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1
Bianchi, L., L. Bartoli, M. Paci, and D. Pozzi. "Impact of wild ungulates on coppices from the Bisenzio Valley (province of Prato, Italy)." Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale 11, no. 3 (June 19, 2014): 116–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.3832/efor1259-011.
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Forsyth, David M., A. David M. Latham, Naomi E. Davis, Peter Caley, Mike Letnic, Paul D. Moloney, Luke P. Woodford, and Andrew P. Woolnough. "Interactions between dingoes and introduced wild ungulates: concepts, evidence and knowledge gaps." Australian Mammalogy 41, no. 1 (2019): 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am17042.
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The dingo (Canis dingo or C. familiaris, including hybrids with feral dogs) is the apex carnivore on mainland Australia. Fifteen non-native ungulate species have established wild populations in Australia. Dingoes are managed to reduce impacts on domestic ungulates, and introduced wild ungulates are managed to reduce impacts on natural ecosystems and to minimise competition with domestic ungulates. There is speculation about the extent to which (1) dingoes limit the abundances of introduced wild ungulates, and (2) introduced wild ungulates sustain dingo populations. We reviewed the literature to identify potential ecological interactions between dingoes and introduced wild ungulates, and to synthesise evidence for interactions between dingoes and each ungulate species (including the percentage frequency occurrence (%FO) of ungulates in dingo diets). Eleven of the 15 ungulate species were recorded in the diet of dingoes, with the highest %FO occurrences reported for feral goats (73%) and cattle (60%). Two studies concluded that dingoes reduced ungulate abundances (feral goat (Capra hircus) and feral donkey (Equus asinus)), and two studies concluded that dingoes did not regulate feral pig (Sus scrofa) abundances. A fifth study concluded that dingoes exhibited a Type III functional response to increasing sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) abundances. A sixth study concluded that dingoes made relatively little use of hunter-shot sambar deer carcasses. We propose that interactions between dingoes and introduced wild ungulates depend on the sex–age classes vulnerable to dingo predation, dingo pack sizes, the availability of escape terrain for ungulates and the availability of alternative foods for dingoes. The interplay between environmental conditions and the population growth rate of ungulates, and hence their ability to sustain losses from predation, could also be important. We predict that dingoes will have most impact on the abundance of smaller ungulate species and neonates.
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Prosser, Filippo. "La vegetazione dei ripari sottoroccia frequentati da ungulati selvatici sul Monte Altissimo di Nago (Monte Baldo settentrionale)." Giornale botanico italiano 126, no. 3-4 (January 1992): 505–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263509209430302.
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Schreiner, Edward G., Kirsten A. Krueger, Douglas B. Houston, and Patricia J. Happe. "Understory patch dynamics and ungulate herbivory in old-growth forests of Olympic National Park, Washington." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26, no. 2 (February 1, 1996): 255–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x26-029.
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The relationship between native ungulates (mainly Roosevelt elk, Cervuselaphus L.) and the occurrence of three patch types in an old-growth (220- to 260-year-old) Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carrière)–western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) temperate coniferous rain forest was investigated on the South Fork Hoh River in Olympic National Park. The distribution, frequency, and size of two understory patches (grass, moss) and patches where shrubs had escaped herbivory (refugia) were sampled along transects. Vegetation standing crop, percent cover, species richness, and equitability along transects were compared with conditions in two 8-year-old 0.5-ha ungulate exclosures. Ungulate herbivory profoundly affected the distribution and abundance of understory patch types. Grass-dominated patches disappeared following 8 years of protection from ungulate herbivory. Ungulates maintained a reduced standing crop, increased forb species richness, and determined the distribution, morphology, and reproductive performance of several shrub species. There is clearly a dynamic relationship between patch type, tree fall, and ungulate herbivory in these old-growth forests. Our results show that ungulate herbivory is a driving force shaping vegetation patterns in coastal coniferous forests.
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Bhandari, Shivish, Ramiro D. Crego, and Jared A. Stabach. "Spatial segregation between wild ungulates and livestock outside protected areas in the lowlands of Nepal." PLOS ONE 17, no. 1 (January 27, 2022): e0263122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263122.
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Understanding how wildlife interacts with human activities across non-protected areas are critical for conservation. This is especially true for ungulates that inhabit human-dominated landscapes outside the protected area system in Nepal, where wildlife often coexists with livestock. Here we investigated how elevation, agricultural land, distance from roads, and the relative abundance of livestock (goats, sheep, cow and buffalo) influenced wild ungulate chital (Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphustrago camelus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) abundance and occurrence. We counted all individuals of wild ungulates and livestock along 35 transects conducted between November 2017 and March 2018 in community forests of Bara and Rautahat distracts in the lowlands of Nepal. We assessed abundance and occurrence relation to covariates using Generalized Linear Models. We found that livestock outnumbered wild ungulates 6.6 to 1. Wild boar was the most abundant wild ungulate, followed by nilgai, chital, and sambar. Elevation and livestock abundance were the most important covariates affecting the overall abundance of wild ungulates and the distribution of each individual ungulate species. Our results suggest spatial segregation between wild ungulates, which occur mainly on high grounds (> 300 m.a.s.l.), and livestock that concentrate across low ground habitats (< 300 m.a.s.l.). Our results provide a critical first step to inform conservation in community forest areas of Nepal, where wildlife interacts with people and their livestock. Finding better strategies to allow the coexistence of ungulates with people and their livestock is imperative if they are to persist into the future.
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Bukombe, John, Andrew Kittle, Ramadhan B. Senzota, Hamza Kija, Simon Mduma, John M. Fryxell, Flora Magige, Cosmas Mligo, and Anthony R. E. Sinclair. "The influence of food availability, quality and body size on patch selection of coexisting grazer ungulates in western Serengeti National Park." Wildlife Research 46, no. 1 (2019): 54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18072.
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Context Differences in body size and mouth morphologies influence dietary resource separation among savanna ungulates, and this influences their distribution across landscape. Aim The aim was to understand the influence of body size and mouth morphology differences on both diet and patch selection by ungulate species in western Serengeti. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) for ungulate species, the relative body sizes and muzzle widths (mean muzzle width range: 3.1- 9.85) relate directly to food biomass, and to quality of diets selected in the wet season when food is abundant; (2) in the wet season, if food is not limiting, similar-sized species should exhibit greater dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size and muzzle width; moreover, similar-sized species exhibit less dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size. Methods In the western Serengeti ecosystem, road transects and direct observation were used to obtain data on the distribution and diet of five ungulate species namely buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, topi and impala; which have of varying sizes (range: 70–630kg) feeding in three different vegetation types. Grassland biomass, structure, nutrient content and ungulate use were measured at sites along transects. Key Results Results indicated that large-bodied ungulates utilised patches of greater food abundance compared with those of smaller ungulates. Body mass was also negatively correlated with diet quality, so that smaller animals ate higher protein and lower-fibre foods, as predicted. Diet niche overlap (niche similarity) showed a strong positive relationship with body mass differences among ungulate species, in support of the second of the two predictions from this hypothesis, namely that dissimilarly sized species could eat the same food. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that in this savanna system, variation in ungulate body size influences resource separation even in the food-abundant wet season, and that this helps multiple species to co-exist. Implications Implementing more focused conservation strategies will improve wildlife habitat quality by integrating fire as a forage management tool with grazing preferences to promote forage heterogeneity in protected areas.
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Fehr, Michiel, Nora Zürcher Gasser, Olivier Schneider, Thomas Burger, and Andrea D. Kupferschmid. "Gutachtliche Beurteilung des Wildeinflusses auf die Waldverjüngung (Essay)." Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 170, no. 3 (May 1, 2019): 135–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.3188/szf.2019.0135.
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Expert assessments of the ungulate influence on tree regeneration (essay) Roe deer, red deer and chamois browse on shoots of tree saplings or fray and peel their bark. This ungulate influence can be so strong that it changes the composition of the tree species mixture and the number of stems. Repeated expert assessments of tree saplings allow a comprehensive statement about the strength and development of this ungulate influence and provide a basis for discussions about possible actions to be taken. However, this only applies if the expert assessment describes the influence of ungulates objectively, transparently and neutrally. In the text, the authors – members of the working group Forest and Wildlife of the Swiss Forestry Society – propose a concrete procedure for the expert assessment. The core of which is the assessment of the impact of ungulates in four classes. The use of these ungulate influence classes makes it possible to evaluate objectively the vertical growth of main and admixed tree species as well as the vertical growth of ungulate-sensitive and non-sensitive tree species. These classes enable a calculation of the proportion of forest area where browsing does prevent silvicultural objectives from being met with respect to i) the composition of ungulate-sensitive main and admixed tree species and ii) the number of stems (target values for regeneration). A harmonization of ungulate influence classes facilitates the assessment of canton-wide wildlife management units and gener ally simplifies the dialogue between cantons.
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Teffo, Thabang Rainett, Ádám Fehér, and Krisztián Katona. "Ungulates and Their Impact on Reptiles: A Review of Interspecific Relationships." Diversity 15, no. 1 (December 25, 2022): 28. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15010028.
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Several ungulate species are showing increasing population patterns within their geographical distribution ranges, leading to constant interactions with other animal species. Varying densities and activities of different ungulates may result in diverse impacts on other coexisting species groups, including large numbers of threatened species, such as reptiles. In this study, we performed an analysis of the available literature to investigate the impacts of ungulates on reptiles. We aimed to reveal the diversity of: (1) the geographical and environmental distribution of related investigations; (2) the ungulate and reptile species involved; and (3) the characteristics of interactions (direct or indirect, positive or negative) from 69 publications. Our results show that the most papers were reported from the Americas (42%) and Australia (28%). The proportions of studies were balanced for wild ungulates (53%) and livestock (47%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa) was found to be the most problematic species on reptiles whereas reptiles which suffered the harshest impacts were Squamates (i.e., lizards, and snakes). Ungulate activities (e.g., digging by wild boar) may directly harm reptiles (consuming or killing them) or indirectly affect them by modifying their habitats or destroying their hideouts. Some preferential effects were also noted (e.g., by moderate livestock grazing or when wild ungulates are prey for large reptiles). Published livestock impacts were mainly indirect and mostly negatively linked to overgrazing. We conclude that it is important to manage and monitor the densities of ungulates to minimize their negative impacts on reptile species, especially in case of wild boar and grazing livestock, but also to maintain their moderate beneficial effects (e.g., as prey basis).
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Jia-yan, Wu. "The ungulates of northern China." Rangifer 14, no. 2 (December 1, 1994): 57. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.14.2.1135.
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Presently, thirty five species of ungulates occur in northern China. Some species are threatened or endangered. There are three species of Equidae (E. przewalskii, E. hemionus, E. kiang), one of Suidae (Sus scrofa), one of Camelidae (Camelus bactrianus), 14 species of Cervidae (with the genera Moschus, Elaphus, Cervus, Elaphurus, Alces, Rangifer, Capreolus) and 16 species of Bovidae (within the genera Bos, Gazella, Procapra, Pantholops, Saiga, Nemorhaedus, Capricornis, Budorcas, Capra, Pseudois, Ovis). They inhabit different biotopes, i.e. temperate mountain forest and steppe, temperate desert and semi-desert, and vast alpine ranges. Ungulate fossils are widespread in China evidencing that Asia was an evolutionary centre for some ungulates. Although new data have been gathered through research efforts in China since 1949 it is a fact that some ungulate species have suffered serious population set-backs and some have become endangered or even extinct. Detailed studies of ungulate populations and protection of habitats are now most important future research needs.
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Brüllhardt, Martin, Anita C. Risch, Flurin Filli, Rudolf M. Haller, and Martin Schütz. "Spatiotemporal dynamics of natural tree regeneration in unmanaged subalpine conifer forests with high wild ungulate densities." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45, no. 6 (June 2015): 607–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2014-0358.
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Increasing wild ungulate populations in the northern hemisphere led to extensive research on their influence on forest regeneration. According to the results of different studies, high ungulate densities may alter forest structure and composition, as well as inhibit forest regeneration. However, little is known about the long-term impact of large herbivores on forest dynamics at the landscape scale. Therefore, we studied forest regeneration in conifer forests of the highly protected Swiss National Park. We assessed sapling densities and apical shoot loss by repeated systematic sampling in 2003 and in 2011–2012 in two valleys featuring exceptionally high densities of wild ungulates of up to 86 individuals per vegetation-covered square kilometre during summer and 28 individuals per vegetation-covered square kilometre during winter. Mean apical shoot loss ranged between 2.9% and 10.6% depending on study site and assessment year. In addition to the increasing sapling densities, these results suggest that ungulates had little impact on tree establishment in the studied subalpine conifer forests. Additionally, sapling diversity was higher on plots repeatedly influenced by ungulates (apical shoot loss), suggesting rather positive effects of ungulates on sapling diversity. Habitat containing a mixture of forest and grassland without livestock or human disturbance provides a high-quality environment for ungulates, which likely explains the low impact of ungulates on forest regeneration in our study area.
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Nieminen, Mauri. "11th Arctic Ungulate Conference (AUC)." Rangifer 25, no. 1 (April 1, 2005): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.25.1.330.
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The 11th Arctic Ungulate Conference (AUC) wasorganised by the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (RKTL) in Saariselkä, in the Heart of Lapland, Finland, 24-28 August 2003. The conference continued a series of ten conferences devoted to Arctic Ungulates, including five Reindeer/Caribou Symposia, two Muskox Symposia and three Arctic Ungulate Conferences. The series began with the 1st International Reindeer/Caribou Symposium held in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1972
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Blix, Arnoldus Schytte. "10th Arctic Ungulate Conference." Rangifer 20, no. 2-3 (March 1, 2000): 56. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.20.2-3.1503.
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The 10th Arctic Ungulate Conference was organised by the Department of Arctic Biology and held at the University of Tromsø, Norway, 9-13 August 1999. The conference continued a series of nine conferences devoted to Arctic ungulates, including five International Reindeer/Caribou Symposia, two International Muskox Symposia and two Arctic Ungulate Conferences. Two hundred delegates from 14 countries attended and presented more than 150 scientific papers, making it one of the biggest Arctic Ungulate Conferences ever. The scientific and social programme as well as the abstracts have been published in Rangifer Report No. 4, 1999.
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Li, Jia, Yadong Xue, Mingfu Liao, Wei Dong, Bo Wu, and Diqiang Li. "Temporal and Spatial Activity Patterns of Sympatric Wild Ungulates in Qinling Mountains, China." Animals 12, no. 13 (June 28, 2022): 1666. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12131666.
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Dramatic increases in populations of wild ungulates have brought a new ecological issue in the Qinling mountains. Information on species’ niche differentiation will contribute to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of coexistence, so as to ultimately benefit the conservation and management of ecological communities. In this study, camera trapping was used to investigate spatial and temporal activity patterns of sympatric wild ungulates in the Qinling Mountains of China, where top predators were virtually absent. We obtained 15,584 independent detections of seven wild ungulate species during 93,606 camera-trap days from April 2014 to October 2017. Results showed that (i) the capture rate differed significantly across species, with the capture rate of reeve muntjac being significantly higher than that of other species; (ii) the wild boar had a higher occupancy rates (ψ = 0.888) than other six ungulates, and distance to settlements had a negative relationship with wild boar (β = −0.24 ± 0.17); (iii) the forest musk deer and mainland serow had low spatial overlaps with other five wild ungulates, while spatial overlap indices of any two given pairs of wild ungulates were relatively high; (iv) all wild ungulates species (expect wild boar) were mainly active during crepuscular and diurnal periods, and showed bimodal activity peaks at around 05:00–07:00 and 17:00–19:00; and finally, (v) all wild ungulates showed moderate to high temporal overlaps. The results provided detailed information of the spatial and temporal ecology of wild ungulate communities in forest ecosystems of China, which also would be a guide to establish conservation priorities as well as efficient management programs.
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Turner, Monica, Yegang Wu, William Romme, and Linda Wallace. "Landscape-Level Interactions Among Ungulates, Vegetation, and Large-Scale Fires in Northern Yellowstone National Park." UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports 15 (January 1, 1991): 263–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.13001/uwnpsrc.1991.3045.
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The scale of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) raised numerous questions for the management of natural areas subject to large, infrequent disturbances. An important management issue in YNP involves the interaction of large-scale fire with the large assemblage of native ungulates and vegetation dynamics in the landscape. In this 2-year research project, we are using landscape modeling and field studies to address basic questions about the effects of fire scale and heterogeneity on (1) resource utilization and survival of free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) and (2) the production and regeneration of preferred forage grasses and aspen in northern YNP. We are testing a series of eight hypotheses within the framework of two basic questions. First, we ask whether there are thresholds in fire size that interact with winter severity and ungulate density to determine ungulate resource use and survival on the winter range in northern YNP. This question focuses on the effects of fire size, regardless of the spatial pattern of burning. Second we ask, if large fires occur, does the spatial distribution of burned areas (and hence of higher quality forage) influence ungulate resource use during winters subsequent to the first post-fire year. In this question, we are addressing the effects of spatial pattern on herbivory. We focus on elk and bison because these are by far the most numerous ungulates in the area (Houston 1982), and we have chosen to examine winter grazing and browsing for several reasons. Winter range conditions are the primary determinant of ungulate survival and reproduction in Yellowstone, and winter utilization of the vegetation by ungulates appears to be intense in some areas. Ungulates make distinct foraging choices in the winter as in the rest of the year, and burn patterns may influence those choices in ways that we represent as hypotheses described later. In addition, the activities of animals can be readily monitored in the winter, and the exact locations of feeding and bedding sites can be determined. Travel routes are easily monitored, and the ability to sight animals is high; therefore, group locations and sizes can be readily determined. This research complements ongoing studies in YNP by expanding the spatial scale at which plant-herbivore dynamics are considered and by explicitly addressing the effects of spatial heterogeneity. Our research will produce a spatially explicit simulation model of the 78,000 ha winter range that predicts plant and ungulate dynamics under varying fire sizes, fire patterns, winter weather scenarios, and ungulate densities. The model and field studies will allow quantitative comparisons of the effects of large and small fires on ungulate survival and will thereby permit the simulation of the effects of alternative fire management scenarios.
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Hood, G. A., and S. E. Bayley. "The effects of high ungulate densities on foraging choices by beaver (Castor canadensis) in the mixed-wood boreal forest." Canadian Journal of Zoology 86, no. 6 (June 2008): 484–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-029.
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In some areas of North America previous management policies have created competition between beaver ( Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) and ungulates, resulting in dramatic declines in beaver populations. Some authors attribute this decline to competitive exclusion. Generally, the less niche overlap between competitors, the lower potential competition between them. Differences between foraging behaviour of beaver and ungulates suggest that they could not compete to the point of either competitive exploitation or complete exclusion except in restricted habitats. We tested this assumption under two levels of foraging intensity by ungulates by examining the effects of resource competition on beaver forage choices in the context of central place foraging theory. Ungulate densities and foraging intensity within Elk Island National Park (EINP) in Alberta, Canada, were significantly higher than those immediately adjacent to the park, where foraging pressure was lower. Within EINP, forage availability (e.g., stem densities and stem diameters) of many woody plants preferred by beaver, such as Populus L. and Salix L., were depressed by intense foraging by ungulates. Beaver adapted to the effects of high ungulate densities on forage resources by adapting their foraging behaviour. This finding suggested that competitive exploitation, rather than exclusion, exists in EINP. EINP is a productive system that offers an array of forage species, which potentially buffers the effects of competition between ungulates and beaver.
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Gese, Eric M. "Threat of predation: do ungulates behave aggressively towards different members of a coyote pack?" Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, no. 3 (September 1, 1999): 499–503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-232.
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Wild ungulates have evolved a variety of antipredator strategies to deter or escape predation by carnivores. Among wild canids, the dominant pair of a pack often initiates attacks upon prey. Previous observations in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, showed that the alpha pair in a coyote (Canis latrans) pack most often leads attacks on ungulates during winter. We were interested in determining whether ungulates can distinguish (perhaps by body size or posture) which members of a coyote pack are the alpha individuals, and whether they initiate and direct aggressive behavior towards those members of the pack that pose the greatest threat of predation to themselves and (or) their offspring. During 2507 h of behavioral observations on 54 coyotes between January 1991 and June 1993, we observed 51 interactions between coyotes and adult elk (Cervus elaphus), bison (Bison bison), and pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) in Yellowstone National Park. The interactions analyzed here are those in which the ungulate appeared to initiate aggressive behavior towards the coyote(s) and were not a response to an attack by the predators. We found that aggression by ungulates towards coyotes was highest during the summer months, when calves and fawns were present; female ungulates were more frequently aggressive than males. The frequency of aggression of adult ungulates towards small and large groups of coyotes was equal to the frequency of occurrence of these groups. Ungulates directed aggressive behavior more frequently towards alpha coyotes and were less aggressive towards beta coyotes and pups. Large ungulates, particularly elk and bison, appeared to perceive that alpha coyotes posed a greater threat to themselves and their offspring. The smaller ungulate, the pronghorn antelope, directed aggressive behavior equally towards all coyotes. Adult ungulates were probably responding to the larger body size of the alpha coyotes and the tendency of alpha coyotes to travel at the front of the pack.
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Boertje, R. D., and R. O. Stephenson. "Effects of ungulate availability on wolf reproductive potential in Alaska." Canadian Journal of Zoology 70, no. 12 (December 1, 1992): 2441–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-328.
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We compared wolf (Canis lupus) reproductive data for March and April, when ungulate biomass per wolf was high, moderate, and low. The percentage of reproductively active adult females was significantly lower (66% compared with ≥96%, P < 0.001) when ungulate biomass per wolf was low versus moderate or high. Reproductively inactive adult females had significantly less subcutaneous fat (P < 0.01) than reproductively active females when ungulate biomass per wolf was relatively abundant. Average litter size, estimated by counting blastocysts or fetuses, declined significantly (P < 0.001), from 6.9 to 4.6, as ungulate biomass per wolf declined. We conclude that wolf productivity declines as prey availability per wolf declines. However, only when ungulate biomass per wolf declined below levels previously reported in the literature did we observe significant declines in reproductive potential. Ungulate biomass per wolf was low because of large, rapid declines in ungulates and lesser declines in wolves. We recognize that functional relationships, e.g., prey vulnerability and feeding dominance, can influence wolf productivity independently of ungulate biomass per wolf.
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Ding, Jianhua, Zhitao Liu, Yanling Song, Zhigao Zeng, Qiong Zhang, and Benjamin D. Bravery. "Rut-induced changes in the activity budgets of male tropical ungulates: Eld’s deer on Hainan Island." Current Zoology 58, no. 4 (August 1, 2012): 536–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/58.4.536.
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Abstract Aspects of time budgets, activity patterns and rut-related changes in behavior are well documented in temperate ungulates; however, the application of this understanding to tropical and sub-tropical ungulate species has attracted less attention and remains an area that may re-shape our knowledge of ungulate behavior. Eld’s deer Cervus eldi hainanus has a tropical and sub-tropical distribution on Hainan Island, China, and males have an extended rut exceeding five months during which they do not maintain harems or defend resources. We studied males from the only remaining population on Hainan Island, and describe rut-related changes in behavior by collecting data on time budgets and activity patterns. We show that male Eld’s deer do not follow a strict crepuscular activity pattern, do not spend the majority of their time foraging and do not increase foraging nor display rut-induced hypophagia during rut, in obvious contrast to temperate ungulates. These results are discussed in light of current hypotheses explaining the proximate mechanisms governing feeding time in ungulates, while appreciating the need for further research.
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Prayoga, W., and M. A. Imron. "The Use of Forest Refugia by Ungulate After the 2015'Fire in Tesso Nilo National Park, Riau-Indonesia." Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika (Journal of Tropical Forest Management) 28, no. 1 (April 20, 2022): 40–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.28.1.40.
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Wildfires in Indonesia 2015 burnt forests in many protected areas, including remaining forests in Tesso Nilo National Park. We investigated the extent to which 2015's wildfires affect the remaining habitat and the spatial distribution of ungulates in the park by using satellite images to identify burnt and unburnt forest patches. Habitat conditions and the presence of ungulates indicated by the number of ungulate signs were compared between burnt and unburnt areas. The fire devastated trees at different rates depending on tree life form stages. We found that younger trees were more vulnerable to fire. The abundance of ungulates did not differ significantly between burnt and unburnt areas, but all vegetation characteristics were significantly different (Mann-Whitney U-test p-value < 0.05). We surmise that food such as new shoots or leaves, particularly at the edge of burnt areas, attracted ungulates out of unburnt areas. The remaining forest is relatively small, and the park is under continued pressure from illegal conversion, so any further loss of remaining forest as refugia will likely harm the ungulate population. We recommend that management should prioritize the preservation of remaining pristine habitat and the reduction of fire suppression, especially during the dry season.
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Khan, Jamal A., Ravi Chellam, W. A. Rodgers, and A. J. T. Johnsingh. "Ungulate densities and biomass in the tropical dry deciduous forests of Gir, Gujarat, India." Journal of Tropical Ecology 12, no. 1 (January 1996): 149–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400009366.
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ABSTRACTData on densities, biomass and ecological factors governing the distribution of various wild ungulate species in the difFerent management units of Gir forest from 1987 to 1989 were collected. Density of ungulates ranged from 50.8 km−2 to 0.42 km−2, the highest for chital (Axis axis), followed by chinkara (Gazella gazella), sambar (Cervus unicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and chowsingha (Tetracerus quadricornis). The density of chital did not vary significantly between different censuses and management units. The wild ungulate biomass ranged from 3290 kg km−2 in the National Park to 1900 kg km−2 in the Sanctuary East. Following the partial removal of people and livestock in the mid-1970s, there was an increase in the population of all wild ungulates except nilgai and wild pig (Sus scrofa). Concurrently, there was an increase in the proportion of wild ungulate prey in the lion's diet. Chital density has shown a 1320% increase. An increase in suitable habitats and a decrease in direct competition with livestock are the most likely factors to have triggered the eruption in chital population. These density estimates are discussed in relation to the prevailing ecological conditions in different management units of Gir.
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Wilckens, David T., Joshua B. Smith, Stephanie A. Tucker, Daniel J. Thompson, and Jonathan A. Jenks. "Mountain lion ( Puma concolor ) feeding behavior in the Little Missouri Badlands of North Dakota." Journal of Mammalogy 97, no. 2 (November 20, 2015): 373–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv183.
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Abstract Recent recolonization of mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) into the Little Missouri Badlands of North Dakota has led to questions regarding the potential impacts of predation on prey populations in the region. From 2012 to 2013, we deployed 9 real-time GPS collars to investigate mountain lion feeding habits. We monitored mountain lions for 1,845 telemetry-days, investigated 506 GPS clusters, and identified 292 feeding events. Deer ( Odocoileus spp.) were the most prevalent item in mountain lion diets (76.9%). We used logistic regression to predict feeding events and size of prey consumed at an additional 535 clusters. Our top model for predicting presence of prey items produced a receiver operating characteristic score of 0.90 and an overall accuracy of 81.4%. Application of our models to all GPS clusters resulted in an estimated ungulate kill rate of 1.09 ungulates/week (95% confidence interval [ CI ] = 0.83–1.36) in summer (15 May‒15 November) and 0.90 ungulates/week (95% CI = 0.69–1.12) in winter (16 November‒14 May). Estimates of total biomass consumed were 5.8kg/day (95% CI = 4.7–6.9) in summer and 7.2kg/day (95% CI = 5.3–9.2) in winter. Overall scavenge rates were 3.7% in summer and 11.9% in winter. Prey composition included higher proportions of nonungulates in summer (female = 21.5%; male = 24.8%) than in winter (female = 4.8%; male = 7.5%). Proportion of juvenile ungulates in mountain lion diets increased during the fawning season (June‒August) following the ungulate birth pulse in June (June–August = 60.7%, 95% CI = 43.0–78.3; September–May = 37.2%, 95% CI = 30.8–43.7), resulting in an ungulate kill rate 1.61 times higher (1.41 ungulates/week, 95% CI = 1.12–1.71) than during the remainder of the year (0.88 ungulates/week, 95% CI = 0.62–1.13). Quantifying these feeding characteristics is essential to assessing the potential impacts of mountain lions on prey populations in the North Dakota Badlands, where deer dominate the available prey base and mountain lions represent the lone apex predator.
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Croft, Darin A., and Malena Lorente. "No evidence for parallel evolution of cursorial limb adaptations among Neogene South American native ungulates (SANUs)." PLOS ONE 16, no. 8 (August 17, 2021): e0256371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256371.
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During the Neogene, many North American ungulates evolved longer limbs. Presumably, this allowed them to move more efficiently or quickly in open habitats, which became more common during this interval. Evidence suggests that open habitats appeared even earlier in South America, but no study to date has investigated whether the ungulate-like mammals of South America (South American native ungulates or SANUs) evolved similar limb adaptations. We analyzed limb elongation in the two predominant SANU groups, notoungulates and litopterns, by compiling genus-level occurrences from the late Oligocene to the Pleistocene and calculating metatarsal/femur ratio (Mt:F). None of the groups or subgroups we analyzed show a pronounced increase in Mt:F across this interval, with the possible exception of proterotheriid litopterns. Proterotheriids are thought to have inhabited forested environments rather than open ones, which raises questions about the selective forces responsible for limb elongation in ungulates. Conversely, notoungulates, which are traditionally thought to have lived in open habitats, show no strong trend of increasing Mt:F across this interval. Our study suggests that the macroevolutionary trend of limb elongation in ungulate-like mammals is not universal and is highly influenced by the evolutionary affinities of the groups being analyzed.
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Turner, Monica, Yegang Wu, Scott Pearson, William Romme, and Linda Wallace. "Landscape-Level Interactions Among Ungulates, Vegetation, and Large-Scale Fires in Northern Yellowstone National Park." UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports 16 (January 1, 1992): 206–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.13001/uwnpsrc.1992.3121.
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The scale of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) raised numerous questions for the management of natural areas subject to large, infrequent disturbances. An important management issue in YNP involves the interaction of large-scale fire with the large assemblage of native ungulates and vegetation dynamics in the landscape. We used landscape modeling and field studies to address basic questions about the effects of fire scale and heterogeneity on resource utilization and survival of free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison), and the production and regeneration of preferred forage grasses and aspen in northern Yellowstone Park. More specifically, we asked (1) how fire size interacts with winter severity to control ungulate feeding behavior and survival, both in the initial postfire winter, when fire reduces forage, and in later postfire winters, when fire augments forage; (2) how fire pattern (e.g., clumped vs. dispersed burn sites) modifies the effects of fire size; (3) which environmental factors, including fire, influence selection of feeding areas by wintering ungulates at a variety of scales, from a single feeding station to the entire northern winter range; and (4) how the size and spatial pattern of burning influence regeneration of aspen (Populus tremuloides), a preferred and heavily browsed species in YNP. We focus on elk and bison because these are by far the most numerous ungulates in the area (Houston 1982), and we have chosen to examine winter grazing and browsing for several reasons. Winter range conditions are the primary determinant of ungulate survival and reproduction in Yellowstone, and winter utilization of the vegetation by ungulates appears to be intense in some areas. Ungulates make distinct foraging choices in the winter as in the rest of the year, and burn patterns may influence those choices in ways that we represent as hypotheses described later. In addition, the activities of animals can be readily monitored in the winter, and the exact locations of feeding and bedding sites can be determined. Travel routes are easily monitored, and the ability to sight animals is high; therefore, group locations and sizes can be readily determined. This research complements ongoing studies in Yellowstone by expanding the spatial scale at which plant-herbivore dynamics are considered and by explicitly addressing the effects of spatial heterogeneity. We produced a spatially explicit simulation model of the winter range that predicts plant and ungulate dynamics under varying fire sizes, fire patterns, winter weather scenarios. The model and field studies will generate quantitative comparisons of the effects of large and small fires on ungulate survival and will thereby permit the simulation of the effects of alternative fire management scenarios.
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Bodziarczyk, Jan, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Anna Gazda, Janusz Szewczyk, Magdalena Frączek, Antoni Zięba, and Jerzy Szwagrzyk. "Species composition, elevation, and former management type affect browsing pressure on forest regeneration in the Tatra National Park." Forest Research Papers 78, no. 3 (September 1, 2017): 238–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/frp-2017-0026.
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Abstract Effects of ungulate pressure on the development of young generation of trees is one of the most important issues in ecology and forestry. Ungulate pressure influence on the development of natural regeneration has been also reported from several national parks. Our study on the effects of ungulate browsing on the young generation of trees was conducted on more than 500 sample plots controlled during one growing season. The overall browsing pressure ranged from 7.6% in seedlings to 20.3% in low saplings. The pressure of ungulates on the regeneration of Picea abies, the dominant species in the Tatra National Park, was by and large below 1%. Broadleaved species were browsed more frequently. The relationship between the plot altitudes and browsing intensity was statistically significant for seedlings and low saplings; at the higher altitudes, the browsing pressure was greater. There was also observed a statistically significant relationship between the type of former management and the browsing degree in seedlings; in the areas subjected to “landscape protection”, the intensity of browsing was higher when compared to strictly protected areas. Pressure exerted by ungulates on tree regeneration was very unevenly distributed, i.e. some plots were heavily browsed and many others - not browsed at all. The most affected tree species were Salix caprea and Sorbus aucuparia, although the percentage of browsed individuals rarely exceeded 50%. Other species favored by ungulates was Acer pseudoplatanus; despite the high browsing pressure, this species was present among seedlings and tall saplings, suggesting that it would be able to recruit to the tree layer. Abies alba was browsed less frequently than the deciduous trees; however, among the tall saplings it was the third most browsed species.
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Ruiz-Fons, Francisco, Isabel G. Fernández-de-Mera, Pelayo Acevedo, Christian Gortázar, and José de la Fuente. "Factors Driving the Abundance of Ixodes ricinus Ticks and the Prevalence of Zoonotic I. ricinus-Borne Pathogens in Natural Foci." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 78, no. 8 (January 27, 2012): 2669–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.06564-11.
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ABSTRACTEnvironmental factors may drive tick ecology and therefore tick-borne pathogen (TBP) epidemiology, which determines the risk to animals and humans of becoming infected by TBPs. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of environmental factors on the abundance of immature-stageIxodes ricinusticks and on the prevalence of two zoonoticI. ricinus-borne pathogens in natural foci of endemicity.I. ricinusabundance was measured at nine sites in the northern Iberian Peninsula by dragging the vegetation with a cotton flannelette, and ungulate abundance was measured by means of dung counts. In addition to ungulate abundance, data on variables related to spatial location, climate, and soil were gathered from the study sites.I. ricinusadults, nymphs, and larvae were collected from the vegetation, and a representative subsample ofI. ricinusnymphs from each study site was analyzed by PCR for the detection ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato andAnaplasma phagocytophilumDNA. Mean prevalences of these pathogens were 4.0% ± 1.8% and 20.5% ± 3.7%, respectively. Statistical analyses confirmed the influence of spatial factors, climate, and ungulate abundance onI. ricinuslarva abundance, while nymph abundance was related only to climate. Interestingly, cattle abundance rather than deer abundance was the main driver ofB. burgdorferisensu lato andA. phagocytophilumprevalence inI. ricinusnymphs in the study sites, where both domestic and wild ungulates coexist. The increasing abundance of cattle seems to increase the risk of other hosts becoming infected byA. phagocytophilum, while reducing the risk of being infected byB. burgdorferisensu lato. Controlling ticks in cattle in areas where they coexist with wild ungulates would be more effective for TBP control than reducing ungulate abundance.
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Palmqvist, Paul, Bienvenido Martínez-Navarro, and Alfonso Arribas. "Prey selection by terrestrial carnivores in a lower Pleistocene paleocommunity." Paleobiology 22, no. 4 (1996): 514–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s009483730001650x.
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We report quantitative paleoecologic data on the large mammal assemblage preserved in lower Pleistocene deposits at Venta Micena (Orce, Granada, southeastern Spain). Taphonomic studies show that bones were collected mainly by hyaenids, which transported and deposited them near shallow dens. Differential fragmentation of major long bones was produced by hyaenas as a function of their density and marrow content. Strong selection of prey by carnivores—which preferentially killed juveniles, females, and individuals with diminished locomotor capabilities among ungulate prey species of larger body size—is indicated by (1) the abundance of remains of juvenile ungulates in relation to the average weight of adult individuals in each species, (2) attritional mortality profiles for ungulate species deduced from crown height measurements, (3) the presence of many metapodials with different osteopathologies in their epiphyses, such as arthrosis, and (4) a biased intersexual ratio of large bovids. Comparison of the frequencies with which modern African carnivores kill and scavenge ungulates from various size classes with the abundance of these size categories in the assemblage suggests that the Venta Micena hyaena (Pachycrocuta brevirostris) was a bone-cracking scavenger that fed largely on carcasses of ungulates preyed upon and partially consumed by fresh meat-eating carnivores such us saber-toothed felids (Homotherium latidens and Megantereon whitei) and wild dogs (Canis falconeri).
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Chebii, Vivien, Emmanuel Mpolya, Farai Muchadeyi, and Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner. "Genomics of Adaptations in Ungulates." Animals 11, no. 6 (May 29, 2021): 1617. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11061617.
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Ungulates are a group of hoofed animals that have long interacted with humans as essential sources of food, labor, clothing, and transportation. These consist of domesticated, feral, and wild species raised in a wide range of habitats and biomes. Given the diverse and extreme environments inhabited by ungulates, unique adaptive traits are fundamental for fitness. The documentation of genes that underlie their genomic signatures of selection is crucial in this regard. The increasing availability of advanced sequencing technologies has seen the rapid growth of ungulate genomic resources, which offers an exceptional opportunity to understand their adaptive evolution. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on evolutionary genetic signatures underlying the adaptations of ungulates to different habitats.
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Åhman (editor in chief), Birgitta, Eva Wiklund (technical editor), and Troy Hegel (issue editor). "13th Arctic Ungulate Conference, 22-26 August 2011, Yellowknife, Canada." Rangifer 33, no. 2 (June 1, 2013): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.33.2.2554.
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The 13th International Arctic Ungulate Conference was held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, from 22-26 August 2011. This biennial conference is the primary venue for meetings of the International Arctic Ungulate Society. Over 200 delegates attended the conference with representation from Canada, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, Finland, Russia, and Japan. The theme of the conference was “Challenges of Managing Northern Ungulates”. The goal of the conference organizers was to address the difficulties of managing ungulate populations that are faced with the unpredictable effects of climate change and an ever-increasing human presence on the land. The conference also focussed on the challenges associated with developing recovery actions for declining caribou and reindeer populations that are an integral part of Aboriginal cultures and ways of life.
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Jones, Patrick, Sofie Sfez, and Peter T. Knamiller. "Development of an Ungulate Mammalian Hair Key." Eureka 4, no. 1 (July 28, 2014): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.29173/eureka22821.
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We have created a dichotomous hair key to differentiate between adult and juvenile ungulates seen in summer wolf diets; however we would like to stress that this key can also be used for other large carnivore diets, as it has shown merit in the identification of cougar and coyote prey items. To our knowledge there is no mammalian hair key that is able to sufficiently differentiate between juvenile and adults of the major species in the North American Wolf’s (Canis lupus) diet, specifically, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. We acquired juvenile hair samples starting at birth at bi-weekly to monthly intervals from various zoos, wildlife parks and rehabilitation centres over North America for all the major prey species except bighorn sheep. Main characters used to classify ungulate hair were basal scale margin distance, hair diameter and hair color. Scale margin distance and basal hair diameter was measured via a microscope ocular micrometer, with t-tests completed to assess differences between species. We were successful at differentiating between all juvenile ungulates, however juvenile deer species hair maybe very difficult to differentiate between and may only be accurately done with experience. Juvenile ungulate hair is usually smaller in diam- eter then the guard hair of adults and is more delicate in appearance. As observed in other study by De Marinis et al 2006, we too were able to differentiate juvenile ungulates by a scalloped medulla (Figure 1). We were able to distinguish juvenile moose by their ginger color appearance, large medial hair cuticle scales, and large basal hair diameter compared to other ungulate species (Figure 2). We also found the juvenile elk had smaller hair diameters then juvenile deer and appear less ridged compared to juvenile deer.
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Bonar, M., M. P. Laforge, and E. Vander Wal. "Observation of a p < 10–9 life-history event: implications of record-late caribou birth on ungulate reproductive ecology and field studies." Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, no. 2 (February 2017): 133–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2016-0245.
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Life-history traits in temperate ungulates are highly seasonal, with events corresponding to the seasonal availability of resources. An important example is birth date, with later-born individuals typically having reduced survival compared with those born earlier in the season. Ungulates, especially those whose offspring are at their mother’s heel soon after birth, are typically born in a narrow window of time in late May–early June. In Newfoundland, mean birth date in caribou (Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758); n = 1175) was 31 May. Here, we document a sighting of a caribou calf born ∼25 July on Fogo Island, Newfoundland (∼55 days after the mean birth date). Calving date was estimated using movement rate of the mother and validated by visual observations of the mother. We discuss the implications of this finding as it pertains to caribou ecology, and suggest that studies of ungulate birth date should ensure that observations are continued well past the initial birth pulse to guarantee that a complete picture of ungulate breeding ecology be maintained.
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Pérez-Irineo, Gabriela, and Antonio Santos-Moreno. "Abundance, herd size, activity pattern and occupancy of ungulates in Southeastern Mexico." Animal Biology 66, no. 1 (2016): 97–109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15707563-00002490.
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This study provides information about relative abundance, herd size, activity pattern, and occupancy of ungulates at Los Chimalapas, southeastern Mexico, one of the last refuges inhabited by two conservation priority ungulate species:Tapirus bairdiiandTayassu pecari. For three years, four species of ungulates were recorded using camera traps:T. bairdii,T. pecari,Mazama temama, andTayassu tajacu, involving an effort of 8529 trap-days and 839 records.T. pecariwas found to be highest in relative abundance, whileT. tajacu’s abundance was lowest. Populations were composed principally of adults, but there were records of offspring for all four species. The herd size was smaller compared to other populations ofT. tajacuandT. pecari. Occupancy models were used to analyze the presence of the species in the region and showed thatM. temamaandT. bairdiihad a high occupancy probability. In comparison, the occupancy probability ofT. pecariwas low. This study shows that ungulate populations are still breeding, and have higher possibility of permanence, in Los Chimalapas, Southeastern Mexico. The region is an important area for the conservation ofT. bairdiiandT. pecari, both disappeared from some other areas of the southeast.
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Brang, Peter. "Einfluss von Wildhuftieren auf den Wald seit Langem zu hoch – was tun? (Essay)." Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 168, no. 4 (April 1, 2017): 195–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.3188/szf.2017.0195.
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Impact of wild ungulates on forests too high for too long – what to do? (Essay) The impact of wild ungulates on forest regeneration has increased in Swiss forests for about five decades, and is currently in many places clearly too high. In the long term, this is likely to cause losses in forest ecosystem services, in particular so since it must be feared that ungulate impacts will further increase. The problem is accentuated by climate change which creates the need for a higher share of tree species that tolerate a warmer and drier climate, but are sensitive to browsing. Solutions to secure forest services are urgently needed, especially in mountain forests where protective measures to prevent damage are largely impractical. To find such solutions, an intensified communication between the players is most important. Moreover, the following approaches seem promising: 1) coherence in the objectives, 2) improved foundations for decision-making, 3) measures to bring ungulate populations in line with the available habitat und 4) the study and documentation of success stories.
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Costeur, Loïc. "Preliminary overview of regional endemism in European Neogene ungulates." Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 180, no. 1 (January 1, 2009): 17–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.180.1.17.
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Abstract The somewhat endemic condition of European mammals today in general, and thus of ungulates in particular, is a feature currently explained by fluctuating climatic conditions known from the late Pliocene to the present. All the existing ungulate families in Europe settled there during the course of the Miocene and replaced Oligocene-inherited faunas. Furthermore, the Neogene climatic deterioration played a crucial role in the decrease of ungulate diversity probably in turn setting the bases for the present depleted situation. The growing knowledge of Neogene ungulates has now become sufficient to investigate if today’s endemic situation can be traced back to the Miocene and if the endemism apparent in many mammalian faunas was randomly distributed over the European continent. A database of 695 localities spanning Europe from the early Miocene to the early Pliocene period allows a better understanding of the spatial and temporal evolution of endemism in ungulates. The results mainly point to a long and strong endemic history in southeastern Europe. The mechanisms behind this pattern may involve the particular geographic position of this area between three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe) as well as ecological isolation through different environmental conditions prevailing there. Pliocene and Pleistocene climatic cycles probably reinforced this situation later on and were not the only processes to control what is known nowadays.
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Solounias, Nikos, Florent Rivals, and Gina M. Semprebon. "Dietary interpretation and paleoecology of herbivores from Pikermi and Samos (late Miocene of Greece)." Paleobiology 36, no. 1 (2010): 113–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1666/0094-8373-36.1.113.
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A large sample of the Pikermi and Samos ungulates was examined by microwear analysis using a light stereomicroscope (561 extinct and 809 extant comparative specimens). The results were used to infer the dietary adaptations of individual species and to evaluate the Pikermian Biome ungulate fauna. Many of the bovids have wear consistent with mixed feeding, although a few mesodont taxa apparently enjoyed an exclusive browsing and or grazing diet. The giraffids spanned the entire dietary spectrum of browsing, mixed feeding, and grazing, but most of the three-toed horses (Hippotherium) were hypsodont grazers. The colobine monkey Mesopithecus pentelici displays microwear consistent with a mixed fruit and leaf diet most likely including some hard objects. Similar results were obtained from prior scanning electron microscopy microwear studies at 500 times magnification and from the light microscope method at 35 times magnification for the same species. Results show that diet can differ between species that have very similar gross tooth morphology. Our results also suggest that the Pikermian Biome was most likely a woodland mosaic that provided a diversity of opportunities for species that depended on browsing as well as species that ate grass. The grasses were most likely C3 grasses that would grow in shaded areas of the woodland, glades, and margins of water. The ungulate component of the Pikermi and Samos fauna was more species-rich and more diverse in diet than the ungulates observed in modern African forests, woodlands, or savannas, yet dietarily most similar to the ungulates found in woodland elements of India and to some extent of Africa. It is unlikely that the Pikermi and Samos ungulates inhabited dense forests because we find no evidence for heavy fruit browsing. Conversely, a pure savanna is unlikely because many mixed feeders are present as well as browsers. Extant woodland African species are morphologically and trophically very similar to the African savanna species. Therefore the evolution of grazing and of hypsodont morphology for Africa may have evolved within the Plio-Pleistocene woodlands of Africa. Our results show that major dietary and morphologic ungulate evolution may take place within woodlands rather than as a consequence of species moving into savannas both during the late Miocene of Pikermi and Samos and during the Pleistocene–Recent of Central Africa.
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Sharma, Bhuvan Keshar, Ghana Shyam Solanki, and Mukesh Kumar Chalise. "Wild Ungulate Population in Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, Nepal." Journal of Natural History Museum 27 (December 17, 2015): 66–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnhm.v27i0.14154.
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This study was conducted in Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest aiming to find out the ungulate population. Total complete count method was utilized by direct visual counting technique. The enumerator covered the entire forest by walking along the fixed bearing from one end to another end of the forest counting all ungulates. The animals were stalked and approached with minimum disturbance, counting and sex were confirmed with the help of binoculars. The current study recorded five species of ungulates. There were 12 resident Barking Deer, 2 Hog Deer, 23 Sambar, 4 Wild Boar and 182 Spotted Deer. The number of wild ungulates increased significantly (T=2.01, p < 0.05, df=8) in post-community management regimes (n=224) than the pre-community management (n=1). J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 27, 2013: 66-71
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González, Jorge, Juan Herrero, Carlos Prada, and Javier Marco. "Changes in wild ungulate populations in Aragon, Spain between 2001 and 2010." Galemys, Spanish Journal of Mammalogy 25 (December 31, 2013): 51–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.7325/galemys.2013.a5.
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To update the information on the distributions of wild ungulates in Aragon, Spain, populations were surveyed based on questionnaires sent to rangers of the Government of Aragon. The data were analyzed in two five-year periods: 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. Our analysis was based on the 242 and 278 questionnaires, corresponding approximately with 80-90% answers that were analyzed in 2006 and 2011, respectively. The survey documented the presence/absence of up to eight wild ungulate species within a UTM 10x10 km grid on maps that were specific to the counties in which the rangers worked. In 2006-2010, wild boar Sus scrofa was the most widely distributed species as it occurred in all of the grid blocks. Roe deer Capreolus capreolus were documented in 89% of the grid blocks, Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica in 37%, red deer Cervus elaphus in 31%, Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra p. pyrenaica in 10%, feral goat Capra hircus in 8%, fallow deer Dama dama in 3%, and mouflon Ovis aries in 0.3%. The Pyrenees had the highest and the Middle Ebro Valley had the lowest diversity of ungulates. In the Iberian System, diversity was intermediate. Overall, the distribution of ungulates increased 21% between the two periods. Feral goat populations expanded the most (111%), although Iberian wild goat (61%), roe deer (50%), and red deer (4%) also expanded. The range of wild boar populations remained stable, but the ranges of chamois and fallow deer populations were reduced 6%. By 2010, typically, in most block grids three or more species of wild ungulates coexist. We recommend that ungulate populations in Aragon be surveyed at least every five years.
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Maas, Mary C., and J. G. M. Thewissen. "Enamel microstructure of Pakicetus (Mammalia: Archaeoceti)." Journal of Paleontology 69, no. 6 (November 1995): 1154–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022336000038130.
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The tooth enamel of the earliest cetacean, Pakicetus, is described and compared to enamel of a primitive artiodactyl and a variety of primitive ungulate families. Pakicetus enamel organization, which is considered primitive for Cetacea, consists of a combination of radial and decussating enamel types. Prism patterns include prisms with open (horseshoe-shaped) and closed (circular) boundaries. Pakicetus enamel is similar to that of many primitive ungulates, including Diacodexis, the earliest artiodactyl, and Mesonychidae, an archaic ungulate family that often is considered close to the ancestry of Cetacea. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis, originally proposed on the basis of other aspects of morphology, that artiodactyls, cetaceans, and Mesonychidae are closely related.
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Carpio, A. J., J. Castro–López, J. Guerrero–Casado, L. Ruiz–Aizpurua, J. Vicente, and F. S. Tortosa. "Effect of wild ungulate density on invertebrates in a Mediterranean ecosystem." Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 37, no. 2 (December 2014): 115–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.32800/abc.2014.37.0115.
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In recent decades, the abundance and distribution of certain big game species, particularly red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa), have increased in south central Spain as a result of hunting management strategies. The high density of these ungulate species may affect the abundance of epigeous invertebrates. We tested the relationships between big game abundance and biodiversity, taxon richness, the biomass of invertebrates and their frequency on nine hunting estates and in comparison to ungulate exclusion areas. Ungulate exclusion itself affected invertebrate richness, since lower values were found in the open plots, whereas the highest differences in invertebrate diversity between fenced and open plots was found in areas with high wild boar density. Where wild boar densities were high, the number of invertebrates decreased, while where they were low, red deer had a positive effect on invertebrate abundance. Fenced plots thus seemed to provide refuge for invertebrates, particularly where wild boar were abundant. This study supports the idea that the structure of fauna communities is damaged by high density populations of ungulates, probably due to decreased food availability owing to overgrazing, modified conditions of ecological microniches and direct predation. However, the effects depended on the group of invertebrates, since saprophytic species could benefit from high ungulate abundance. Our findings reflect the need to control ungulate population density under Mediterranean conditions in south–western Europe and to implement ungulate exclusion plots.
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C. Hess, Steven, John J. Jeffrey, Linda W. Pratt, and Donna L. Ball. "Effects of Ungulate Management on Vegetation at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawai?i Island." Pacific Conservation Biology 16, no. 2 (2010): 144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc100144.
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We compiled and analysed data from 1987?2004 on vegetation monitoring during feral ungulate management at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, a tropical montane rainforest on the island of Hawai?i. All areas in the study had previously been used by ungulates, but cattle (Bos taurus) were removed and feral pig (Sus scrofa) populations were reduced during the study period. We monitored six line-intercept transects, three in previously high ungulate use areas and three in previously low ungulate use areas. We measured nine cover categories with the line-intercept method: native ferns; native woody plants; bryophytes; lichens; alien grasses; alien herbs; litter; exposed soil; and coarse woody debris. Vegetation surveys were repeated four times over a 16-year period. Vegetation monitoring revealed a strong increase in native fern cover and slight decreases in cover of bryophytes and exposed soil. Mean cover of native plants was generally higher in locations that were formerly lightly grazed, while alien grass and herb cover was generally higher in areas that were heavily grazed, although these effects were not statistically significant. These responses may represent early seral processes in forest regeneration following the reduction of feral ungulate populations. In contrast to many other Hawaiian forests which have become invaded by alien grasses and herbs after ungulate removal, HFNWR has not experienced this effect.
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Pukazhenthi, Budhan S. "Saving wild ungulate diversity through enhanced management and sperm cryopreservation." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28, no. 8 (2016): 1133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd15412.
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Wild ungulates throughout the world face the impending risk of extinction. Small founding population size, lack of interest in exhibiting wild ungulates and declining space in zoos are not sustaining ex situ populations. Animals managed in ex situ collections continue to experience >20% neonate loss globally. To ensure population sustainability there is a critical need to: (1) manage ungulates in large herds, increasing mate choice and reproductive efficiency; (2) improve husbandry and genetic management; and (3) develop consistent assisted reproductive technologies, including sperm cryopreservation and AI. Recently, new models in the management of ungulates have begun to emerge. Animal managers and researchers are also beginning to exploit advances in genomics to improve genetic management of their collections. Furthermore, the past decade has witnessed significant advances particularly in semen collection and cryopreservation in numerous species. Advances in gonadal tissue cryopreservation now offer additional opportunities to preserve male genomes. The new knowledge generated is enabling the creation of genetic (sperm) banks to rescue and enhance reproductive management of wild ungulates. The present paper reviews the threats to ungulate populations, the status and relevance of animal management and biomaterial banking efforts to ensure long-term survival of these charismatic species.
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Vongkhamheng, Chanthavy, Arlyne Johnson, and Melvin E. Sunquist. "A baseline survey of ungulate abundance and distribution in northern Lao: implications for conservation." Oryx 47, no. 4 (July 19, 2013): 544–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605312000233.
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AbstractLarge ungulates across South-east Asia have been experiencing a rapid decline in recent decades because of overexploitation by humans. An absence of reliable data on the abundance and distribution of ungulates makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts to recover their populations. As the principal prey for Endangered tigers Panthera tigris, depletion of wild ungulates is a major threat to the species' persistence and recovery across its range. This study estimated abundance and distribution of five ungulate taxa using a grid-based occupancy survey across a 3,000 km2 core zone within the 5,950 km2 Nam Et–Phou Louey National Protected Area in northern Lao. The results show an abundance index of 5.29 ± 0.30 ungulates per km2, with muntjac Munticus spp. and wild pig Sus spp. being most common, moderate levels of serow Capricornis milneedwardsii and sambar Cervus unicolor but few gaur Bos gaurus. This low abundance of medium- and large-sized ungulates at the site strongly suggests that strict control of hunting of these ungulates is important for securing their long-term survival as well as that of the tiger population that depends on them, which is currently the only known breeding population remaining in Indochina.
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TEMPLETON, THOMAS J., ELLEN MARTINSEN, MORAKOT KAEWTHAMASORN, and OSAMU KANEKO. "The rediscovery of malaria parasites of ungulates." Parasitology 143, no. 12 (July 22, 2016): 1501–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182016001141.
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SUMMARYOver a hundred years since their first description in 1913, the sparsely described malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) of ungulates have been rediscovered using molecular typing techniques. In the span of weeks, three studies have appeared describing the genetic characterization and phylogenetic analyses of malaria parasites from African antelope (Cephalophus spp.) and goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Here we unify the contributions from those studies with the literature on pre-molecular characterizations of ungulate malaria parasites, which are largely based on surveys of Giemsa-reagent stained blood smears. We present a phylogenetic tree generated from all available ungulate malaria parasite sequence data, and show that parasites from African duiker antelope and goat, Asian water buffalo and New World white-tailed deer group together in a clade, which branches early in Plasmodium evolution. Anopheline mosquitoes appear to be the dominant, if not sole vectors for parasite transmission. We pose questions for future phylogenetic studies, and discuss topics that we hope will spur further molecular and cellular studies of ungulate malaria parasites.
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Bischof, Tabea, Jean-Jacques Thormann, Karin Gysin Zbinden, and Andrea D. Kupferschmid. "Positive Beispiele der Wald-Wild-Situation bei der Weisstannenverjüngung." Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 170, no. 3 (May 1, 2019): 142–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.3188/szf.2019.0142.
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Positive examples of forest-ungulate situations focusing on silver fir regeneration Roe deer, chamois and red deer browse on the apical shoots of young trees, and particularly selected are those of the European silver fir. Because of this selective feeding of ungulates, the silver fir is unable to sustain its population density relative to other tree species. However, due to locally functioning forest-ungulate situations, there have been areas of improved silver fir regeneration during the last few years. In this study, twenty different sites exhibiting such improvement have been analysed. Eighteen sites were situated in thirteen different Swiss cantons, as well as one each in Germany and Austria. With the aid of interviews with experts such as local foresters, gamekeepers, hunters and representatives of the cantonal departments of hunting and forestry, the importance of sixty-six potential influencing factors on a locally improved forest-ungulate system has been investigated. Frequency analysis has shown that the density of roe deer, the availability of light and the presence of lynx are the most important of these factors. But also the density of chamois, the increased focus on a natural regeneration and the form of management have been frequently mentioned as central factors. Changes in communication between the hunting and forestry sides have been considered most often as central or important. Positive examples could be examined in all regions of Switzerland – in cantons with patent hunting and hunting districts as well as in areas with different densities and compositions of wild ungulates. It does not seem that a single influencing factor, but rather a combination of different factors was decisive for improved silver fir regeneration.
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Vecvanags, Alekss, Kadir Aktas, Ilja Pavlovs, Egils Avots, Jevgenijs Filipovs, Agris Brauns, Gundega Done, Dainis Jakovels, and Gholamreza Anbarjafari. "Ungulate Detection and Species Classification from Camera Trap Images Using RetinaNet and Faster R-CNN." Entropy 24, no. 3 (February 28, 2022): 353. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/e24030353.
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Changes in the ungulate population density in the wild has impacts on both the wildlife and human society. In order to control the ungulate population movement, monitoring systems such as camera trap networks have been implemented in a non-invasive setup. However, such systems produce a large number of images as the output, hence making it very resource consuming to manually detect the animals. In this paper, we present a new dataset of wild ungulates which was collected in Latvia. Moreover, we demonstrate two methods, which use RetinaNet and Faster R-CNN as backbones, respectively, to detect the animals in the images. We discuss the optimization of training and impact of data augmentation on the performance. Finally, we show the result of aforementioned tune networks over the real world data collected in Latvia.
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Chanchani, Pranav, Gopal S. Rawat, and Surendra P. Goyal. "Unveiling a wildlife haven: status and distribution of four Trans-Himalayan ungulates in Sikkim, India." Oryx 44, no. 3 (May 18, 2010): 366–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605310000293.
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AbstractWe conducted surveys in the Trans-Himalayan Tso Lhamo plateau in Sikkim, India, to ascertain the status and distribution of some of India’s last surviving populations of wild ungulates (numbers in brackets are estimates for Sikkim): Tibetan argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni (c. 177 individuals), Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata (c. 77), and kiang Equus kiang polyodon (c. 18). Topography appears to have an important influence on ungulate distribution, and populations of these species are aggregated in a small region along the northern boundary of the plateau. Persistence of the wild ungulates in this area can be attributed to the non-hunting tradition of local residents and to the seasonal absence of livestock (yak Bos grunniens and domestic sheep Ovis aries) and grazing. Nonetheless, wild ungulates remain vulnerable because of their small populations and anthropogenic pressure on their habitats. We recommend that conservation be prioritized in important wildlife habitats through partnerships with local communities.
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Ondar, Sergei, Alexei Surov, Andrei Chabovsky, Nikolai Putintsev, Aldynai Khovalyg, and Aivar Kuular. "The role of traditional nomadic pastoralism in the spatial and genetic subdivision of the distribution of populations of small mammals in mountain areas and their sanitary and epidemiological significance (on the example of Tuva)." BIO Web of Conferences 35 (2021): 00018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20213500018.
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The data on the genetic and spatial subdivision of populations of synanthropic species of small mammals, their dependence on the intensity with the territories of distant-pasture cattle tending are presented, and some patterns of indicators of ectoparasite infestation of their communities are revealed. The factor determining the genetic and spatial differentiation of populations of small mammals can be attributed to the relationship of small mammals with ungulates that has long historical roots (Neogene, Anthropogen). At present, these relations have been preserved with domestic ungulates, which, along with physical and geographical ones, determine the genetic and biotopic differentiation of populations of small mammals. The assumption is made about the deep historical roots of the establishment of such relationships by pasture ungulate animals from the neogene and pleistocene.
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Hiruma, Mitsuko, Kahoko Tochigi, Ryosuke Kishimoto, Misako Kuroe, Bruna Elisa Trentin, and Shinsuke Koike. "Long-term stability in the winter diet of the Japanese serow (Artiodactyla, Caprinae)." ZooKeys 1122 (September 20, 2022): 39–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1122.76486.
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The winter diets of northern ungulates are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and ungulate population densities. We hypothesized that the winter diets of smaller browser ungulates might not readily change in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. We analyzed long-term trends in the winter diet of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) by analyzing rumen contents of 532 individuals over a span of 16 years among five populations along with changes in the population densities of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The winter diet composition of the serow was stable over the long term despite the increase in deer population density. The little-flexible nature of the serow diet may explain the long-term stability in the winter diets.
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Perroy, Ryan L., Timo Sullivan, David Benitez, R. Flint Hughes, Lisa M. Keith, Eva Brill, Karma Kissinger, and Daniel Duda. "Spatial Patterns of ‘Ōhi‘a Mortality Associated with Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death and Ungulate Presence." Forests 12, no. 8 (August 4, 2021): 1035. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f12081035.
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Effective forest management, particularly during forest disturbance events, requires timely and accurate monitoring information at appropriate spatial scales. In Hawai‘i, widespread ‘ōhi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha Gaud.) mortality associated with introduced fungal pathogens affects forest stands across the archipelago, further impacting native ecosystems already under threat from invasive species. Here, we share results from an integrated monitoring program based on high resolution (<5 cm) aerial imagery, field sampling, and confirmatory laboratory testing to detect and monitor ‘ōhi‘a mortality at the individual tree level across four representative sites on Hawai‘i island. We developed a custom imaging system for helicopter operations to map thousands of hectares (ha) per flight, a more useful scale than the ten to hundreds of ha typically covered using small, unoccupied aerial systems. Based on collected imagery, we developed a rating system of canopy condition to identify ‘ōhi‘a trees suspected of infection by the fungal pathogens responsible for rapid ‘ōhi‘a death (ROD); we used this system to quickly generate and share suspect tree candidate locations with partner agencies to rapidly detect new mortality outbreaks and prioritize field sampling efforts. In three of the four sites, 98% of laboratory samples collected from suspect trees assigned a high confidence rating (n = 50) and 89% of those assigned a medium confidence rating (n = 117) returned positive detections for the fungal pathogens responsible for ROD. The fourth site, which has a history of unexplained ‘ōhi‘a mortality, exhibited much lower positive detection rates: only 6% of sampled trees assigned a high confidence rating (n = 16) and 0% of the sampled suspect trees assigned a medium confidence rating (n = 20) were found to be positive for the pathogen. The disparity in positive detection rates across study sites illustrates challenges to definitively determine the cause of ‘ōhi‘a mortality from aerial imagery alone. Spatial patterns of ROD-associated ‘ōhi‘a mortality were strongly affected by ungulate presence or absence as measured by the density of suspected ROD trees in fenced (i.e., ungulate-free) and unfenced (i.e., ungulate present) areas. Suspected ROD tree densities in neighboring areas containing ungulates were two to 69 times greater than those found in ungulate-free zones. In one study site, a fence line breach occurred during the study period, and feral ungulates entered an area that was previously ungulate-free. Following the breach, suspect ROD tree densities in this area rose from 0.02 to 2.78 suspect trees/ha, highlighting the need for ungulate control to protect ‘ōhi‘a stands from Ceratocystis-induced mortality and repeat monitoring to detect forest changes and resource threats.
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Miller, Maxine F. "The fate of mature African Acacia pods and seeds during their passage from the tree to the soil." Journal of Tropical Ecology 10, no. 2 (May 1994): 183–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400007835.
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ABSTRACTThe fate of mature Acacia tortilis pods on the tree and ground and A. nilotica pods on the ground were investigated at a site in South Africa. Pods on Acacia trees were browsed only by giraffe whereas pods on the ground were browsed by kudu, impala, steenbok and duiker. In the absence of giraffe most A. tortilis pods fell from the tree to the ground. When giraffe were present they consumed most A. tortilis pods at tree level. Bruchids infested 21.6–54.0% of seeds within pods on the tree. Once fallen, in the absence of browsing ungulates, A. tortilis and A. nilotica pod and seed disappearance could be attributed to burial by termites and ants, seed consumption by rodents and to decomposition; when browsing ungulates were present they consumed most pods on the ground. Between 20.0–47.6% of A. tortilis and 31.0–58.0% of A. nilotica seeds on the ground were infested by bruchids. Ungulate browsing had no effect on bruchid infestation of seeds. This study exemplifies the importance of browsing ungulates as consumers of Acacia pods. Although survival of A. tortilis and A. nilotica seeds was greatest in the absence of browsing ungulates the survival of seeds following pod consumption by ungulates is unknown.
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D’Aprile, Davide, Giorgio Vacchiano, Fabio Meloni, Matteo Garbarino, Renzo Motta, Vittorio Ducoli, and Piergiovanni Partel. "Effects of Twenty Years of Ungulate Browsing on Forest Regeneration at Paneveggio Reserve, Italy." Forests 11, no. 6 (June 1, 2020): 612. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11060612.
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Forest ecosystems are threatened by different natural disturbances. Among them, the irruption of large herbivores represents one of the most alarming issues. Several local-scale studies have been carried out to clarify the mechanisms governing ungulate–forest interactions, to understand the effect of wild ungulates overabundance, and to apply conservation plans. However, information at large scales, over long periods of observation and from unmanipulated conditions is still scarce. This study aims to improve our knowledge in this field by using repeated inventories to investigate: the types of damage produced by ungulate populations on young trees, the drivers that stimulate browsing activity and its consequences on the specific composition of seedlings and saplings. To reach these goals, we used data collected during a twenty-year monitoring program (1994–2014) in the forests of Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park (Italy). We applied descriptive statistics to summarize the data, GLMs to identify the drivers of browsing activity and Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) ordinations to investigate the changes in specific composition of young trees across 20 years. We detected increasing browsing activity from 1994 to 2008 and a decline in 2014. Ungulates browsed preferentially in mature stands, and fed mostly on seedlings and saplings under 150 cm of height. The analysis of the environmental drivers of browsing pressure on the smallest size classes of plants suggests that foraging behavior is influenced by snowpack conditions, ungulate density and seasonality. Moreover, results underline the fact that ungulates feed mostly on palatable species, especially European rowan, but can also use unpalatable plants as emergency food under high competition levels. nMDS results suggest that rowan seed dispersion might be promoted by deer movements, however, saplings of this species were not able to exceed 30 cm of height because of heavy browsing. This bottleneck effect led to the dominance of unpalatable species, mostly Norway spruce, reducing diversity during forest regeneration. If prolonged, this effect could lead to a reduction of tree species richness, with cascading effects on many parts of the ecosystem, and threatening the resilience of the forest to future disturbances.