Timing and synchrony of birth in Eurasian lynx across Europe

The ecology and evolution of reproductive timing and synchrony have been a topic of great interest in evolutionary ecology for decades. Originally motivated by questions related to behavioral and reproductive adaptation to environmental conditions, the topic has acquired new relevance in the face of climate change. However, there has been relatively little research on reproductive phenology in mammalian carnivores. The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) occurs across the Eurasian continent, covering three of the four main climate regions of the world. Thus, their distribution includes a large variation in climatic conditions, making it an ideal species to explore reproductive phenology. Here, we used data on multiple reproductive events from 169 lynx females across Europe. Mean birth date was May 28 (April 23 to July 1), but was similar to 10 days later in northern Europe than in central and southern Europe. Birth dates were relatively synchronized across Europe, but more so in the north than in the south. Timing of birth was delayed by colder May temperatures. Severe and cold weather may affect neonatal survival via hypothermia and avoiding inclement weather early in the season may select against early births, especially at northern latitudes. Overall, only about half of the kittens born survived until onset of winter but whether kittens were born relatively late or early did not affect kitten survival. Lynx are strict seasonal breeders but still show a degree of flexibility to adapt the timing of birth to surrounding environmental conditions. We argue that lynx give birth later when exposed to colder spring temperatures and have more synchronized births when the window of favorable conditions for raising kittens is shorter. This suggests that lynx are well adapted to different environmental conditions, from dry and warm climates to alpine, boreal, and arctic climates. This variation in reproductive timing will be favorable in times of climate change, as organisms with high plasticity are more likely to adjust to new environmental conditions

Jaguar status, distribution and conservation in south-eastern South America

The jaguar Panthera onca has experienced a significant reduction in its global distribution, particularly in south-eastern South America. This chapter conducts an extensive assessment of the jaguar's distribution, population status, and threats in this region, encompassing Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern and eastern Bolivia, and south-eastern Brazil. Spanning 8.3 million km², this area contains diverse ecosystems, including tropical forests, grasslands, and wetlands, making it of global conservation significance. To assess jaguar distribution and population size, we employed a comprehensive dataset, expert opinions, and ecological models, categorising jaguar population status into four classes: Extinct, Possibly Extinct, Possibly Extant, and Extant. We estimated that jaguars are extant in 20% of their historical range, with potential existence in an additional 14%, primarily located in fragmented habitat patches. The Pantanal, Northern Chaco, and Chiquitano together emerge as a population stronghold, while the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Eastern Cerrado exhibit lower jaguar occurrence. Country-level assessments indicate that the jaguar is extinct in Uruguay and has decreased extensively in distribution in Argentina and Paraguay. Bolivia retains substantial jaguar populations, particularly in the Chaco, Chiquitano, and Pantanal regions. South-eastern Brazil, despite extensive historic range loss, harbours a significant jaguar population, especially in the Pantanal and Cerrado. Our study underscores the importance of evaluating under-researched regions like the Bolivian Andes, Chiquitano Forest, Humid Chaco, Caatinga, and the Cerrado. Additionally, it highlights the need for conservation efforts in the Pantanal, northern Chaco, and the Chiquitano for the jaguar’s conservation. Moreover, our findings emphasise the urgency to restore populations and connectivity in the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and southern Chaco. Conservation priorities are habitat preservation, the maintenance of prey availability and landscape connectivity, and the reduction of hunting to secure jaguar populations in south-eastern South America.Fil: Thompson, Jeffrey James. Parque Ecológico Asunción Verde; Paraguay. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología; Paraguay. Instituto Saite; ParaguayFil: Paviolo, Agustin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: Morato, Ronaldo Gonçalves. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Jedrzejewski, Wlodzimierz. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas; VenezuelaFil: Tortato, Fernando Rodrigo. Panthera; Estados UnidosFil: de Bustos, María Soledad. Administración de Parques Nacionales; Argentina. Fundación Biodiversidad Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Reppucci, Juan Ignacio. Fundación Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Jaguares en el Límite; ArgentinaFil: Perovic, Pablo Gastón. Fundación Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Jaguares en el Límite; ArgentinaFil: Negroes, Nuno. Conservación Amazónica; BoliviaFil: Romero Muñóz, Alfredo. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Rumiz, Damián Ignacio. Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado y Fundación Simón I. Patiño; BoliviaFil: Cruz, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente.; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Verónica Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Barros, Yara. Parque Nacional do Iguaçu; BrasilFil: Foster, Vania. Parque Nacional do Iguaçu; BrasilFil: Velilla, Marianela. Parque Ecológico Asunción Verde; Paraguay. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología; Paraguay. Instituto Saite; Paraguay. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Srbek, Ana C.. Universidade Vila Velha; BrasilFil: De Campos, Claudia Bueno. Institute for the Conservation of Neotropical Carnivores; BrasilFil: Breitenmoser, Urs. Foundation KORA; SuizaFil: Breitenmoser, Christine. Foundation KORA; Suiz

The effects of sex, age, season and habitat on diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in northeastern Poland

The diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes was investigated in five regions of northeastern Poland by stomach content analysis of 224 foxes collected from hunters. The red fox is expected to show the opportunistic feeding habits. Our study showed that foxes preyed mainly on wild prey, with strong domination of Microtus rodents, regardless of sex, age, month and habitat. Voles Microtus spp. were found in 73% of stomachs and constituted 47% of food volume consumed. Other food items were ungulate carrion (27% of volume), other mammals (11%), birds (9%), and plant material (4%). Sex- and age-specific differences in dietary diversity were found. Adult males and juvenile foxes had larger food niche breadths than adult females and their diets highly overlapped. Proportion of Microtus voles increased from autumn to late winter. Significant habitat differences between studied regions were found. There was a tendency among foxes to decrease consumption of voles with increasing percentage of forest cover. Based on our findings, red foxes in northeastern Poland can be recognized as a generalist predators, consuming easily accessible and abundant prey. However, high percentage of voles consumed regardless of age, sex, month, or habitats may indicate red fox specialization in preying on Microtus rodents

A genome-wide perspective on the evolutionary history of enigmatic wolf-like canids

High-throughput genotyping technologies developed for model species can potentially increase the resolution of demographic history and ancestry in wild relatives. We use a SNP genotyping microarray developed for the domestic dog to assay variation in over 48K loci in wolf-like species worldwide. Despite the high mobility of these large carnivores, we find distinct hierarchical population units within gray wolves and coyotes that correspond with geographic and ecologic differences among populations. Further, we test controversial theories about the ancestry of the Great Lakes wolf and red wolf using an analysis of haplotype blocks across all 38 canid autosomes. We find that these enigmatic canids are highly admixed varieties derived from gray wolves and coyotes, respectively. This divergent genomic history suggests that they do not have a shared recent ancestry as proposed by previous researchers. Interspecific hybridization, as well as the process of evolutionary divergence, may be responsible for the observed phenotypic distinction of both forms. Such admixture complicates decisions regarding endangered species restoration and protection

Genome-wide SNP and haplotype analyses reveal a rich history underlying dog domestication

Advances in genome technology have facilitated a new understanding of the historical and genetic processes crucial to rapid phenotypic evolution under domestication1, 2. To understand the process of dog diversification better, we conducted an extensive genome-wide survey of more than 48,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms in dogs and their wild progenitor, the grey wolf. Here we show that dog breeds share a higher proportion of multi-locus haplotypes unique to grey wolves from the Middle East, indicating that they are a dominant source of genetic diversity for dogs rather than wolves from east Asia, as suggested by mitochondrial DNA sequence data3. Furthermore, we find a surprising correspondence between genetic and phenotypic/functional breed groupings but there are exceptions that suggest phenotypic diversification depended in part on the repeated crossing of individuals with novel phenotypes. Our results show that Middle Eastern wolves were a critical source of genome diversity, although interbreeding with local wolf populations clearly occurred elsewhere in the early history of specific lineages. More recently, the evolution of modern dog breeds seems to have been an iterative process that drew on a limited genetic toolkit to create remarkable phenotypic diversity