, where controlled shooting failed to reduce the relative abundance of axis deer (Axis axis) over a decade. We compared the effectiveness of spotlight hunting to cull axis deer with daytime and nighttime controlled shooting over bait stations. We tested whether harvest composition differed among methods by multiple regression and fitted functional response models to culling and sighting data. The trial included 18 sessions and 49 hunter groups, each supervised by a park ranger, who traveled a randomly allocated, fixed itinerary in a slow-moving vehicle, sighted and shot the deer, and retrieved and measured the carcass. Spotlighting culled 2.8–6.2 times more deer per hunting party-session and a significantly greater fraction of subadult or adult deer than daytime and overnight shooting. Relatively more females were culled by spotlighting (58.5%) than by daytime (43.5%) and overnight (47.3%) sessions. Pregnancy rates were 2.4–3.8 times greater by spotlighting (34.0%) than in overnight (14.1%) or daytime (9.0%) sessions. The deer harvested by spotlighting or overnight shooting were significantly heavier than those culled by daytime sessions. A Type II functional response fitted the data better than other competing models. Inter-method differences in harvest size and composition most likely explain the historical inability of daytime shooting to curb deer numbers despite intensified efforts. Spotlighting conducted by supervised, organized hunters was effective for targeted deer control and removed deer with greater reproductive value than shooting over bait stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed knowledge of dietary preferences in wild species are important both for understanding evolutionary processes as well as for their conservation. By means of DNA metabarcoding analysis of faecal samples, we investigated the diet of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), a mountain ungulate characterised by strong sexual dimorphism and segregation, and analysed differences between male and female diet. Despite a low level of selectivity, we found differences in the diet of males and females that consumed different plant in different quantities. Differences were maintained during both spring and summer. Males tended to feed more on plants richer in fibres (i.e., grasses and sedges) and showed stronger seasonal differences while females consumed more digestible plant families (i.e., forbs). Differences in diet between male and female Alpine ibex are compatible with the strong sexual dimorphism and segregation typical of the species and with female reproductive constraints. These results also show that conservation actions have to take into account different ecological needs of males and females in species characterized by sexual dimorphism and segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapidly expanding human activities have profoundly changed the habitat use of both large carnivores and their prey, but whether and how human activities affect the interactions between them has received relatively less attention. In this study, we conducted a systematically designed camera-trapping survey on an endangered large carnivore (North Chinese leopard Panthera pardus japonensis) and its wild ungulate prey (Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa) in the Taihang Mountains of central North China. Using conditional two-species occupancy model based on data derived from the extensive sampling effort (15,654 camera-days at 102 camera sites), we examined the relationship of spatial use between leopards and each prey species under the effects of human presence, free-ranging cattle, roads and settlements. Results: Humans and cattle had contrasting effects on the relationship of spatial use between leopard and roe deer, with higher and lower spatial segregation between them at human and cattle-frequented sites, respectively. Roads might create a shelter for wild boar from leopard predation, with less spatial segregation between them at sites close to the roads. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that human activities are reshaping the spatial overlap between large carnivores and their prey, and have non-equivalent effects among different types of human activity. Such effects may further alter the strength of interspecific interactions between predator and prey, with far-reaching influences on the community and ecosystem that require more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome‐wide technologies open up new possibilities to clarify questions on genetic structure and phylogeographic history of taxa previously studied with microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequences. Here, we used 736 individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples genotyped at 35,701 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) to assess the population structure of the species throughout Europe. The results identified 28 populations, with higher degrees of genetic distinction in peripheral compared to mainland populations. Iberian red deer show high genetic differentiation, with lineages in Western and Central Iberia maintaining their distinctiveness, which supports separate refugial ranges within Iberia along with little recent connection between Iberian and the remaining Western European populations. The Norwegian population exhibited the lowest variability and the largest allele frequency differences from mainland European populations, compatible with a history of bottlenecks and drift during post‐glacial colonization from southern refugia. Scottish populations showed high genetic distance from the mainland but high levels of diversity. Hybrid zones were found between Eastern and Western European lineages in Central Europe as well as in the Pyrenees, where red deer from France are in close contact with Iberian red deer. Anthropogenic restocking has promoted the Pyrenean contact zone, admixture events in populations on the Isle of Rum and in the Netherlands, and at least partly the admixture of the two main lineages in central‐eastern Europe. Our analysis enabled detailed resolution of population structure of a large mammal widely distributed throughout Europe and contributes to resolving the evolutionary history, which can also inform conservation and management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group living has well-known costs and benefits. Large groups may experience greater competition for resources, while simultaneously benefit from reduced risk through predator dilution. When there is a tradeoff between forage acquisition and predation risk, the ability to congregate into large groups may unlock access to previously unavailable habitat with high risk of predation, thereby increasing forage available to the population. We evaluated whether forage availability increased with population size and how it was mediated through changes in group size. There was a tradeoff between forage availability and predation risk. Larger groups used areas with more forage biomass and greater predation risk than smaller groups. Group size also increased with population abundance, meaning bighorn sheep used gentler terrain and areas with more forage biomass at greater population abundance. Group size functionally increased carrying capacity by yielding access to more resources for growing populations of gregarious ungulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current theory predicts that plains zebra (Equus quagga) populations should be resource‐limited. Long‐term, detailed work in the Hwange ecosystem (Zimbabwe) on zebras and all their major predators provides empirical data to test this on a population that has been at a low density for at least 2 decades and is largely naturally regulated. Information on body condition is used as an indicator of resource use, and offtakes by the three major predators are estimated from a synthesis of data on densities and diets. This information leads to rejection of the expectations for resource limitation. Zebras provide a significant part of the diets of all the main predators and are important (11%) for the most abundant of these, spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). Using conservative values, we calculate that the three main predators, hyaenas, lions (Panthera leo), and leopards (Panthera pardus), kill some 17.5% of the zebra population. Given that this estimated offtake is of the same order of magnitude as maximum population growth (22.3% per year), we conclude that this population is likely to be limited by predation. Further work is needed to better understand the mechanisms by which the greater susceptibility of juveniles to predation in ungulates contributes to population limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever since the discovery of Macrauchenia patachonica by Charles Darwin in 1834, the affinities of litopterns—a group of extinct South American Native Ungulates (SANUs)—have been elusive. In particular, the interfamilial relationships and timing of the familial diversification within the order Litopterna have not been addressed with adequate taxon and character sampling, and modern phylogenetic methods. We address these issues using a new morphological matrix of 703 dental and mandibular characters, scored for the earliest litopterns alongside early SANUs of other orders (Astrapotheria, Notoungulata, Pyrotheria, and Xenungulata). We also included members of families that have been often included within Litopterna, such as Didolodontidae, Protolipternidae, Indaleciidae, and Notonychopidae, the last two sometimes grouped in the order Notopterna. We conducted maximum parsimony and undated and tip-dated Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Our results indicate that (1) didolodontids, protolipternids, and kollpaniines should be considered early SANUs, but not particularly closely related to any order, (2) Indaleciidae and Notonychopidae usually form a monophyletic group (Notopterna), and (3) Litopterna is a monophyletic unit composed of four families [Adianthidae, Anisolambdidae (subfamilies Anisolambdinae and Sparnotheriodontinae), Macraucheniidae, Proterotheriidae], and tentatively the notoptern families Indaleciidae and Notonychopidae with a probable origin ~64.0 Mya in the Early Palaeocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have investigated the gut bacterial composition of wild ungulates in the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. However, the relationship between their gut microbiome dendrograms and their phylogenetic tree remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed 45 amplicons (V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene) from five wild ungulates—Pseudois nayaur, Pantholops hodgsonii, Gazella subgutturosa, Bos grunniens, and Equus kiang—from the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau to clarify the relationship between their phylogenies and gut microbiome dendrograms. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that G. subgutturosa is closely related to P. nayaur; however, these results were inconsistent with their phylogenetic trees. Additionally, the indicator genera in the microbiome of each wild ungulate showed strong associations with the diets and habitats of their host. Thus, diet and space niche differentiation may primarily account for the differences between the gut microbiome characteristics of these wild ungulates and their phylogeny. In summary, our research provides insights into the evolutionary factors influencing the gut microbiome of wild ungulates in the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation has direct effects on prey population dynamics through mortality, and it can induce indirect effects through fear. The indirect effects of predation have been documented experimentally, but few studies have quantified them in nature so that their role in prey population dynamics remains controversial. Given the expanding or reintroduced populations of large predators in many areas, the quantification of indirect effects of predation is crucial. We sought to evaluate the direct and indirect fitness effects of intense cougar (Puma concolor) predation using 48 years of data on marked bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) on Ram Mountain, Alberta, Canada. We compared years of intense cougar predation with years with no or occasional cougar predation. We first quantified the effects of predation on neonatal, weaning, and overwinter lamb survival, three metrics potentially affected by direct and indirect effects. We then investigated the possible indirect effects of intense cougar predation on lamb production, female summer mass gain, and lamb mass at weaning. We found strong effects of cougar predation on lamb survival, lamb production, and seasonal mass gain of lambs and adult females. In years with high predation, neonatal, weaning, and overwinter lamb survival declined by 18.4%, 19.7% and 20.8%, respectively. Indirect effects included a 14.2% decline in lamb production. Female summer mass gain decreased by 15.6% and lamb mass at weaning declined by 8.0% in years of intense cougar predation. Our findings bring key insights on the impacts of predation on prey fitness by reporting moderate to large effects on recruitment and illustrate the importance of indirect effects of predation on population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera‐based abundance estimators are an alternative methodology of growing interest in both research and management applications. The statistical formulations of camera‐based abundance estimators using time‐lapse data should theoretically produce precise and unbiased estimates; however, production of unbiased results also requires meeting several important assumptions, and real‐world case studies evaluating such results remain relatively few. We applied instantaneous sampling (IS) and space‐to‐event (STE) estimators to remote camera data collected in April 2021 via time‐lapse sampling of closed populations of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on Wild Horse Island in western Montana, USA, and compared results for bighorn sheep to aerial and ground‐based counts. Point estimates from camera‐based approaches underestimated bighorn sheep populations by 32–44% (IS estimator) and 62–69% (STE estimator) relative to aerial and ground counts. Patchy spatial distribution and group‐living behavior of sheep resulted in a high degree of noise surrounding the IS estimate. In comparison, a low point estimate with relatively narrow confidence intervals suggested potential sensitivity of the STE estimator to violating assumptions of independence among individual animals and sampling occasions. Estimates of mule deer had improved precision over sheep estimates, as indicated by lower estimated coefficients of variation of the mean (CVmean) derived from the analytic SE estimator. Using 15‐m viewsheds and the IS estimators, mule deer density estimates came with a 26% CVmean compared to 43% CVmean for bighorn sheep. This discrepancy may be a result of differences in distribution, behavior, and relative abundance between the 2 species. Accounting for group size and increasing time between sampling may improve accuracy of density estimates and adhere better to model assumptions when estimating precision. In addition, factors influencing viewshed and resulting density extrapolations must be considered carefully. While camera‐based methods theoretically provide an alternative way to estimate density when traditional methods are impractical, our results suggest that more work is needed to ensure density estimates are accurate and precise enough to inform population management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managers use morphometric data collected from harvested animals as indicators of nutritional condition. Antler or horn size often are considered in ungulates, but there are problems associated with biased and limited harvest data available from male animals in many populations. Adult female body mass also may be collected, but little information exists on how male antler size scales with female body mass. We evaluated the relationship between property‐specific mature male white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) antler size and adult female body mass from harvest data collected at 2 spatial scales. Regression predicted a 4.4‐cm increase in average mature male antler size for every 1‐kg increase in female body mass from 31 properties across the eastern United States, 2015–2023. Adult female mass explained 64% of the variation in mature antler size, and including latitude as a covariate did not improve model fit. When we considered data from 174 properties in Mississippi, USA, 1991–1994, we predicted a 4.7‐cm increase in average mature male antler size for every 1‐kg increase in adult female body mass. Including soil resource region in the Mississippi model explained 48% of the variation in mature male antler size by accounting for differences in average sizes across regions. Our results indicate average female body mass correlates with mature male antler size at multiple spatial scales. We recommend managers collect body mass and age from harvested female deer, as female mass represents a useful metric to track management progress and predict changes in antler size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, spatial distributions and densities of ungulates have been increasing, triggering both negative and positive feelings. Ecosystem-based and collaborative approaches to wildlife management have been introduced to, among other things, consider the perspectives of the local public. Consequently, it becomes necessary to understand the public's emotional appraisals and feelings toward the presence of moose and other ungulates. We studied four socio-ecological contexts in Sweden. Statistical analyses of a postal questionnaire (N = 1111) showed that negative feelings were weak and positive feelings were modest across all settings. In particular, wildlife value orientation of mutualism and perceptions of moose and other ungulates as supporting recreation opportunities sustained positive feelings. Currently there seems to be little need among the public to cope with negative implications of ungulates. Management may benefit from informing about adequate strategies and building social trust if negative impacts of ungulates were to become salient to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of highly biodiverse areas has become a crucial step in protecting species richness, especially considering the rapid collapse of biodiversity and the limited funds available to avert, far less to reverse, these trends. Therefore, we aimed to identify the most important areas for the conservation of specified mammalian groups in Southern Asia, a region rich in biodiversity hotspots threatened by increasing rates of habitat loss and other anthropogenic activities. To achieve this, we modelled the occupancy of ungulates and of small, medium and large carnivorans at 20 study sites across the region and identified hotspots of species richness. We analysed the variation of estimated space use between different species groups and ranked areas according to their predicted importance for mammalian species conservation. Our results reveal a significant positive correlation in the spatial utilization patterns of competitive carnivores, yet no correlation among carnivores and their prey species, suggesting that anthropogenic impacts in the region are constraining species to coexist in only the few remaining suitable areas, superseding interactions between species guilds. Although the rank of site importance varied amongst species groups, we were able to identify a consensus on sites that are crucial for the conservation of all groups considered. Most of these top-ranking sites were located in the peninsular region of Thailand. We argue that, of the areas assessed, these sites represent the most important refuges for species conservation in the region, and their protection is critical for the maintenance of the biodiversity in Southern Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Unravelling abrupt alterations in the gut microbiota of wild species associated with nutritional stress is imperative but challenging for wildlife conservation. This study assessed the nutritional status of wild red deer during winter on the basis of changes in faecal nitrogen (FN) and urea nitrogen/creatinine (UN: C) levels and identified gut microbes associated with nutritional status via nutritional control experiments and metagenomic sequencing. The FN of wild red deer in winter 2022 was significantly lower than that in winter 2021 (p

Abstract Wind farms are still developing dynamically worldwide, with promising prospects for further growth. Therefore, the assessment of their impact on animals has been carried out. So far, few studies have been conducted on game mammals, and their results are divergent. Previous studies on the impact of wind farms on game species were typically based on regional research covering one or, at most, several wind farms. In this study, we aimed to verify the effect of wind farms on the density of game mammals through a large-scale analysis at the country level, using lowland Poland as an example. The study was based on hunting bag data from open-field hunting districts. It covered seven game species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), European badger (Meles meles), European polecat (Mustela putorius), and European hare (Lepus europaeus). We used Corine Land Cover to account for differences in land cover and the area covered by wind farms in generalized linear mixed models. The study showed that in agricultural landscapes, mainly herbivorous species of game mammals were related to land cover types. These species tend to exhibit higher densities in agricultural areas containing more natural landscape features. Conversely, mesocarnivores are primarily driven by the abundance of prey with little to no observable effects from land cover types. Only roe deer and wild boar presented lower densities with an increase in the area covered by wind farms (for roe deer: estimate: − 0.05, 95% CI: − 0.1–0.0; for wild boar: estimate: − 0.03, 95% CI: − 0.11–0.05), while no effect was observed for mesocarnivores or European hare. The underlying reasons for these relationships remain unclear and require more specific studies. The uncertainty regarding the cause of the observed effects did not allow for a large-scale assessment of the impact of further wind energy development on the studied game mammals.

Measuring immediate physiological stress responses in animals can be challenging; saliva and blood sampling, while invasive, may also generate confounding stress responses, and equipping animals with heart rate sensors is not always feasible. Nevertheless, emerging technologies offer a non-invasive and contactless method to measure additional body surface temperature changes induced by acute stress, using infrared thermal measurement of the eye caruncle region. Contactless temperature measurement has the potential to assess the emotional state of animals affected by human physical contact. Reindeer, being highly sensitive to touch and naturally avoiding physical contact, exemplify this case. With growing interest in safari tours involving sledging reindeer, there is a need to investigate how these animals are affected by human interactions and how they adapt to daily close contact. In this pilot experiment, we evaluated the efficacy of thermal imaging in measuring medial canthus temperature fluctuations in non-habituated sledging reindeer while being petted by unfamiliar humans. Our findings support the hypothesis that medial canthus temperature significantly decreases during petting and increases once the interaction ceases, aligning with established stress response patterns found in the literature. This pilot experiment underscores the potential of infrared thermal imaging for non-invasively monitoring physiological responses to stress in tamed reindeer. Moreover, it sets the foundation for refining methodologies and experimental designs using infrared thermal imaging in animal welfare research.

Jaguars are endangered in Mexico, with negative interactions with livestock producers being one of the main threats to their populations. We collared three jaguars with search Global Positioning System (GPS) clusters to document prey species eaten by them in the Sierra del Abra-Tanchipa Biosphere Reserve (RBSAT) and surrounding agrolandscape, in northeastern Mexico, to determine the relative use of natural prey and livestock. We detected, through examination of the carcasses (scavenging and predation events), 35 individual prey at feeding sites, primarily collared peccary (40% of sites), cattle (23%), and white-tailed deer (20%). Cattle comprised 64% and wild ungulates provided 34% of the estimated biomass in jaguar diets (biomass was calculated based on the estimated mass consumed and the assumption of an edible portion), with cattle consumed only during the dry season. Seasonal use apparently reflected increased encounters between jaguars and livestock during the dry season, probably due to the presence of limited permanent water sources concentrating livestock (and natural prey) along with jaguars taking advantage of the increased vulnerability of livestock during the dry season (either through predation or scavenging). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroecologists traditionally emphasized the role of environmental variables for predicting species distribution and abundance at large scale. While biotic factors have been increasingly recognized as important at macroecological scales, producing valuable biotic variables remains challenging and rarely tested. Capitalizing on the wealth of population density estimates available for African savannah ungulates, here we modeled species average population density at 100 × 100 km as a function of both environmental variables and proxies of biotic interactions (competition and predation) and estimated their relative contribution. We fitted a linear mixed effect model on 1043 population density estimates for 63 species of ungulates using Bayesian inference and estimated the percentage of total variance explained by environmental, anthropogenic, and biotic interactions variables. Environmental and anthropogenic variables were the main drivers of ungulate population density, with NDVI, Distance to permanent water bodies and Human population density showing the highest contribution to the variance. Nonetheless, biotic interactions altogether contributed to a quarter of the variance explained, with predation and competition having a negative effect on species density. Despite the limitations of modelling biotic interactions in macroecological studies, proxies of biotic interactions can enhance our understanding of biological patterns at broad spatial scales, uncovering novel predictors as well as enhancing the predictive power of large-scale models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The daily activity rhythms of herbivores have significant ecological and conservation implications. Most studies have focused on predators and their prey, as well as sympatric carnivores or herbivores, with little attention given to ungulates in predator-free ecosystems. Using camera traps, we systematically studied the activity patterns and grouping characteristics of goitered gazelles in the Helan Mountains. Our findings reveal that goitered gazelles are crepuscular-like, with activity peaks occurring after dawn and before dusk. Their daily activity patterns and grouping characteristics vary across seasons, likely influenced by climatic conditions and resource availability. This research provides essential ecological insights for the restoration and conservation of goitered gazelle populations and underscores the importance of further behavioral studies on ecologically significant rare species in isolated habitats. Wildlife activity patterns, which reveal the daily allocation of time and energy, are crucial for understanding survival pressures, adaptive strategies, and behavioral characteristics in different environments. Among ungulates, grouping behavior is a prevalent adaptive trait that reflects the population structure, mating systems, and life history strategies formed over long-term evolutionary processes. This study aimed to elucidate the daily activity patterns and grouping characteristics of the rare goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in the Helan Mountains of western China from 2022 to 2023 using camera trap monitoring. With a total of 3869 camera days of effective trapping, we recorded 442 independent detections of goitered gazelles. The results revealed the following: (1) Goitered gazelle is primarily active during the day, showing an activity pattern similar to crepuscular animals, with two activity peaks occurring after dawn and before dusk. (2) Daily activity patterns showed both seasonal and sex differences. In the warm season, morning activity peaks occurred earlier, and afternoon peaks occurred later compared to the cold season. The overlap in daily activity patterns between females and males in the warm season was lower than that in the cold season, and this trend persisted throughout the year. (3) The number of times different types of groups were observed varied significantly, with single males and single females accounting for a larger proportion of all observed groups. There was no significant difference in group size across seasons, with groups typically consisting of 1–2 individuals. Our study provides detailed insights into the temporal ecology and population structure of goitered gazelles in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This information will guide the identification of future conservation priorities and the development of management plans for the reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron spin resonance coupled with uranium-series dating (ESR/U-series) of carbonate hydroxyapatite in tooth enamel is the main technique used to obtain age determinations from Pleistocene fossils beyond the range of radiocarbon dating. This chronological information allows to better understand diachronic change in the palaeontological record, especially with regard to the evolution of the genus Homo. Given the relative paucity of human teeth at palaeontological and archaeological localities, ESR/U-series is widely applied to the teeth of ungulate species. However, the accuracy of ESR/U-series ages is greatly affected by the incorporation of uranium in the enamel during burial in sediments. It has been shown that uranium content is positively correlated with an increased degree of atomic order in carbonate hydroxyapatite crystals, the latter determined using infrared spectroscopy. Here we present a reference infrared spectral library of tooth enamel from African ungulates, based on the grinding curve method, which serves as baseline to track the diagenetic history of carbonate hydroxyapatite in different species and thus select the best-preserved specimens for dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palaeogene South American faunas include enigmatic ungulates that cannot be classified unequivocally within any of the main South American (SA) Native Ungulates clades (Litopterna, Notoungulata, Astrapotheria, Pyrotheria and Xenungulata) because they retain plesiomorphic features, resembling Laurasian ‘archaic ungulates’ traditionally classified within the order ‘Condylarthra’. Most SA ‘condylarths’ are known by partial dental series and isolated teeth and unassociated postcranial remains, hampering comparisons with better-known ungulates. Here, we describe a nearly complete skull and associated mandible of an SA ‘condylarth’, Talquinodus puertai gen. et sp. nov., preserving most of the dentition and basicranium, derived from middle Eocene rocks of the Sarmiento Formation at Central Patagonia. Talquinodus shows a combination of plesiomorphic traits (complete dentition with bunolophodont cheek teeth, ring like ectotympanic, retention of stapedial system, etc.), combined with some autapomorphies, as the reduction of the m3 talonid. Our phylogenetic analyses support consistently that Talquinodus belongs to the SA radiation of Euungulata along with Litopterna, Notoungulata and Astrapotheria. However, the internal relationships could not be resolved unambiguously: Talquinodus could be a didolodontid related to the origin of Litopterna, or could be part of a separate radiation of South American archaic ungulates, along Depaulacoutoia, Lamegoia and Escribania, with no descendants in post-Eocene faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The populations of many species of large mammals occur in small isolated and fragmented habitat patches in the human‐dominated landscape. Maintenance of habitat connectivity in the fragmented landscapes is important for maintaining a healthy population of large mammal. This study evaluated the landscape patches and their linkages on two carnivores (leopard and Himalayan black bear) and seven prey species (northern red muntjac, chital, sambar, wild pig, Himalayan goral, rhesus macaque, and langur) between Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) by using the least‐cost path (LCP) approach and the Linkage Mapper tool in ArcGIS. A total of 15 habitat patches (average area 26.67 ± 12.70 km2) were identified that had more than 50% of the total studied mammals. A weak relation among the habitat patches was found for chital and sambar (Cost‐weighted distance [CWD]: Euclidean distance EucD >100), showed poor connectivity between the habitat patches, while ratio of CWD and EucD was low (i.e., low LCP) between majority of the patches for muntjac, wild pig and leopard hence had potential functional connectivity along the landscape. Similarly, low LCP between the habitat patches located in the mid‐hills was observed for Himalayan goral and Himalayan black bear. Furthermore, the multi‐species connectivity analysis identified the potential structural connectivity between the isolated populations and habitat patches. Therefore, these sites need to be considered connectivity hotspots and be prioritized for the conservation of large mammals in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In polygynous ungulates, males are often larger than females and bear more elaborate/larger weapons. Quantifying sexual dimorphism in different traits could provide insights into species-specific evolutionary pathways of sexual selection. Concerning the combination of secondary sexual traits, we found that Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is unique among the ~20 species in the tribe Caprini, as its body mass dimorphism is ~2-fold greater than the dimorphism in horn size, whereas horn shape appears to be near-monomorphic. Whilst horns show the same growth rate in both sexes, body mass increases faster in males. Considering age variation, dominant, golden-ruffed males are also heavier than brown-ruffed, lower-ranking males. Unlike most bovids, male–male competition in tahr does not seem to have influenced weapon development, suggesting a lower importance of horns in male–male competition compared to body mass, as their unritualized combat style also suggests. Our study highlights alternative evolutionary pathways occurring in the Caprinae, where intraspecific signals involve different traits, from weapons to pelage features. Accordingly, male tahr use their ruff colour as an 'honest' signal of rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Sanmartinero creole bovine (SM) is found in the department of Meta (Colombian Orinoquia) and derives from the bullfighting cattle introduced by the Spanish in the 15th century. Its adaptation process has allowed it to develop adaptive characteristics to live in extreme climatic environments. Although there are studies on its reproductive and productive characteristics, little is known about possible asymmetries in some biological structures. Fluctuating asymmetry allows us to detect a possible developmental instability that may be caused by stressful conditions. The aim of our study was to present the current state of developmental instability in two bilateral cephalic characters of the SM creole bovine. The results showed a fluctuating asymmetry biased to the left for ear and horn length, and to the right for ear width and horn perimeter. We consider that the environment in which it lives may have an impact on the development of cephalic structures, creating stress in the animal, which causes the detected asymmetry. However, the authors are not aware of any studies on this topic. Asymmetric studies can indicate disturbances in the developmental process. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is considered an indicator of stress. The Sanmartinero (SM) creole bovine is native to the department of Meta (Colombian Orinoquia) and its adaptation process has allowed it to live in extreme tropical environments. The aim of this cross-sectional and descriptive study was to present the current state of the knowledge of asymmetries in some cephalic characters of the SM creole bovine. A total of 94 animals were studied (18 uncastrated males and 76 females) from three different farms, with an age range of 0.5–10 years. For each animal, two measurements of the ear (width and length) and two measurements of the horn (perimeter and length) were obtained in vivo. The degree of asymmetry was calculated as (R − L)/(R + L). Bilateral differences pointed towards a fluctuating asymmetry (e.g., a random variation in the trait that is expected to be perfectly symmetrical) biased towards right for ear width and horn perimeter, and towards left for ear and horn length. Since the development of these structures—ears and horns—is under the control of the same set of genes, the fluctuating asymmetry could constitute a reflection of a normal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the factors that promote coexistence between ecologically similar species is crucial to understanding the evolution and assembly of herbivore communities. The Jarman–Bell principle presents a trade-off between diet quality and quantity as an axis for dietary niche segregation and has been suggested as a mechanism facilitating species coexistence. This idea holds that larger-bodied herbivores consume greater amounts of relatively low-quality plant resources, while smaller-bodied herbivores typically feed selectively on higher-quality resources. Most studies investigating the Jarman–Bell principle have examined free-living ungulates in African savannas. The diverse ungulate community in Yellowstone National Park, USA offers an opportunity to investigate the applicability of this principle in a temperate North American ecosystem. In this study we use fecal nitrogen (FN) and stable carbon isotope values (δ13C) to examine the relationship between body size and seasonal patterns of dietary niche segregation among five species of wild ungulates. Specifically, we test the predictions that: (1) diet quality decreases with increasing body mass, (2) interspecific differences in diet are greatest between the largest- and smallest-bodied species, and (3) smaller-bodied species have narrower dietary breadth than larger-bodied species. Diet quality, as indicated by digestibility, declined significantly with body mass, consistent with the empirical pattern predicted by the Jarman–Bell hypothesis. Significant interspecific differences in diet quality generally aligned with variation in body mass. When resources were limited during the winter, the relationship between body mass and diet quality was more pronounced, suggesting increased dietary niche segregation during the lean season. The results showed little evidence indicating that dietary breadth scaled allometrically with body mass, as the two species most similar in body mass displayed the greatest and least range of seasonal variation in both FN and δ13C. This study adds to the weight and breadth of evidence that diet quality is negatively correlated with body size in wild ungulate assemblages. Our findings underscore the importance of body size as a factor facilitating dietary niche segregation and promoting coexistence among ecologically similar ungulate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, increasing populations of cervid species in the Baltic region have reduced the quality and vitality of cultivated Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands. This study evaluated the effect of bark stripping on the volume growth of spruce trees in Latvia. Data collection took place in two forest stands. In each stand, 20 Norway spruce trees were sampled, 10 with visible bark damage scars and 10 control trees. Stem discs were collected from control trees at specified heights (0 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.3 m, and 2 m, and then at one-metre intervals up to the top) and from damaged trees at additional specific points relative to the damage. Each disc was sanded and scanned; tree ring widths were measured in 16 radial directions using WinDendro 2012a software. Annual volume growth reconstruction was performed for each tree. Changes in relative volume growth were analysed in interaction with scar parameters, tree type (damaged/control), and pre-damage volume using linear regression models. The significance of parameter interactions was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pairwise comparisons of estimated marginal means (EMMs) were conducted using Tukey's HSD post hoc test. No significant effect of bark stripping on the total stem volume increment was detected. However, the length of bark stripping scars had a significant impact on relative volume growth in the lower parts of the stems. These findings underscore the importance of further research examining a broader spectrum of cervid damage intensity and the effects of repeated damage on tree survival and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring trace element concentrations in tissue can be a valuable approach to monitor animal health status. Temporal variation in the absorption, transport, and storage of elements between different tissues can, however, complicate the assessment of element-health relationships. Here, we measured concentrations of selected essential (copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se)) and non-essential (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb)) trace elements within blood, liver, kidney, and hair of fallow deer (Dama dama; N=20) and red deer (Cervus elaphus; N=21). Using multivariate regression and structural equation models, we estimated direct and indirect linkages between tissue-specific trace element profiles and long- (body condition) and short-term (serum protein biomarkers for acute inflammation, infection, and malnutrition) health indicators. Trace element concentrations varied markedly and were weakly correlated among tissues, with the exception of Se. After accounting for sex- and site-differences in trace element concentrations, body condition of red deer was directly, and positively, associated to trace element status in liver and hair, but not in kidney. For both deer species, trace element status in blood was directly linked to serum protein status with an indirect positive association to deer body condition. For fallow deer, no direct association between trace element status and body condition was detected in any of the tissues, possibly because of elemental homeostasis, and because all individuals were in good clinical health. This study shows that hair can serve as an effective, non-invasive, biomarker in deer health assessments, yet, to fully uncover trace element-health relationships a variety of sample matrices is preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites negatively affect the fitness of ungulate hosts directly, and in wild ungulates, these effects may be synzootic with other stressors, such as limited nutritional resources. In the Arctic, muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) occur in a highly seasonal environment and must rely on finite energetic resources for survival and productivity. We investigated the costs of gastrointestinal nematodes on the body condition and reproductive status of 141 muskoxen, on Banks Island, Canada, when the population was at a peak in numbers and density. Using a Partial Least Squares Path Modelling approach, we found that high adult nematode abundance was associated with lower body condition, and high parasite abundance was associated with female reproduction including the indirect effect through on body condition (n = 87). These findings suggest that individuals prioritize energetic reserves for reproduction over parasite defence. In fall 2003, a severe icing event that restricted access to forage was associated with high overwinter mortality of muskoxen and a population crash. Through direct and indirect costs of parasite infection on body condition and reproduction, the high abundance of parasites may have contributed to the effects of this extreme weather event. Understanding the mechanisms in which parasites impact fitness can help explain the ecological drivers of ungulate populations and predict the interactions between the environment and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red deer populations, once extirpated in large parts of Europe, have recovered over the last century in many regions. In Switzerland, primarily inhabiting mountain forests, they have recently started to expand into human-dominated lowland landscapes. To study their habitat selection, we analyzed day- and nighttime positions of 15 GPS-collared red deer. Our results show that during daytime, all animals generally preferred forests; open land was mainly used at night. In summer and fall, some lowland individuals deviated from this pattern and used agricultural crops as daytime retreats. Human settlements were often avoided in the lowlands. Day-site selection in the lowlands occurred irrespective of the distance to trails and the probability of being accessed by humans, in contrast to the pattern observed in the mountains. At night, red deer preferred forest edges and open land. In the lowlands, human settlements were avoided. Trails and transport infrastructures had a marginal influence at night. Our study confirmed a high behavioral plasticity of red deer. The use of daytime retreats close to trails and in high-standing crops represent major extensions of their behavior. Our habitat models indicate that there is ample suitable habitat in the lowlands, which is of major relevance for their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammal species globally exhibit distribution patterns conditioned by environmental conditions and human impact. The Mediterranean basin provides an ideal system to study these effects due to its diverse climate, and habitat conditions. In this work, we aim to assess the impact of landscape heterogeneity and anthropization degree on terrestrial mammal diversity in this region. Accordingly, we deployed over 300 camera traps across 28 sites for 3 months. Detected mammal species (weighing more than 1kg) were classified as domestic carnivores, domestic ungulates, wild carnivores, wild ungulates, lagomorphs, and large rodents. Alpha and beta diversity were calculated for each group and all wild mammals. Simple linear regressions and multimodal analysis were conducted between mammal diversities and climate, environmental conditions, landscape heterogeneity, and anthropization degree variables. Redundancy analyses were performed to identify variables and species determining the mammalian community composition. Indexes measuring landscape heterogeneity, anthropization degree, and its 30‐year change did not correlate with mammal diversity. However, the difference in elevation within sites and domestic carnivore abundance showed a significant positive correlation with some of the diversity indexes. Nonetheless, rainfall and mean elevation factors generally showed the highest correlation with mammal diversity. Instead, a few influential species, including generalists and open‐habitat specialists, highlighted the importance of conserving open areas, as well as the importance of the Pyrenees region as a key habitat for certain species. Therefore, climatic variables emerged as the key determinants of mammal diversity, highlighting climate change as a potential threat to mammal diversity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change reduces snowpack, advances snowmelt phenology, drives summer warming, alters growing season precipitation regimes, and consequently modifies vegetation phenology in mountain systems. Elevational migrants track spatial variation in seasonal plant growth by moving between ranges at different elevations during spring, so climate-driven vegetation change may disrupt historic benefits of migration. Elevational migrants can furthermore cope with short-term environmental variability by undertaking brief vertical movements to refugia when sudden adverse conditions arise. We uncover drivers of fine-scale vertical movement variation during upland migration in an endangered alpine specialist, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) using a 20-year study of GPS collar data collected from 311 unique individuals. We used integrated step-selection analysis to determine factors that promote vertical movements and drive selection of destinations following vertical movements. Our results reveal that relatively high temperatures consistently drive uphill movements, while precipitation likely drives downhill movements. Furthermore, bighorn select destinations at their peak annual biomass and maximal time since snowmelt. These results indicate that although Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep seek out foraging opportunities related to landscape phenology, they compensate for short-term environmental stressors by undertaking brief up- and downslope vertical movements. Migrants may therefore be impacted by future warming and increased storm frequency or intensity, with shifts in annual migration timing, and fine-scale vertical movement responses to environmental variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammals exhibit ecology‐related diversity in long bone morphology, revealing an ample spectrum of adaptations both within and between clades. Their occupation of unique ecological niches in postcranial morphology is thought to have occurred at different chronological phases in relation to abiotic factors such as climate and biotic interactions amongst major clades. Mammalian morphologies rapidly evolved throughout the Cenozoic, with several orders following different paths in locomotory adaptations. We assessed morphological variation in limb proportions for a rich sample of extant and fossil large mammalian clades (mainly carnivores and ungulates) to test associations with ecological adaptations and to identify temporal patterns of diversification. Phylogenetic relationships among species were incorporated into the analysis of limb bone proportions, showing significant morphological changes in relation to species substrate preference. Major climatic events appeared to have no temporal impact on patterns of morphological diversification, expressed as morphological disparity, in either clades or ecological groups. Linear stochastic differential equations supported a double‐wedge diversification model for limb proportions of carnivorous clades ('Creodonta' and Carnivora). The concomitant increase in morphological disparity throughout the Cenozoic for the orders Carnivora and Artiodactyla had a significative impact on the disparity of Perissodactyla supporting biotic interaction as primary driver of mammalian morphological diversification. Our findings challenge the classic idea of abiotic factors as primary driving forces in the evolution of postcranial morphologies for large terrestrial mammals, and propose clade competition as a key factor in temporal diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Morphological and ecological attributes of parasite species did not contribute to parasite beta-diversity. • Contribution of parasite species to their beta-diversity depended on mean abundance and/or prevalence. • The effect of host sex or age on their contribution to parasite beta-diversity was detected in a few species only. We searched for common patterns in parasite ecology by investigating species and host contributions to the beta-diversity of infracommunities (=assemblages of parasites harboured by a host individual) in helminths of three species of South African ungulates and fleas of 11 species of South American rodents, assuming that a comparison of patterns in distinctly different parasites and hosts would allow us to judge the generality or, at least, commonness of these patterns. We used data on species' composition and numbers of parasites and asked whether (i) parasite species' attributes (life cycle, transmission mode, and host specificity in helminths; possession of sclerotized combs, microhabitat preference, and host specificity in fleas) or their population structure (mean abundance and/or prevalence) and (ii) host characteristics (sex and age) affect parasite and host species' contributions to parasite beta-diversity (SCBD and HCBD, respectively). We found that parasite species' morphological and ecological attributes were mostly not associated with their SCBD. In contrast, parasite SCBD, in both ungulates and rodents, significantly increased with either parasite mean abundance or prevalence or both. The effect of host characteristics on HCBD was detected in a few hosts only. In general, parasite infracommunities' beta-diversity appeared to be driven by variation in parasite species rather than the uniqueness of the assemblages harboured by individual hosts. We conclude that some ecological patterns (such as the relationships between SCBD and parasite abundance/prevalence) appear to be common and do not differ between different host-parasite associations in different geographic regions, whereas other patterns (the relationships between SCBD and parasite species' attributes) are contingent and depend on parasite and host identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]