Digital Commons Network^™

Type And Frequency Of Wild Pig-Domestic Livestock Contacts And Operator Concern For Disease Spread, Sophie C. Mckee, Daniel F. Mooney, Ryan S. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) can levy substantial costs to domestic livestock operations and global supply chains due to disease introduction. Producers can take defensive action to avert these costs, but the factors influencing these decisions are not well understood. We examined survey data to characterize the type and frequency of contacts between wild pigs and domestic livestock and investigated the determinants of farm operator concern for disease introduction using an ordered logit model. We found that operators with livestock kept in buildings were more concerned about disease than those with livestock kept in fenced areas or that roam …

Turkey Vulture Survival Is Reduced In Areas Of Greater Road Density, Adrián Naveda-Rodríguez, Keith L. Bildstein, David R. Barber, Jean-François Therrien, Michael L. Avery, Bryan M. Kluever, Scott A. Rush, Francisco J. Vilella

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The demography of, and factors that influence these metrics, are largely unknown for most vultures in the Americas. Survivorship of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) may be influenced by landscape heterogeneity and human disturbance. We quantified the effects of landscape composition (Shannon’s diversity index) and configuration (contagion, edge density, and largest patch index), and human disturbance (road density) on the annual and seasonal survival probabilities of the three North American breeding populations (western, central, and eastern) of turkey vultures that spend the nonbreeding season in the southeastern portion of the Nearctic and the northern Neotropics during a 17-year period. …

Hepatozoon Spp. Infection In Wild Canids In The Eastern United States, Eliza Baker, Alex Clemson, Debra Miller, Kayla Buck Garrett, Christopher A. Cleveland, Justin Brown, Kyle Van Why, Richard W. Gerhold Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites known to cause musculoskeletal disease in a variety of animals. Two species are known to infect wild and domestic canids in the United States: Hepatozoon canis and H. americanum.

Methods In this study, blood, heart, and/or spleen samples were collected from 278 wild canids (180 coyotes, 93 red foxes, and 5 gray foxes) in the eastern US and tested via PCR for Hepatozoon. Histology slides of heart and skeletal muscle were assessed for Hepatozoon cysts and associated inflammation when fresh tissue was available (n = 96).

Results Hepatozoon spp. were …

A Next-Generation Sequencing Study Of Arthropods In The Diet Of Laysan Teal Anas Laysanensis, Wieteke A. Hothuijzen, Carmen C. Antaky, Elizabeth N. Flint, Jonathan H. Plissner, Coral A. Wolf, Holly P. Jones

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The critically endangered Laysan teal Anas laysanensis (known as koloa po¯haka in the Hawaiian language), in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands has wild populations on Kamole (Laysan Island), Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll NWR) and Ho¯laniku¯ (Kure Atoll). The Laysan teal face a new risk on Sand Island in Kuaihelani: non-target poisoning via a pending House Mouse Mus musculus eradication program. After mice were observed attacking and depredating Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis (mo¯lı¯) in 2015, plans to eradicate the mice were developed to protect this seabird species. This approach, however, risks poisoning the Laysan teal. To reduce exposure, teal will be translocated during …

Raccoon Densities Across Four Land Cover Types In The Southeastern United States, Jocab E. Hill, James L. Helton, David A. Bernasconi, Wesley C. Dixon, Matt T. Hamilton, Richard B. Chipman, Amy T. Gilbert, James C. Beasley, Guha Dharmarajan, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the primary reservoir for rabies virus in eastern North America. Management of rabies in raccoons is achieved primarily with the use of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) and effective ORV bait densities are determined in part by the densities of raccoons. Decisions regarding ORV bait densities, however, are limited by an incomplete understanding of raccoon densities across the spectrum of landscapes they occupy. We carried out a markrecapture study of raccoons on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA, from 2017–2019, to develop sex‐ and landscape‐specific raccoon density estimates across 4 rural land cover …

Livestock Depredation By Leopards, Associated Economic Losses, And Financial Compensation To Communities In Chhota Udepur District Of Central Gujarat, India, Shalu Mesaria, Pratik Desai, Shruti Patel, Dhaval Gadhavi, Anthony J. Giordano, Nishith Dharaiya

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Livestock depredation by large carnivores has been documented across the entire Indian subcontinent. The failure of managers to mitigate livestock losses in landscapes dependent on subsistence agriculture poses a threat to the conservation of carnivores. For much of Gujarat, a western Indian state characterized by extensive semi-arid habitats, the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is considered an apex predator. Increasing regional leopard populations in response to protection efforts has led to more attacks on humans, along with an increase in rates of livestock depredation. In many cases, the regional forest department financially compensates livestock owners for depredation caused …

A Critical Look At Wild Pig Elimination: Myths And Facts, Kim M. Pepin, Travis L. Guerrant, Jeremiah L. Psiropoulos, Jeanine T. Neskey, John M. Tomeček, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Janean L. Romines

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are abundant and widely distributed in the United States. They damage crops and pastures, predate livestock and sensitive species, impact ecosystem functions, and damage personal property. To address these issues, some states in the United States are seeking complete elimination. A frequently asked question by stakeholders is: “What portion of the population needs to be removed annually to reach elimination?” The number 70% is widely touted as the answer. There is little scientific evidence to support that this percent annual removal would be needed to achieve elimination, yet 70% has now become a standard …

The Ground Baiting Component Of The Gough Island House Mouse Eradication Attempt In 2021, Araceli Samaniego, Andrew Callender, Pete Mcclelland

Human–Wildlife Interactions

House mice (Mus musculus; mice) are among the most widespread invasive species. On Gough Island (6,500 ha), mice preying on at least 19 bird species triggered a mouse eradication attempt. Gough Island is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean and part of Tristan da Cunha, a UK Overseas Territory. From June to August 2021, an expert team applied an anticoagulant rodenticide (active ingredient brodifacoum at a concentration 20 ppm) island-wide, predominantly via aerial broadcast using helicopters, as the island is mainly uninhabited. However, hand-baiting was also required because of the presence of a staffed meteorological station. …

An Automatic System To Evaluate Bait Station Visitation By Brown Treesnakes And Mongooses, Robert T. Sugihara, William C. Pitt, Are R. Berentsen, Francis L. Benevides Jr.

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Understanding the temporal, spatial, and behavioral patterns of the free-ranging target species in response to candidate baits and baiting strategies is important to ensure control success. This information can also assist in the development and deployment of feeding stations and can exclude non-target species while constituting effective bait delivery and control strategies for certain invasive animals, especially at environmentally sensitive sites. We used passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in conjunction with very-high frequency radio-telemetry to remotely record bait station visitations and evaluate bait attractiveness in separate field research studies of brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Andersen Air Force …

Asiatic Black Bear Microsite Selection In A Human-Dominated Landscape In The Central Alps, Japan: Implications For Mitigating Human–Bear Conflicts, Tomoki Mori, Shigeyuki Izumiyama

Human–Wildlife Interactions

With the rapid expansion of human development and associated changes in landscape use, opportunities for human land sharing with large mammalian carnivores, such as those belong to the family Ursidae is increasing, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Consequently, this increased coexistence has also led to an increase in human–bear (Ursus spp.) interactions. It is important to understand the spatial and temporal reactions (e.g., interactions between cover, time, and humans) of bears to mitigate human–bear conflicts and facilitate coexistence. However, managers often need better information regarding bear microsite habitat selection in areas with higher levels of human–bear encounter risks. We explored …

Variation In Space Use And Movements Of Individual Mule Deer And Bighorn Sheep In Response To Shed Antler Hunting, Steven B. Bates, Jericho C. Whiting, Brock R Mcmillan, Steven L. Petersen, Randy T. Larsen

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Shed antler hunting can affect the movements and space use of ungulates. We evaluated space use and movements of 12 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and 25 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) during shed antler hunting for up to 4 years. Twenty-five percent of mule deer and 44% of bighorn sheep changed space use in relation to their home range in response to shed antler hunters across 2 years. Four deer were tracked for 3 or 4 consecutive years and responded differently to shed antler hunting across years. Mean distance moved by mule deer in response to shed …

The Impact Of Wheat Resistance And Bio-Rational Insecticides Toxicity Against Cherry-Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Anisa Haq, Waheed Murad, Sarir Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aphids cause substantial damage to the wheat crop. In order to determine how host plant resistance and insecticides manage the Rhopalosiphum padi L. Current experiments were carried out to find the influence of host plant resistance and bio-rational insecticides against aphids in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Field experiments were carried out for two growing years (2017/18 and 2018/19) to access the resistance of wheat against the aphids. The field resistance of wheat is highly expressed in Pirsabak-08 variety (infestation range = 1-2.5) while the most susceptible variety is Faisalabad-08 (infestation range > 10). The varietal preference experiment results revealed …

Population Abundance And Growth Parameters Of An Exotic Bivalve Species, Anadara Kagoshimensis, In The Southwestern Black Sea, Murat Dağteki̇n, Göktuğ Dalgiç, Murat Erbay, İlkay Özcan Akpinar, Mehmet Aydin, Süleyman Özdemi̇r, Ayşe Cebeci̇, Sedat Karayücel

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Blood cockle (Anadara kagoshimensis) is an Indo-Pacific species that later entered the Black Sea. The abundance of A. kagoshimensis, which is not subjected to commercial fishing, is important in terms of food competition with other bivalvia species. Baby clam (Chamelea gallina) together with the A. kagoshimensis are dominant bivalve species found in the sandy and muddy areas off the coastal waters of the Black Sea. In this study, specimens of A. kagoshimensis have been recognized by morphological analysis and also confirmed by molecular characterization. Furthermore, the abundance and growth parameters of A. kagoshimensis were investigated in the …

Ecological Factors Influencing The Breeding Performance Of Great Tits (Parus Major) In Artificial Nest Boxes, Dong-Ho Lee, Jae-Kang Lee, Tae-Kyung Eom, Ho-Kyoung Bae, Hyeongyu Ko, Shin-Jae Rhim

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Installing an artificial nest box has a positive effect on the cavity nesters such as great tit (Parus major). Beyond the process of installing an artificial nest box, a study on the effect of ecological factors on breeding performance is necessary. This study was conducted to evaluate the ecological factors influencing breeding performance of great tits (Parus major) in artificial nest boxes in temperate mixed forests. In this study, the first egg-laying date and percentage of shrub were closely related among ecological factors. Variable influencing clutch size was date of first egg-laying date. Percentage of shrub …

The Red-Footed Falcon Falco Vespertinus Population In The Danube Delta And Its Habitat Selection For Breeding, Lucian-Eugen Bolboaca, Alexandru-Catalin Dorosencu, Mihai Marinov, Marta Peraita, Maxym Yakovliev, Vasile Alexe

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Danube Delta is an atypical and complex ecosystem on the border of the slowly shrinking breeding distribution of Falco vespertinus. In this paper, we study the population that breeds in this area and intend to understand its relationship with the environment in these circumstances. We registered 231 breeding pairs (bp), with a local density of 0.034 bp/km$^{2}$. We made a Nearest Neighbour Analysis which confirmed the natural condition of the facultative colonial nesting character of this species. In addition, in order to study its habitat preferences for nesting we did a binary logistic regression model and complemented its …

Redescription Of A Little-Known Species, Cryptocephalus Surdus Rapilly, 1980 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), With Notes On New Distribution Localities And Habitat Preference In Türkiye, Ali̇ Gök, Abdullah Hasbenli̇, İsmai̇l Şen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cryptocephalus surdus Rapilly, 1980 is a little-known species which was described based on specimens collected from Iran. Due to the fact that the species was described very briefly in its original description, the taxonomic features of the species are redescribed in here. In addition, information about additional taxonomic characters, habitats and distribution in Türkiye of this little-known species are given for the first time in this study. Habitus and genital features of the species are photographed. Habitat preference and a map showing the previous and new distribution localities of the species are provided.

Diversity Rhythm In Pontellid Copepods (Pontellidae: Copepoda) From The Covelong Coast Pre- And Post-Covid-19 Lockdown, Bay Of Bengal, Md Anwar Nawaz, Sivakumar Kandhasamy, Baskar Gurunathan, Vijayaraj Radha

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Copepods act as indicators of the aquatic ecosystem since they rapidly respond to changes in nutrient content of the environment. Plankton samples were collected for two years from the Covelong coast, India (January to December 2019 and January to December 2021). The diversity patterns of pontellid copepods before and after the COVID-19 lockdown were analyzed. Physicochemical parameters like temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia level for both years were measured to compare and contrast the coastal health before and after the lockdown. Six species of pontellid copepods were reported before the lockdown period and 10 …

Lethal And Sublethal Effects Of Exposure To Roundup 360 Plus For The Chaoborus Flavicans Larvae (Diptera: Chaoboridae), Zbigniew Adamski, Aleksandra Dziegelewska, Paulina Jakubiak, Piotr Klimaszyk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The lethal and sublethal effects of Roundup (active substance glyphosate herbicide on phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans, Meigen, 1830) larvae were checked in the range of concentrations from 20 to 2000 μg/L, in the five-day long tests. The herbicide caused the mortality of insects, with the LC$_{50}$ values ranging from 357.2 to 120.9 μg of glyphosate/L, for one and five days, respectively. The correlation coefficient >0.9 indicated a strong positive correlation between the concentration of Roundup in water and the mortality of C. flavicans. Also, the LT50 values indicate the toxic activity of the herbicide for the larvae. …

Distribution And Population Density Of Halyomorpha Halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Black Sea Region Of Türkiye, Ki̇bar Ak, Mansur Uluca, Celal Tunçer

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a polyphagous invasive pest whose spread and damage are increasing with global commercial activities. In this study, following the invasion of Black Sea Region in 2018, spread, population density and change of the pest were investigated in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, possible causes of spread and measures to be taken were evaluated. Course of population was monitored with pheromone traps placed in 141, 120, and 162 locations in 8 provinces along the coastline of Black Sea Region. High population density was detected at all locations of Artvin and Rize …

Molecular Phylogenetics Of Aedes Aegypti (L., 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) In Eastern Black Sea Area Of Turkey And Possible Relations With The Caucasian Invasion, Murat Öztürk, Muhammet Mustafa Akiner

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aedes aegypti (L., 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important pest for human health. It vectors many diseases, including yellow fever (YF), dengue (DENV), and chikungunya (CHIKV). This species has invaded numerous countries including Balkan and Caucasian countries few past decades. The established populations of species were found in Turkey in 2015. We investigated the genetic variation, molecular phylogenetics, and differences between samples from Turkey and Georgia using four mitochondrial and one genomic DNA markers. The possible origin of the species was determined separately for each gene region using maximum likelihood trees. The ML analysis showed a close relation with the …

The Importance Of Shape Analysis Of The First Upper Molar In The Separation Of Two Subspecies Of The Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) In Northern Anatolia, Güli̇z Yavuz, Hati̇ce Mutlu Eyi̇son, Erkut Kivanç, Engi̇n Selvi̇, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Morphological features are important for intraspecific and interspecific variation. Teeth are important taxonomical characteristics because they can differ according to diet. Shape analysis of the first upper molar (M1) was used to determine geographical variations and effects of ecological changes on the population structure of Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) living in Turkey. Both outline and landmark analysis, as well as a canonical variates analysis, showed significant differences in teeth shape between populations. With this technique, we separated out two subspecies: M. a. trapezius and M. a. abanticus.

สัณฐานวิทยาเชิงเปรียบเทียบของระบบย่อยอาหารในอ้นเล็ก Cannomys Badius (Hodgson, 1841) ในความสัมพันธ์กับอาหารและการขจัดพิษจากไซยาไนด์, เจตพล ลิขิตกาญจนากรกิจ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

อ้นเล็ก Cannomys badius เป็นสัตว์ฟันแทะกินพืชในวงศ์ Spalacidae ที่ขุดโพรงอาศัยอยู่ใต้ดิน มีการกระจายตัวในประเทศแถบคาบสมุทรอินโดจีน ชนิดของอาหารที่อ้นเล็กกินยังมีความคลุมเครือ บางรายงานกล่าวว่าอ้นเล็กกินพืชที่มีองค์ประกอบเป็นเส้นใยสูง จัดเป็น specialist herbivore แต่บางรายงานจัดว่าอ้นเล็กเป็น generalist herbivore ที่สามารถกินผลไม้และเมล็ดพืชได้หลายหลากชนิด นอกจากนี้จากการสังเกตอ้นเล็กในกรงเลี้ยงพบว่า อ้นเล็กสามารถกินพืชที่มีองค์ประกอบของไซยาไนด์สูงได้ เช่น มันสำปะหลังดิบ ซึ่งปกติจะเป็นพิษต่อสัตว์ส่วนใหญ่ ในการศึกษาครั้งนี้ใช้อ้นเล็กจำนวน 14 ตัว เพื่อศึกษาสัณฐานวิทยาของระบบย่อยอาหาร และนำข้อมูลที่ได้มาอนุมานชนิดของอาหารที่อ้นเล็กกิน รวมถึงอธิบายความสามารถในการกินพืชที่มีไซยาไนด์ของอ้นเล็ก โดยอวัยวะในระบบย่อยอาหารถูกนำมาศึกษามหกายวิภาคศาสตร์ และมิญชวิทยาด้วยสีย้อม hematoxylin & eosin และ Masson’s trichrome รวมถึงศึกษาการแสดงออกของเอนไซม์ mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) ซึ่งช่วยลดความเป็นพิษของไซยาไนด์ด้วยวิธีอิมมูโนฮิสโตเคมี ผลการศึกษาพบว่า หลอดอาหารมีเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบ stratified squamous ที่มีชั้นเคอราทินหนา กระเพาะอาหารมีลักษณะเป็น 1 ห้อง (unilocular stomach) พบเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบ stratified squamous ที่มีชั้นเคอราทินในส่วน fundus และเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบต่อมในบริเวณอื่น สัดส่วนความยาวของลำไส้เล็กต่อลำไส้ทั้งหมดมีค่าน้อยเมื่อเทียบกับสัตว์ฟันแทะชนิดอื่น ๆ ซีกัมประกอบด้วย haustra 5-7 อัน มีเนื้อเยื่อน้ำเหลืองมากแต่ไม่พบไส้ติ่ง ผนังภายในโคลอนประกอบด้วยสันนูนตามยาว 2 อัน แล้วตามด้วยสันนูนรูปตัว V ที่เรียงซ้อนกันคล้ายก้างปลา มี goblet cells จำนวนมาก ในส่วนของต่อมเสริมพบว่า ตับมีจำนวน 5 พู มีถุงน้ำดี และตับอ่อนมีลักษณะแผ่ออกเป็นริ้ว ในการศึกษาตำแหน่งของ MPST ในเซลล์พบว่า มีการแสดงออกใน parietal cells ของกระเพาะอาหาร เซลล์เนื้อเยื่อบุผิวของซีกัมและโคลอน hepatocyte ของตับ เซลล์ใน islets of Langerhans ของตับอ่อน เซลล์กล้ามเนื้อลายและกล้ามเนื้อเรียบในทางเดินอาหาร การศึกษาครั้งนี้แสดงให้เห็นว่า อ้นเล็กเป็นสัตว์กินพืชที่มีกระบวนการหมักอาหารโดยจุลชีพเกิดขึ้นในลำไส้ใหญ่ และสามารถกินพืชที่ความสากและแข็ง ซึ่งเป็นลักษณะของอาหารที่มีเส้นใยสูงได้ จึงคาดว่าอ้นเล็กน่าจะเป็น …

Host-Microbe Interactions In Non-Native Estuarine Anemones: Biogeography And Temperature, Parker K. Lund

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Non-native species are increasing in prevalence around the world, resulting in negative economic and ecological impacts. However, the broad distributions of non-native species also offer a system for investigating the response of host-associated microbial communities to environmental factors across a range of ecological scales. At the broadest scale, I investigated the geography of microbial communities in the non-native estuarine anemone Diadumene lineata on the west coast of the United States of America. Across latitudes, microbial community composition was very similar and displayed a high percentage of Klebsiella spp. at all sites. However, the communities in California tended to exhibit higher …

Carnivore And Ungulate Occurrence In A Fire-Prone Region, Sara J. Moriarty-Graves

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Increasing fire size and severity in the western United States causes changes to ecosystems, species’ habitat use, and interspecific interactions. Wide-ranging carnivore and ungulate mammalian species and their interactions may be influenced by an increase in fire activity in northern California. Depending on the fire characteristics, ungulates may benefit from burned habitat due to an increase in forage availability, while carnivore species may be differentially impacted, but ultimately driven by bottom-up processes from a shift in prey availability. I used a three-step approach to estimate the single-species occupancy of four large mammal species: mountain lion (Puma concolor), coyote …

Skeletochronology In Long Tubular Bones Of The Javan Water Monitor Lizard, Varanus Salvator Bivittatus In The Juvenile Stage (Lacertilia: Varanidae), Hellen Kurniati, Ni Luh Putu Rischa Phadmacanty, Gono Semiadi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Age estimation of the juvenile stage of Varanus salvator bivittatus using limb bones, namely the big long tubular bones (femur, tibia, humerus) and the small long tubular bones (fibula, radius, ulna, phalanx), was performed using the skeletochronological method. Samples were from Java Island, Indonesia and provided by the pet exporters. Lines of arrested growth (LAG) were present and the first growth mark was visible on a female with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 18.8 cm, and a male with SVL of 19.3 cm. The process of resorption begins in the juvenile stage, and resorption occurs in all long tubular bones. …

A New Amphipod From The Depths Of The Morca Sinkhole (Anamur, Türkiye): Gammarus Morcae N. Sp. (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), With Notes On Cavernicolous Amphipods Of Türkiye, Murat Özbek, Gökhan Aydin

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new Gammarus species is identified based on the specimens collected from the Morca Sinkhole, which was discovered in 2019 in Anamur District, South of Türkiye. Eleven individuals belonging to the newly identified species were collected from the siphon located at the end of the sinkhole (-1260 m). The newly identified species can be distinguished by the following character combinations and morphological features: blind, colorless (unpigmented) and completely setae-covered body. Setae are not only on the surfaces of the meta- and mesosome segments, they are also present on the head, coxal + epimeral plates, and basal segments of the pereopods …

Fauna And Distribution Of Algerian Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), Khalida Djouama, Santiago Bordera

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In the present paper, 14 species of Ichneumonidae collected in Biskra region (Algeria) are reported. The species Trathala hierochontica (Schmiedeknecht, 1910), Diplazon laetatorius Fabricius, 1781, Ophion obscuratus Fabricius, 1798, Enicospilus tournieri (Vollenhoven, 1879), Dichrogaster schimitcheki (Fahringer, 1935), Dichrogaster longicaudata (Thomson, 1884), Gelis imitatus (Schwarz, 2016) and Lysibia nana (Gravenhorst, 1829) are reported as new records for the Algerian fauna.

Postmucilage Biodiversity Of Shallow Water Fish Assemblages: A Case Study In The Marmara Sea, Turkey, İsmai̇l Burak Daban, Yusuf Şen, Adnan Ayaz, Uğur Altinağaç, Alkan Özteki̇n, Uğur Özeki̇nci̇, Ali̇ İşmen, Fi̇kret Çakir, Ahsen Yüksek, Teki̇n Demi̇rkiran, Oğuzhan Ayaz, Gençtan Erman Uğur, Bumi̇nhan Burkay Selçuk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A dense mucilage event occurred between November 2020 and August 2021 in the Marmara Sea, Turkey. In this study, the aim was to understand the effect of mucilage on coastal fish biodiversity. For this purpose, juvenile and small-sized adult fish species were sampled with an experimental beach seine at 12 equally-spaced stations around the Marmara Sea between November 2021 and April 2022. In total, 34 species belonging to 19 families were sampled. Approximately 70% of the total fish abundance were Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) and Chelon saliens (Risso, 1810). Highest abundance was detected from S5 …

Ecomorphological Patterns And Shape Indices Of Otoliths In The Pagellus Acarne (Actinopterygii, Sparidae) From The Aegean And Marmara Seas, Serdar Yedi̇er, Seda Kontaş Yalçinkaya, Di̇lek Türker, Derya Bostanci

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Pagellus acarne is found in coastal waters worldwide and it includes important species of commercial and recreational fisheries. In this study, 16 morphometric variables of the sagittal otolith, including six morphometric characters, six shape indices, and four ecomorphological indexes, were investigated for the first time among P. acarne stocks collected from the Aegean and Marmara Seas coasts of Turkey. Statistically significant differences were found between the right and left otolith variables of P. acarne individuals in both stocks (p < 0.05). Similarly, significant differences were observed on the same side between stocks (p < 0.05). The right otoliths exhibited higher discrimination power than the left within the two stocks. The PCA showed that only five (31.25%) (otolith area, otolith perimeter, form factor, roundness, and edge complexity index) out of the sixteen variables were quite important characters in the differentiation between stocks. These otolith characters demonstrated a very high rate of accurate discrimination (99.0%) between stocks. The results indicated otolith morphometric characters, shape indices, and ecomorphological indexes can be used as suitable tools to discriminate P. acarne stocks. This is the first study to include all otolith characters such as morphometrics, shape, and ecomorphological indices that …

Discovering Underground Bat Hibernacula In Lowland Eastern Europe, Lena Godlevska, Aliaksei Shpak, Mariia Savchenko, Pavlo Vorobei

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The importance of underground hibernacula for the conservation of bats and monitoring their populations is well-recognized. However, the lowland territory of Belarus, with absent natural caves and suitable for bats mines, was one of the least surveyed European regions in terms of underground bat sites, and especially hibernacula. To address this knowledge gap, in 2020, we conducted a broadscale one winter bat survey, exploring 90 underground sites (basements, cellars, church crypts, fortifications, and facilities of abandoned Soviet missile bases) in various parts of Belarus. To our knowledge, none of these sites had been examined for bats before. In 56 of …