Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

Contribution to the phylogeography of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus)

peer reviewedproject n° POCTI/BSE/36626/9

Zoogeography of the chromosomal races of the garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus, in France

project n° POCTI/BSE/36626/9

A first insight into the genetic structure (karyotype and mtDNA) of the insular black rats of western Europe

peer reviewedThe colonisation of Europe by the black rat (Rattus rattus) dates back only to the Roman times. This rodent is now widespread all over the continent as well as on many islands where it was introduced by man. In some instances, insular populations are morphologically differentiated by their greater size. In order to study the possible origin of these insular populations, rats were caught on many Mediterranean (Sicily, Sardinia, Lavezzi, Corsica, Elba, Porquerolles) and Atlantic islands (Ré, Oléron, Azores) and compared to animals from continental Europe (Spain), and Africa (Tunisia, Benin). Their karyotype was determined and their mtDNA restriction patterns studied using the HAE III and RSA I endonucleases and a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These patterns appear very similar to each other though one of them is specific to the African animals, probably indicating that Europe and Africa were colonised by different strains

Notes of the flea fauna (Insecta, Siphonaptera) of the terrestrial azorean mammals

peer reviewedDuring three successive years, field samplings of wild mammals were organised on different Azorean islands and the ectoparastes were collected. Among 340 murid rodents, 31 did bear at least one flea. Nosopsyllus l. londiniensis has been found on the mouse in São Miguel. Stenoponia t. tripectinata has been discovered in Terceira and in São Miguel, mainly on house mice and on one black rat out of 121. Nosopsyllus fasciatus was present on the mouse and on both the black and the Norway rats. Its presence has been evidenced in four islands: São Miguel, Terceira, Graciosa and Flores. Numerous rabbits were also examined in the visited islands (São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, São Jorge, Faial and Flores) and were found heavily parasited by their commonest flea, Spilopsyllus cuniculi. In Flores, however, that flea seems to be lacking. Though no systematic search has been done on domestic animals, the presence of Ctenocephalides f. felis is also reported from Flores, Terceira and Graciosa whereas C. canis has been found on a dog in Florès. The flea fauna of the Azorean archipelago is therefore characterized by a few species amongst the most cosmopolitan one

Bacteriogical evidence of leptospira infetion in wild mammals from Azores archipelago, Portugal (short report)

peer reviewedJNICT, STRDA/C/CEN/447/9

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Contact Zones Between Chromosomal Races of House Mice, Mus musculus domesticus, on Madeira Island

International audienceAnalysis of contact zones between parapatric chromosomal races can help our understanding of chromosomal divergence and its influence on the speciation process. Monitoring the position and any movement of contact zones can allow particular insights. This study investigates the present (2012–2014) and past (1998–2002) distribution of two parapatric house mouse chromosomal races—PEDC (Estreito da Calheta) and PADC (Achadas da Cruz)—on Madeira Island, aiming to identify changes in the location and width of their contact. We also extended the 1998–2002 sampling area into the range of another chromosomal race—PLDB (Lugar de Baixo). Clinal analysis indicates no major geographic alterations in the distribution and chromosomal characteristics of the PEDC and PADC races but exhibited a significant shift in position of the Rb (7.15) fusion, resulting in the narrowing of the contact zone over a 10+ year period. We discuss how this long-lasting contact zone highlights the role of landscape on mouse movements, in turn influencing the chromosomal characteristics of populations. The expansion of the sampling area revealed new chromosomal features in the north and a new contact zone in the southern range involving the PEDC and PLDB races. We discuss how different interacting mechanisms (landscape resistance, behaviour, chromosomal incompatibilities, meiotic drive) may help to explain the pattern of chromosomal variation at these contacts between chromosomal race