Animal behavior informed by history: Was the Asiatic cheetah an obligate gazelle hunter?

Understanding key ecological adaptations, such as foraging, when a predator is almost extinct is complex. Nonetheless, that information is vital for the recovery of the persisting individuals. Therefore, reviewing historical, ethnobiological and recent records can assist in exploring the species behavioral ecology. We applied this approach to Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), which once roamed most west and central Asian countries but now is confined to a few dozens in Iran, at historical (pre-1970) and recent (post-1970) scales. We addressed a widely popular perception that Asiatic cheetahs were subjected to prey shifts from gazelles (Gazella spp.) in open plains areas to urial (Ovis vignei) in mountains because of gazelle populations declines due to anthropogenic influences. We also quantified recent prey choice of Asiatic cheetahs and their behavioral plasticity in foraging different prey species types. Although ethnobiological and historical records suggested that gazelle species were the main prey for cheetahs across their Asian range. However, urial were also commonly reported to be hunted by cheetahs across their historical Asian range, showing that the predation on mountain ungulates is not an emerging hunting behavior in Asiatic cheetahs. We found spatiotemporal plasticity in recent hunting behavior of cheetahs with selective predation on adult urial males. There was temporal overlap in hunting times for plains dwelling versus mountain ungulates, albeit with some minor differences with morning mostly for gazelles while the predation on mountain ungulates was predominantly post-midday. We provided three management implications for the recovery and restoration of cheetahs in Asia. Our work highlighted the importance of historical studies in informing the behavioral ecology of rare species

Analyzing the Trend of The Temperature Parameters Related to The Central Plateau of Iran Using a Time Series of Satellite Data

IntroductionThe temperature of the earth has been rising by about 0.74 degrees Celsius over the past century. A gradual increase in the average annual temperature has been reported by many researchers worldwide, while other reports suggest a decrease in this parameter. The assumption is that there will be more areas of the world experiencing higher temperatures. The climate changes are effectively represented by temperature changes, which is considered one of the main indicators in climate studies. The chemical composition of the atmosphere has changed because of the increase in human industrial activities, so it is responsible for unprecedented changes in the global climate in the past century. The increase in greenhouse gas concentration is the cause of this change. The evidence indicates that the increase in atmospheric gas concentration has caused a significant increase in global temperature. The use of thermal data from sensors is widely used in the study of terrestrial phenomena, as indicated by many studies. The temperature of the earth's surface is directly and indirectly linked to all human activities. It is still not possible to calculate the temperature of the earth's surface with perfect and accurate methods, but some sensors with suitable temporal, spectral, and spatial performance are able to take photos of the entire surface of the Earth. The study is more important due to the fact that various species of animals, such as Jebeer (belonging to the Bovidae), are exposed to climate changes in arid and desert areas. Due to its impact on humans, other creatures, and the entire environment, it is imperative to pay attention to climate change nowadays. In this regard, the main aim of the current study is to evaluate the LST (Land Surface Temperature) trends, changes, and temperature threats of the land surface in the Central Plateau of Iran. Time series remote sensing data of the MODIS (MOD11A2) sensor and Terra satellite, in 8 days with spatial resolution of 1km from 2002 to 2018 have been used. Material and Methods The current study has been focused on the central plateau of Iran. The central plateau of Iran lies within the arid lands belt of the northern hemisphere. The current study has been attempting to extract exact information from the images by employing specific techniques. To achieve this goal, the MOD11A2 product of Terra satellite MODIS sensor, the trend of temperature changes and time series construction of the significance of Man Kendall methods and linear correlation parameters such as maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature, minimum annually temperature for daily and nightly temperature were used in TerrSet software and Earth Trends Modeler section to extract significant increasing and decreasing areas. After identifying some parts of provinces with significant temperatures based on analysis and results, we can identify the vital numerical value of the temperature in each pixel of those significant parts in the next stage. This can be achieved by utilizing the difference between the final temperature and the initial temperature. Trend analysis was used to simulate daily and nightly temperature changes for parameters of maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature and minimum annual temperature. Results and DiscussionDaily temperature data in the Central Plateau of Iran, which includes monthly minimum temperature, annual minimum temperature, monthly maximum temperature, annual maximum temperature based on monthly maximum temperature, monthly median temperature and annual maximum temperature based on monthly median temperature, common in Semnan and Isfahan provinces, showed a significant increase in linear correlation according to the results. In Isfahan province, the linear correlation decreased significantly between the maximum annual temperature based on the maximum monthly temperature and the median monthly temperature. There was no significant trend in other provinces. The linear correlation between temperature data in Isfahan and Semnan provinces, including the minimum monthly, minimum annual, maximum annual, and median monthly temperature, decreased significantly. The linear correlation between average annual temperature, average monthly temperature, maximum annual temperature determined by maximum monthly temperature, average monthly temperature, and maximum annual temperature determined by median monthly temperature increased significantly in Yazd and Isfahan provinces. No significant trends were observed in other provinces. To estimate the amount and approximate number of significant increases and decreases, simulations of temperature changes were conducted. The range and approximate range of numbers for significant increase and decrease in temperature were calculated in degrees Celsius. In all analyses, the parts with higher temperatures had a reddish color. The intensity of the red color increased as the temperature increased, and as the temperature decreased, the red color became fainter and turned blue. The central plateau of Iran recorded a maximum temperature of 44C°and a minimum temperature of -7C°according to this study. The central plateau of Iran has three main provinces, which include Isfahan, Semnan, and Yazd. Considering the temperatures mentioned for these three provinces, the temperatures obtained from this study are very similar, which means that the conducted study is approved to a large extent. Animals are considered to be at risk due to temperature changes. Future research should emphasize the impact of climate change and temperature increase on the living conditions of various animals, particularly those found on the central plateau of Iran

Seasonal food habits of brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus Linnaeus, 1758) in Cenral Alborz Protected Area

Mountains of Central Alborz Protected Area hold a big population of brown bear, the largest varnivore species in Iran. Understanding food habits is crucial to understanding the ecology of the species. Diet influences many ecological and life-history traits, such as spatial distribution, social and foraging behavior, body mass and reproduction. Therefore, during Jun 2006 to May 2007 we had a comprehensive study on brown bear food habits, as the largest omnivorous of the country in Central Alborz Protected Area. Our investigation showed that plant materials composed the main proportion of food items of the brown bears in the spring until mid-summer. Insects, especially ants were predominantly eaten in the first half of summer. As approaching to hibernation period in late autumn, fruits played the main role of bear food items having high fat content. We never witnessed bear attack on wild herbivores. Furthermore, we never found remains of wild herbivores except a few livestock remains in brown bear scats during our survey period. Accordingly, we concluded that brown bears were almost herbivorous in the Central Alborz Protected Area. We never found any bear scats or fresh signs in three consecutive years, between first of December until mid of March. Also, no direct sighting of brown bear was reported to us by local people and game keepers within the mentioned period. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the brown bears hibernate for a period of 3-3.5 months in winter in the Central Alborz Protected Area

A Review of Genetic Evidence of Widespread Depletion of Cheetah Gene Diversity and the Need to Conserve the Surviving Populations

Cheetah is the only species from the Acinonyx subfamily and genus whose global population trend has been declining. This species is known as a species with a low genetic variation that has resulted from bottlenecks about 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. All populations of the Asiatic cheetah subspecies are extinct in the Middle East and Southwest of Asia and Iran. Asiatic cheetah subspecies listed in the Critically Endangered because of severe decline in the gene diversity level which has resulted from habitat degradation, geographical separation of populations, and increasing inbreeding, there are only a few of the species remained in the wild of Iran. In this review study, the genetic variation reduction at different levels of Allozymes molecular markers, microsatellites, mitochondrial DNA, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the entire cheetah genome was investigated and validated. Studies based on restriction fragment length polymorphism, indicate severe genomic reductions in the occurrence of Single Nucleotide Variant, the density of Single Nucleotide Variant, Single Nucleotide Variants protein-coding genes, Major Histocompatibility Complex genes, and mitochondrial DNA Single Nucleotide Variant compared with other species. Significant reductions in overall genetic variation by multiple genomic markers lead to increased cubs’ mortality, severe abnormalities in sperm growth, problems with captive reproduction programs, and increased vulnerability to the spread of infectious diseases. Since conservation genetics plays a key role in the conservation and management of species, the results of this study can be used in genetic conservation, reproduction in captivity, and the management of the remaining populations of Asian cheetahs

Management of Conflicts and Threats of the Endangered Persian Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Onager) in Natural Habitats and Breeding and Re-introduction Centers in Iran

Introduction: The Persian Wild Ass Equus hemionus onager is the only odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla) and largest wild herbivore in Iran, with a population of about 1300 individuals, distributed in the Bahram-e Gur conservation complex and Touran Biosphere Reserve. From the semi-captive reproduction and reintroduction centers, they had population growth in the centers of Yazd province and Kavir National Park. In other centers were not successful due to not considering demographic factors such as the age and sex composition of the founder population, intra- and inter-species competition, lack of information on genetic status and inbreeding and management factors such as hard release. In this study, the threats of the Persian Wild Ass in natural habitats, the state of reproduction and reintroduction centers, and management and conservation strategies have been discussed.Materials and Methods: Scientific sources, reports and documents available in the Semnan, Yazd, Fars and Kerman Provincial Office and the Wildlife conservation and Management bureau of the Department of the Environmental were studied regarding the threats, past and present population and fatalities of the Persian Wild Ass. Data collection was done by interviewing environmentalists, experts and completing species information forms including population, threats and expert suggestions of the respective provinces. Based on the field visits and investigation of natural habitats and reproduction and reintroduction centers in Fars and Semnan provinces, information was verified.Results: Over the past two decades, the population of the species has been growing in the Bahram-e Gur conservation complex, due to habitat management and the reduction of threats. While the species' population status in the Touran biosphere reserve has experienced a sharp decline since the 1970s and 1980s, and this trend has been almost stable for the past 20 years. The most important threats to the Persian Wild Ass due to human activities include destruction and fragmentation of habitats, poaching for meat, inbreeding, the occurrence of diseases in natural populations, seasonal use of vegetation, road kills, development of mines, drought, and climate change. Overgrazing by livestock reduces food availability, and also reduces the availability of water at springs. In semi-captive breeding and re-introduction centers, the lack of knowledge of the genetic status of populations, the very low growth rate, and infanticide are among the threats to the species. Management problems such as non-continuity of providing financial resources and equipment, lack of sustainable management with the passage of time, hard release due to lack of funds, equipment, and also non-observance of the gender ratio of the founding population can be effective in the failure of these centers.Discussion: The important strategies for conserving the Persian Wild Ass in the short- and long-term include identifying the threats and introducing methods to reduce the effect of the threat, developing a comprehensive plan for reproduction and reintroduction of the species, and implementing the action plan for the conservation of the population in the habitats. The implementation of participatory conservation programs with the key stakeholders can be effective in the conservation programs

Investigation on the effects of some environmental factors on abundance and biodiversity of macrobenthos community in Karaj River

Macrobenthos community like other animals are affected by their peripheral environment and their diversity is dependent on their sensitivity to the environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of some environmental factors on abundance and biodiversity of macrobenthos community in Karaj River. Samples were taken from 10 stations in two seasons and 11 environmental factors were measured. A total number of 8032 macrobenthos belonging to 10 orders and 38 families were identified. Baetidae and Chironimidae were the most abundant in autumn and spring, respectively and changes in altitude (2 seasons) and temperature (autumn) and depth (spring) were the most driving factors in determining pattern of abundance and combination of species. Biodiversity pattern and seasonal changes in the variety of benthic invertebrates in the Karaj River were also determined by the abovementioned environmental factors. Altitude, temperature and depth had effects on the habitat which was further responsible for changes in biodiversity, abundance, species’ structure and combination

Investigation on the effects of some environmental factors on morphology of Baetis vernus in Karaj River

Environmental factors strongly contribute to shaping the morphology of organisms. The present study mainly aims to examine how some physical factors in a habitat influence morphological variations in Baetis vernus along the Karaj River. Sampling was conducted using a kick net sampling device with a mesh size of 500 μm at 10 sampling sites (three replicates) by recording 11 environmental variables in autumn (2018) and spring (2019). The species was identified through gender classification (male and female). Graticule was used to measure 42 morphological properties of 30 (male and female) samples identified at each site. Following the statistical analysis of the data, the results showed significant changes in environmental factors such as temperature (autumn), depth (spring), and elevation (autumn and spring) (p<0/05). In addition, changes in environmental factors such as temperature, width, and discharge in autumn and temperature, water flow velocity, discharge, salinity, and EC in spring influenced the morphological variations. The changes in these factors seem to contribute to morphological variations in B. vernus (changes in moving and non-moving traits with habitat changes) along the Karaj River by affecting the habitat conditions. the analyses of gender-related morphological variations in B. vernus showed no difference between the male and female species in terms of these traits