Wolf body mass cline across Minnesota related to taxonomy?

Recent genetic studies suggest that in northern Minnesota two species of wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758 or western wolf and Canis lycaon Schreber, 1775 (= Canis rufus Audubon and Bachman, 1851) or eastern wolf) meet and hybridize. However, little morphological information is available about these two types of wolves in Minnesota. We analyzed the mass of 950 female wolves and 1006 males older than 1 year from across northern Minnesota and found that it increased from 26.30 ± 0.56 kg (mean ± SE) for females and 30.60 ± 0.72 kg for males in northeastern Minnesota to 30.01 ± 0.43 kg for females and 35.94 ± 0.45 kg for males in northwestern Minnesota (females: r2 = 0.79, P \u3c 0.02; males: r2 = 0.63, P = 0.06). These mass differences add morphological information to the identities of eastern and western wolves and support the view that ranges of the two species meet in Minnesota. Des e´tudes ge´ne´tiques re´centes indiquent que, dans le nord du Minnesota, deux espe`ces de loups (Canis lupus L., 1758, le loup de l’ouest, et Canis lycaon Schreber, 1775 (= Canis rufus Audubon et Bachman, 1851), le loup de l’est) se rencontrent et font de l’hybridation. Il existe, cependant, peu d’information morphologique sur ces deux types de loups au Minnesota. Nous avons mesure´ la masse de 950 louves et 1006 loups de plus de 1 an dans tout le nord du Minnesota et trouve´ que la masse augmente de 26,30 ± 0,56 kg (moyenne ± ET) chez les femelles et de 30,60 ± 0,72 kg chez les maˆles dans le nord-est du Minnesota a` 30,01 ± 0,43 kg chez les femelles et a` 35,94 ± 0,45 kg chez les maˆles dans le nord-ouest du Minnesota (females : r2 = 0,79, P \u3c 0,02; maˆles : r2 = 0,63, P = 0,06). Ces diffe´rences de masse constituent des renseignements morphologiques additionnels sur l’identite´ des loups de l’est et de l’ouest et elles appuient le point de vue selon lequel les aires de re´partition des deux espe`ces se recoupent au Minnesota

Accuracy of Estimating Wolf Summer Territories by Daytime Locations

We used locations of 6 wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars to compare day-versus-night locations to estimate territory size and location during summer. We employed both minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (FK) methods. We used two methods to partition GPS locations for day-versusnight home-range comparisons: (1) daytime 5 0800–2000 h; nighttime 5 2000–0800 h; and (2) sunup versus sundown. Regardless of location-partitioning method, mean area of daytime MCPs did not differ significantly from nighttime MCPs. Similarly, mean area of daytime FKs (95% probability contour) were not significantly different from nightime FKs. FK core use areas (50% probability contour) did not differ between daytime and nighttime nor between sunup and sundown locations. We conclude that in areas similar to our study area day-only locations are adequate for describing the location, extent and core use areas of summer wolf territories by both MCP and FK methods

Wolf, \u3ci\u3eCanis lupus\u3c/i\u3e, Visits to White-tailed Deer, \u3ci\u3eOdocoileus virginianus\u3c/i\u3e, Summer Ranges: Optimal Foraging?

We tested whether Wolf (Canis lupus) visits to individual female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) summer ranges during 2003 and 2004 in northeastern Minnesota were in accord with optimal-foraging theory. Using GPS collars with 10- to 30-minute location attempts on four Wolves and five female deer, plus eleven VHF-collared female deer in the Wolves’ territory, provided new insights into the frequency of Wolf visits to summer ranges of female deer. Wolves made a mean 0.055 visits/day to summer ranges of deer three years and older, significantly more than their 0.032 mean visits/day to ranges of two-year-old deer, which generally produce fewer fawns, and most Wolf visits to ranges of older deer were much longer than those to ranges of younger deer. Because fawns comprise the major part of the Wolf’s summer diet, this Wolf behavior accords with optimal-foraging theory

Radio-Tracking the Movements of a Young Male Raccoon

Movements of o young male raccoon (Procyon lotor) were studied for four months in 1965 through the use of an automatic radio-tracking system. Data for 135 days were collected, and 2,065 locations were recorded. The study animal usually rested throughout the day at different sites. Nightly activity usually began within an hour before or after sunset and ceased within an hour before or after sunrise; the mean duration of the active period was 9 hours and 5 minutes (S.E. = 19 minutes). Nightly movements varied both in extent and areas visited. The raccoon visited a certain cornfield on 87 per cent of the nights, but shifted the intensity of his use of various areas and continued to try new areas through most of the four-month study period. The greatest length of two-week activity ranges varied from 4,620 to 8,514 feel, and that of the total range was 9,240 feel

Wolf, Canis lupus, Visits to White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, Summer Ranges: Optimal Foraging?

We tested whether Wolf (Canis lupus) visits to individual female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) summer ranges during 2003 and 2004 in northeastern Minnesota were in accord with optimal-foraging theory. Using GPS collars with 10- to 30-minute location attempts on four Wolves and five female deer, plus eleven VHF-collared female deer in the Wolves' territory, provided new insights into the frequency of Wolf visits to summer ranges of female deer. Wolves made a mean 0.055 visits/day to summer ranges of deer three years and older, significantly more than their 0.032 mean visits/day to ranges of two-year-old deer, which generally produce fewer fawns, and most Wolf visits to ranges of older deer were much longer than those to ranges of younger deer. Because fawns comprise the major part of the Wolf's summer diet, this Wolf behavior accords with optimal-foraging theory

Bears Remain Top Summer Predators

In the ten years since wolves (Canis lupus) were restored to Yellowstone National Park (YNP), elk (Cervus elaphus) numbers have substantially decreased. The northern range elk herd is the largest elk herd in Yellowstone, and constitutes the majority of the park’s elk population. During 1994–2005, early winter counts of northern Yellowstone elk decreased from 19,045 to 9,545. Also, during winters 2000–2004, calf:cow ratios declined from 29:100 to 12:100, and were among the lowest recorded during the past several decades. Though many factors (e.g., predation, hunting, and drought) likely contributed to this decreasing abundance and low recruitment, several state and federal legislators continue to speculate that wolves are the primary reason for the recent decrease in elk recruitment rates, and have called for the immediate delisting and liberal control of the abundance and distribution of wolves. Because both wolves and elk are culturally, economically, and ecologically important in the Yellowstone area, it is vital to determine the basis for the decline in the elk population. To help this effort, we initiated a three-year study of northern Yellowstone elk calf mortality in May 2003. Our study was designed to follow up on Dr. Francis Singer et al.’s baseline pre–wolf restoration elk calf mortality study (1987–1990)

RELATING WOLF SCAT CONTENT TO PREY CONSUMED

In 9 trials, captive wolves (Canis lupus) were fed prey varying in size from snowshoe (Lepus americanus) to adult deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and the resulting scats were counted. collectible scats were distinguished from liquid, noncollectible stools. In collectible scats, the small prey occurred in greater proportion relative to the prey\u27s weight, and in lesser proportion to the prey\u27s numbers, than did the remains of larger prey. A regression equation with an excellent the data (r2 = 0.97) was derived to estimate the weight of prey eaten per collectible scat for With this information and average prey weights, the relative numbers of different prey eaten calculated

Altered sensory neuron development in CMT2D mice is site-specific and linked to increased GlyRS levels

Dominant, missense mutations in the widely and constitutively expressed GARS1 gene cause a peripheral neuropathy that usually begins in adolescence and principally impacts the upper limbs. Caused by a toxic gain-of-function in the encoded glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) enzyme, the neuropathology appears to be independent of the canonical role of GlyRS in aminoacylation. Patients display progressive, life-long weakness and wasting of muscles in hands followed by feet, with frequently associated deficits in sensation. When dysfunction is observed in motor and sensory nerves, there is a diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D), or distal hereditary motor neuropathy type V if the symptoms are purely motor. The cause of this varied sensory involvement remains unresolved, as are the pathomechanisms underlying the selective neurodegeneration characteristic of the disease. We have previously identified in CMT2D mice that neuropathy-causing Gars mutations perturb sensory neuron fate and permit mutant GlyRS to aberrantly interact with neurotrophin receptors (Trks). Here, we extend this work by interrogating further the anatomy and function of the CMT2D sensory nervous system in mutant Gars mice, obtaining several key results: 1) sensory pathology is restricted to neurons innervating the hindlimbs; 2) perturbation of sensory development is not common to all mouse models of neuromuscular disease; 3) in vitro axonal transport of signalling endosomes is not impaired in afferent neurons of all CMT2D mouse models; and 4) Gars expression is selectively elevated in a subset of sensory neurons and linked to sensory developmental defects. These findings highlight the importance of comparative neurological assessment in mouse models of disease and shed light on key proposed neuropathogenic mechanisms in GARS1-linked neuropathy

Elk Calf Survival and Mortality Following Wolf Restoration to Yellowstone National Park La Supervivencia y la Mortalidad de las Crı´as de Wapiti Tras la Restauracio´ n del Lobo al Parque Nacional de Yellowstone La Survie et la Mortalite´ des Faons de Wapitis qui a Suivi la Re´introduction du Loup au Parc de Yellowstone

We conducted a 3-year study (May 2003–Apr 2006) of mortality of northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus) calves to determine the cause for the recruitment decline (i.e., 33 calves to 13 calves/100 adult F) following the restoration of wolves (Canis lupus). We captured, fit with radiotransmitters, and evaluated blood characteristics and disease antibody seroprevalence in 151 calves ≤ 6 days old (68M:83F). Concentrations (x, SE) of potential condition indicators were as follows: thyroxine (T4; 13.8 µg/dL, 0.43), serum urea nitrogen (SUN; 17.4 mg/dL, 0.57), c-glutamyltransferase (GGT; 66.4 IU/L, 4.36), gamma globulins (GG; 1.5 g/dL, 0.07), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1; 253.6 ng/mL, 9.59). Seroprevalences were as follows: brucellosis (Brucella abortus; 3%), bovine-respiratory syncytial virus (3%), bovine-viral-diarrhea virus type 1 (25%), infectious-bovine rhinotracheitis (58%), and bovine parainfluenza-3 (32%). Serum urea nitrogen, GGT, GG, and IGF-1 varied with year; T4, SUN, andGGvaried with age (P ≤ 0.01); and SUN varied by capture area (P=0.02). Annual survival was 0.22 (SE=0.035, n=149) and varied by calving area but not year. Neonates captured in the Stephens Creek/Mammoth area of Yellowstone National Park, USA, had annual survival rates \u3e3X higher (0.54) than those captured in the Lamar Valley area (0.17), likely due to the higher predator density in Lamar Valley. Summer survival (20 weeks after radiotagging) was 0.29 (SE=0.05, n=116), and calving area, absolute deviation from median birth date, and GG were important predictors of summer survival. Survival during winter (Nov–Apr) was 0.90 (SE=0.05, n=42), and it did not vary by calving area or year. Sixty-nine percent (n=104) of calves died within the first year of life, 24% (n=36) survived their first year, and 7% (n=11) had unknown fates. Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) accounted for 58–60% (n = 60–62) of deaths, and wolves accounted for 14–17% (n = 15–18). Summer predation (95% of summer deaths) increased, and winter malnutrition (0% of winter deaths) decreased, compared with a similar study during 1987–1990 (72% and 58%, respectively). Physiological factors (e.g., low levels of GG) may predispose calves to predation. Also, the increase in bear numbers since wolf restoration and spatial components finer than the northern range should be considered when trying to determine the causes of the northern Yellowstone elk decline. This is the first study to document the predation impacts from reintroduced wolves on elk calf mortality in an ecosystem already containing established populations of 4 other major predators (i.e., grizzly and black bears, cougars [Puma concolor], and coyotes [Canis latrans]). The results are relevant to resource managers of the Yellowstone ecosystem in understanding the dynamics of the elk population, in providing harvest quota recommendations for local elk hunts to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service regarding wolf and grizzly bear recovery, and to all areas worldwide where predators are increasing, by providing managers with information about potential carnivore impacts on elk populations. Hemos realizado un estudio de 3 an˜os (may 2003–abr 2006) sobre la mortalidad de las crı´as de wapiti (Cervus elaphus) en el norte de Yellowstone para determinar las causas del descenso del reclutamiento (de 33 a 13 crı´as /100 hembras adultas) tras la restauracio´n del lobo (Canis lupus). Hemos capturado, marcado con radiotransmisores y evaluado las caracterı´sticas de la sangre y la seroprevalencia de los anticuerpos a enfermedades de 151 crı´as ≤ 6dı´as (68M:83H). Las concentraciones (x, SE) de los indicadores del estado potencial de salud fueron: tiroxina (T4; 13.8 µg/dL, 0.43), nitro´geno de urea en suero (SUN; 17.4 mg/dL, 0.57), c-glutamiltransferasa (GGT; 66.4 IU/L, 4.36), gamma globulinas (GG; 1.5 g/dL, 0.07) y factor de crecimiento insulinoide tipo 1 (IGF-1; 253.6 ng/mL, 9.59). Las seroprevalencias fueron: brucelosis (Brucella abortus; 3%), virus respiratorio sincitial bovino (3%), virus de la diarrea viral bovina tipo 1 (25%), rinotraqueı´tis infecciosa bovina (58%) y parainfluenza bovina tipo 3 (32%). El SUN, la GGT, las GG y el IGF-1 variaron con el an˜o; la T4, el SUN y las GG variaron con la edad (P≤0.01); y el SUN vario´ con el a´rea de captura (P=0.02). La supervivencia anual fue del 0.22 (SE=0.035, n=149) y vario´ con la zona de reproduccio´n pero no con el an˜o. Los neonatos capturados en la zona de Stephens Creek/Mammoth del Parque Nacional de Yellowstone, EE.UU., tuvieron tasas de supervivencia anual ma´s de 3 veces superiores (0.54) a las de los capturados en la zona del valle de Lamar (0.17), presumiblemente por la mayor densidad de predadores en el valle de Lamar. La supervivencia estival (20 semanas despue´s del radiomarcaje) fue 0.29 (SE=0.05, n=116); la zona de partos, la desviacio´n absoluta de la mediana de la fecha de nacimiento y lasGGfueron predictores importantes de la supervivencia estival. La supervivencia durante el invierno (nov–abr) fue 0.90 (SE=0.05, n=42) y no vario´ con la zona de partos o con el an˜o. El 69% (n=104) de las crı´as murieron antes de cumplir un an˜o, el 24% (n=36) sobrevivieron ma´s de un an˜o y se desconoce el destino del 7% (n=11). Los osos grizzly (Ursus arctos) y los osos negros (Ursus americanus) fueron responsables del 58–60% (n=60– 62) de las muertes, y los lobos, del 14–17% (n=15–18). La predacio´n estival (95% de las muertes en verano) aumento´, y la malnutricio´n en invierno (0% de las muertes en invierno) disminuyo´ en comparacio´n con un estudio similar realizado durante 1987–1990 (72%y 58%, respectivamente). Los factores fisiolo´gicos (bajos niveles de GG) quiza´ predisponen a las crı´as a ser predadas. Adema´s, el aumento de la poblacio´n de osos desde la restauracio´n del lobo y algunos componentes espaciales ma´s sutiles en las montan˜as septentrionales deberı´an ser considerados al tratar de determinar las causas del declive del wapiti en el norte de Yellowstone. Este es el primer estudio que describe el impacto que la predacio´n de lobos reintroducidos tiene sobre la mortalidad de las crı´as de wapiti en un ecosistema donde ya existen poblaciones establecidas de otros 4 grandes predadores (osos grizzly y negro, pumas [Puma concolor] y coyotes [Canis latrans]). Los resultados son relevantes para los gestores de recursos del ecosistema de Yellowstone porque ayudan a comprender la dina´mica de las poblaciones de wapiti; aportan recomendaciones al Departamento de Pesca, Vida Silvestre y Parques de Montana para decidir cuotas de extraccio´n de wapiti en las cacerı´as locales, al Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de los Estados Unidos en relacio´n a la recuperacio´n del lobo y el oso grizzly; y ofrecen a los gestores informacio´n acerca de los impactos potenciales de los carnı´voros sobre las poblaciones de wapiti en todas las zonas del mundo donde los predadores esta´n aumentando. Nous avons re´alise´ une e´tude de 3 ans (mai 2003–avr 2006) portant sur les faons des wapitis du nord de Yellowstone afin de de´terminer les causes du de´clin de recrutement (c.-a`-d. de 33 a` 13 faons/100 femelles adultes) qui a suivi la re´introduction du loup (Canis lupus). Nous avons capture´, pre´leve´ un e´chantillon sanguin et muni d’un radioe´metteur 151 faons de ≤ 6 jours (68M:83F). Les concentrations (x, ET) d’indicateurs potentiels de condition physique e´taient: thyroxine (T4; 13.8 µg/dL, 0.43), azote ure´ique se´rique (AUS; 17.4 mg/dL, 0.57), c-glutamyltransfe´rase (GGT; 66.4 IU/L, 4.36), gamma globulines (GG; 1.5 g/dL, 0.07) et facteur de croissance insulinomime´tique de type 1 (FCI-1; 253.6 ng/mL, 9.59). La pre´valence se´rique d’anticorps e´tait: brucellose (Brucella abortus; 3%), virus syncitial respiratoire bovin (3%), virus diarrhe´ique bovin de type 1 (25%), rhinotrache´ite infectieuse bovine (58%) et parainfluenza-3 bovin (32%). L’azote ure´ique se´rique, la GGT, les GG et le FCI-1 ont varie´ entre les anne´es; la T4, l’AUS et les GG varie`rent en fonction de l’aˆge (P ≤ 0.01) et l’AUS en fonction du lieu de capture (P=0.02). Le taux annuel de survie atteignit 0.22 (ET=0.035, n=149) et varia en fonction de l’aire de mise bas mais non de l’anne´e. Les faons ne´s dans l’aire de Stephens Creek/Mammoth du parc national de Yellowstone, E ´ tats-Unis, posse´daient des taux annuels de survie plus de 3 fois supe´rieurs (0.54) a` ceux capture´s dans l’aire de Lamar Valley (0.17), vraisemblablement a` cause d’une densite´ de pre´dateurs plus e´leve´e au second endroit. La survie estivale moyenne (20 semaines suivant le marquage) e´tait de 0.29 (ET=0.05, n=116) et elle de´pendait fortement du lieu de mise bas, de la de´viation absolue de la date de naissance me´diane et de la concentration de GG. La survie hivernale (nov–avr) atteignait 0.90 (ET=0.05, n =42) et ne variait ni en fonction du lieu de naissance ou de l’anne´e. Soixante-neuf pourcent (n=104) des faons moururent durant leur premie`re anne´e, 24% (n =36) surve´curent et le sort de 7% (n=11) demeura inconnu. Les ours grizzlys (Ursus arctos) et les ours noirs (Ursus americanus) furent responsables de 58–60% des mortalite´s (n=60–62), contre 14–17% pour les loups (n=15–18). La pre´dation estivale (95% des mortalite´s) augmenta et la malnutrition hivernale (0% des mortalite´s) diminua en comparaison avec une e´tude similaire re´alise´e de 1987 a` 1990 (72% et 58%, respectivement). Des facteurs physiologiques (c.-a`-d. des bas niveaux de GG) pourraient pre´disposer les faons a` la pre´dation. Par ailleurs, l’accroissement du nombre d’ours depuis la re´introduction du loup et des composantes spatiales plus fines que celles de notre e´tude devraient eˆtre pris en compte en tentant de de´terminer les causes du de´clin du nombre de wapitis du nord de Yellowstone. Notre e´tude s’ave`re la premie`re a` documenter les impacts de la pre´dation de loups re´introduits dans un e´cosyste`me contenant des populations e´tablies de 4 pre´dateurs majeurs (c.-a`-d., les ours grizzlys et noirs, les cougars [Puma concolor], les coyotes [Canis latrans]). Nos re´sultats concernent les gestionnaires de l’e´cosyste`me de Yellowstone puisqu’ils permettent de comprendre la dynamique de la population de wapitis, qu’ils fournissent des recommandations pour les chasses locales au Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks et d’autres, pour la gestion du loup et de l’ours grizzly, au U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nos re´sultats concernent e´galement toutes les re´gions du monde ou` les pre´dateurs s’accroissent puisqu’ils fournissent aux gestionnaires des informations concernant l’impact potentiel des carnivores sur les populations de grands herbivores

Elk Calf Survival and Mortality Following Wolf Restoration to Yellowstone National Park

We conducted a 3-year study (May 2003–Apr 2006) of mortality of northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus) calves to determine the cause for the recruitment decline (i.e., 33 calves to 13 calves/100 adult F) following the restoration of wolves (Canis lupus). We captured, fit with radiotransmitters, and evaluated blood characteristics and disease antibody seroprevalence in 151 calves ≤6 days old (68M:83F). Concentrations (x, SE) of potential condition indicators were as follows: thyroxine (T4; 13.8 μg/dL, 0.43), serum urea nitrogen (SUN; 17.4 mg/dL, 0.57), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT; 66.4 IU/L, 4.36), gamma globulins (GG; 1.5 g/dL, 0.07), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1; 253.6 ng/mL, 9.59). Seroprevalences were as follows: brucellosis (Brucella abortus; 3%), bovine-respiratory syncytial virus (3%), bovine-viral-diarrhea virus type 1 (25%), infectious-bovine rhinotracheitis (58%), and bovine parainfluenza-3 (32%). Serum urea nitrogen, GGT, GG, and IGF-1 varied with year; T4, SUN, and GG varied with age (P ≤ 0.01); and SUN varied by capture area (P=0.02). Annual survival was 0.22 (SE=0.035, n=149) and varied by calving area but not year. Neonates captured in the Stephens Creek/Mammoth area of Yellowstone National Park, USA, had annual survival rates \u3e3x higher (0.54) than those captured in the Lamar Valley area (0.17), likely due to the higher predator density in Lamar Valley. Summer survival (20 weeks after radiotagging) was 0.29 (SE=0.05, n=116), and calving area, absolute deviation from median birth date, and GG were important predictors of summer survival. Survival during winter (Nov–Apr) was 0.90 (SE=0.05, n=42), and it did not vary by calving area or year. Sixty-nine percent (n=104) of calves died within the first year of life, 24% (n=36) survived their first year, and 7% (n=11) had unknown fates. Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) accounted for 58–60% (n = 60–62) of deaths, and wolves accounted for 14–17% (n = 15–18). Summer predation (95% of summer deaths) increased, and winter malnutrition (0% of winter deaths) decreased, compared with a similar study during 1987–1990 (72% and 58%, respectively). Physiological factors (e.g., low levels of GG) may predispose calves to predation. Also, the increase in bear numbers since wolf restoration and spatial components finer than the northern range should be considered when trying to determine the causes of the northern Yellowstone elk decline. This is the first study to document the predation impacts from reintroduced wolves on elk calf mortality in an ecosystem already containing established populations of 4 other major predators (i.e., grizzly and black bears, cougars [Puma concolor], and coyotes [Canis latrans]). The results are relevant to resource managers of the Yellowstone ecosystem in understanding the dynamics of the elk population, in providing harvest quota recommendations for local elk hunts to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service regarding wolf and grizzly bear recovery, and to all areas worldwide where predators are increasing, by providing managers with information about potential carnivore impacts on elk populations