A Short Note on the Recent Taxonomic Developmentsand Molecular Findings on the Cyprian Mouflon (OvisGmeliniOphion) and the Sardinian Mouflon (OvisGmelini Musimon)

Optic neuromyelitis (NMO) is a demienilizing disease traditionally characterized by optic neuritis and transverse myelitis..

Cyprus as an ancient hub for house mice and humans

© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Biogeography Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Aim: The distribution of the western house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) around the world has been strongly influenced by the movement of humans. The close association between the house mouse and human phylogeography has been primarily studied in the peripheral distribution of the species. Here, we inferred the complex colonization history of Cyprus, situated close to the centre of the house mouse distribution and one of the first European islands to be colonized by the species. We investigated the resulting complexity of house mouse population genetics as well as considering the value of the house mouse as a bioproxy for studying modern human movement. Location: The study was carried out on Cyprus. Methods: The analysis was performed using 221 new mitochondrial D-loop sequences and assessed the fine-scale population genetic structure using 18 autosomal microsatellite loci from 191 modern house mice specimens. Results: We found a high genetic variability in the island that is illustrated by the presence of individuals from 9 of the 11 previously identified house mouse haplogroups for the D-loop, reflecting the hub-like nature of the island to mice. Two main waves of mouse introductions were tentatively identified based on coalescent and mismatch analysis. The first is apparently related to the Bronze Age expansion and the second one to more recent human movements. Cyprus represents an island with high complexity due to different introductions related to human transport and activity. Main conclusions: The dispersal of mice along with humans has left a complex footprint on the island with two main waves of introductions suggested. The phylogeography of the house mouse on Cyprus is in concordance with the complex human colonization history of the island and validates the use of the house mouse as a proxy to study human migration

Morphometrics and genetics highlight the complex history of Eastern Mediterranean spiny mice

© 2020 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Spiny mice of the Acomys cahirinus group display a complex geographical structure in the Eastern Mediterranean area, as shown by previous genetic and chromosomal studies. To better elucidate the evolutionary relationships between insular populations from Crete and Cyprus and continental populations from North Africa and Cilicia in Turkey, genetic and morphometric variations were investigated, based on mitochondrial D-loop sequences, and the size and shape of the first upper molar. The Cypriot and the Cilician populations show idiosyncratic divergence in molar size and shape, while Cretan populations present a geographical structure with at least three differentiated subpopulations, as shown by congruent distributions of haplogroups, Robertsonian fusions and morphometric variation. A complex history of multiple introductions is probably responsible for this structure, and insular isolation coupled with habitat shift should have further promoted a pronounced and rapid morphological evolution in molar size and shape on Crete and Cyprus

Population genetics and demography of the endemic mouse species of Cyprus, Mus cypriacus

Mus cypriacus is one of three small palaeoendemic mammals that have survived the Mediterranean islands’ anthropization. This species, endemic to Cyprus, was described in 2006 and stands out as one of the last mammal species to have been discovered in Europe. Despite scarce data on its genetics, ecology, and life-history traits, Mus cypriacus is assessed as Least Concern LC in the IUCN Red List, partly due to its morphological similarity with the sympatric house mouse that prevented earlier identification. Our study uses mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate this small rodent's population genetic structure and diversity. Our analysis did not identify any population genetic structure and suggested a high genetic diversity across Cyprus. When inferring habitat preference using sample locations, it appeared that M. cypriacus utilizes a diverse variety of habitats, covering more than 80% of the island. Although these results are encouraging for the conservation status of the species, they still need to be cautiously applied as potential threats may arise due to increasing habitat destruction and changes in land use. Consequently, our encouraging results should be applied judiciously. Additional ecological data are urgently needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this inconspicuous endemic species

THE INTRODUCTION OF WILD BOAR Sus scrofa L. ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS

ABSTRACT In 1990, five wild boars (Sus scrofa L.) from Greece were introduced to the island of Cyprus for game farming. Examination of the coloration of piglets born in captivity indicated that they were the product of crossbreeding with domestic pig. In 1994, wild boars were illegally released in Lemesos (Limassol) Forest and, in 1996, in Troodos National Forest Park. Quickly, the population increased and dispersed throughout the park. The Troodos National Forest Park has an area of 9,337 ha and, with 72 endemic plants, the highest biodiversity in Cyprus. For that reason, wild boars have the potential to cause considerable damage to the local flora and fauna. On 6 November 1997, the government of Cyprus decided to eradicate wild boar because of the danger of transmitting diseases to livestock and to prevent possible environmental destruction. To control wild boar, hunting was permitted and the game wardens were instructed to eliminate free-ranging animals. The attempt to eradicate wild boar failed. The reasons for the failure are discussed

Seasonal and monthly distribution of deaths of Cyprus Mouflon Ovis gmelini ophion

One hundred five (54M, 37F, 13L, 1 adult of unknown sex) recently dead Cyprus mouflon were collected from November 1985 to January 1998 from Pafos forest in Cyprus. Most carcasses (37.2%) were recovered in the fall (18M, 20F, 1L) followed by winter (31.4%; 24M, 8F, 0L), Spring (22.9%; 10M, 3F, 11L), and finally Summer (8.6%; 2M, 6F, 1L). The highest mortality of rams (13 rams) occurred in January, followed by December (10 rams), November (8) (during the rutting season), and September (6). Seventeen (45.9%) females were found dead in late fall, 6 (16.2%) in early winter, 6 (16.2%) in summer, 3 (8.1%) in spring and 3 (8.1%) in early fall. During the long dry summer of Cyprus, forage is reduced in quality and quantity. The high energy requirements of the rut, poor nutrition and health problems, in combination with the first winter cold, likely leads to the increased mortality observed in late fall and early winter.[fr]Nous avons collecté entre novembre 1985 et janvier 1998 en forêt de Pafos (Chipre) cent cinq cadavres (54M, 37F, 13L, 1 adulte de sexe indéterminé) récents du Mouflon de Chypre. La plupart des cadavres (soit 37,2%) a été recueilli en automne (18M, 20F, 1L), puis en hiver (31, 4 % ; 24M, 8F,0L), au printemps (22,9% ; 10M, 3F, 11L) et en été (8,6% ; 2M, 6F, 1L). La plus haute mortalité de béliers a eu lieu (13 béliers) en janvier, suivi de décembre (10 béliers), novembre (8) (durant la période de rut) et septembre (6). Plus concrètement, 17 femelles (soit 45,9%) sont mortes enfin d'automne, 6 (16,2%) en début de printemps, 6 (16,2%) en été, 3 (8,1%) au printemps et finalement 3 (8,1%) en début d'automne. Au long du sec été de Chypre, la production de fourrage est très réduite tant en qualité qu'en quantité. Sans doute la grande nécessité d'énergie durant le rut, la mauvaise nutrition et les problèmes de santé, associés au premiers froids de l'hiver, provoquent une augmentation de la mortalité a la fin de l'automne et au début de l'hiver. [es]Ciento cinco muflones de Chipre (54 machos, 37 hembras, 13 crías y un adulto de sexo desconocido) fueron recogidos recién muertos desde noviembre de 1985 a enero de 1998 en el bosque de Pafos (Chipre). La mayoría de los cadáveres (37,2%) fueron recogidos en el otoño (18M, 20H, 1C), seguido del invierno (31,4%, 24M, 8H, 0C), primavera (22,9%, 10M, 3H, 11C), y verano (8,6%, 2M, 6H, 1C). La mayor mortalidad de carneros (13) se dio en enero, seguida de diciembre (10) y noviembre (8) (durante el periodo de celo), y septiembre (6). Setenta hembras (45,9%) murieron afínales de otoño, 6 (16,2%) a principios de invierno, 6 (16,2%) en verano, 3 (8,1%) en primavera y 3 (8,1%) a principios de otoño. El forraje se reduce en cantidad y calidad durante el largo y seco verano de Chipre. Los altos requerimientos energéticos del celo, una mala nutrición y los problemas sanitarios, en combinación con los primeros fríos del invierno, probablemente explique el incremento de mortalidad observada afínales de otoño y principios de invierno