bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zooarchaeology and the biogeographical history of the mammals of Corsica and Sardinia since the last ice age
Authors: VIGNE JEAN‐DENIS 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis paper presents the main results of a 10‐year zooarchaeological study on the origin of the present‐day terrestrial mammals of Corsica. Thousands of teeth and bones from Corsican archaeological sites comprise an almost complete succession from the end of the Pleistocene (c. 10,000 years BP) to the present. Human activities brought about the extinction of the entire autochthonous mammalian fauna and the gradual introduction of more than 25 taxa which constitute the present wild and domestic fauna. Such a complete turnover has also been recorded on other large Mediterranean islands and on some of the smaller ones. Preliminary data indicate how these events may have occurred in Corsica. This article emphasizes the important role which zooarchaeology can play in biogeographical research.
World distribution of the Rabbit Oryctolagus funiculus on islands
Authors: FLUX JOHN E.C. , FULLAGAR PETER J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBoth domestic and wild‐type European RabbitsOryctolagus cuniculus(L.) have been liberated on islands all over the world for a variety of reasons: for sport, to farm for meat or fur, as food for other animals or bait for lobster pots, to control vegetation, amuse tourists, and even to conserve representative populations from myxomatosis. Results of these introductions have likewise varied, from complete failure to densities so high as to denude completely the island of vegetation and soil. Some interesting populations have survived remarkably adverse conditions for up to 100 years before becoming extinct. Others provide natural experiments on the effects of introduced predators, competitors, or diseases like myxomatosis.We list 800 islands or island groups on which Rabbits have been liberated, giving name, location, latitude and longitude, and area, followed by date of introduction, type of rabbit, population changes, present status, and effects of the Rabbits on their environment. For many islands information is still meagre or completely lacking; we hope that this provisional list will stimulate readers to send us additions and corrections, or to publish the data themselves.
Estimating the impact of past persecution and habitat changes on the numbers of Badgers Meles meles in Britain
Authors: REASON PAOLA , HARRIS STEPHEN , CRESSWELL PENNY 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTData from a Badger sett survey undertaken in the mid‐1980s were used to calculate the effects of past persecution and land‐use changes on Badger numbers. The current British Badger population was estimated to be 41,894 ± 4404 social groups; if the effects of past persecution were eliminated, the population could be 43,437 ± 4731 social groups, an increase of 3.7%. Most of this increase relates to persecution in Norfolk and Suffolk last century. In Britain the Badger population is largely confined to those areas which are intensively managed, and the numbers and distribution of Badgers reflect patterns of agricultural activity. However, over‐intensive use of the landscape is detrimental to Badger numbers. To quantify the impact of land‐use changes on the British Badger population, a number of habitat features favourable to Badgers were identified; 1‐km squares that contained five or more such features had significantly higher mean Badger densities. If all the 1‐km squares were managed to include five or more of the habitat features favoured by Badgers, and the effects of persecution were eliminated, the Badger population could be 58,284 ± 5640 social groups, an increase of 39%. The absence of semi‐natural broadleaved woodlands in a 1‐km square had the greatest effect in reducing Badger numbers, and tree‐planting schemes may be beneficial in providing potential new sett sites. However, Badgers are poor colonists, and the construction of artificial setts and the translocation of displaced social groups of Badgers will greatly facilitate the colonization process. The value of such an approach for predicting the effects of future land‐use policy on Badgers and other species, and for managing the British wildlife resources, is discussed.
The status of the Badger Meles meles (L., 1758) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Europe
Authors: GRIFFITHS H.I. , THOMAS D.H. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe Eurasian Badger occurs throughout the Palaearctic, and in all states of Europe west of the border with the former Soviet Union. Within this area it is absent only from the arctic zones, high‐altitude areas, and some islands. The Badger is currently a protected species in the UK, the Irish Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Albania, Greece, Estonia, Luxembourg and Hungary, but Luxembourg and Hungary are to reconsider protected status. Elsewhere, the species is either considered as small‐game or as a pest, hunting being regulated by closed seasons. At present Finland and Burgenland (Austria) afford protection to breeding females, whilst Bulgaria, Macedonia and the Austrian Bundesländer of Steiermark and Salzburg permit Badger hunting throughout the year. Where the species is protected, provisions usually exist for the removal or culling of ‘pest’ individuals. The official European game‐bag currently totals about 118,000 Badgers, but poaching is common, particularly in the UK and Ireland. Published population estimates, coupled with national population minima obtained by extrapolation from game‐bag statistics, indicate a minimum European Badger population of 1,220,000; the true figure may exceed this considerably. Badger populations appear to be either stable or increasing throughout much of Europe, although no data are currently available for the populations of Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Bosnia‐Hercegovina and Portugal. Badgers are uncommon in the Netherlands, Estonia, Belgium, the Slovak Republic, and possibly Poland. Only the populations of Albania and possibly of some parts of the former Yugoslavia appear to be decreasing. The Dutch population remains at considerable risk, despite modest recent increases. The population status of the endemic sub‐species of Crete and Rhodes remain uncertain and require urgent clarification. A series of management recommendations are proposed to improve the status of the Badger in Europe.
Fluctuations in the Dutch Badger Meles meles population between 1960 and 1990
Authors: WIERTZ J. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe size of the Badger population in the Netherlands is estimated on the basis of sett surveys in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990. The numbers of used important setts were 588,640,405 and 606, respectively. So there were strong fluctuations especially due to the drop (‐36%) in 1980. In 1990 the number of used important setts nearly returned to the level of 1960. However, there were important regional differences. There was a strong increase in areas with large woodlands, mainly in the central part of the country. In the south, with more traffic, farming and urbanization, the numbers remained 20–30% lower than in 1960, despite the fact that traditionally these were the best Badger areas. Only 25% of the important setts used in 1960 were still in use in 1990. The growth of the number of collapsed or lost setts increased considerably during those 30 years, indicating a rather large sett turnover probably due to disturbance or a related stress factor. Some possible causes of the fluctuations are discussed. It is recommended that a monitoring scheme be carried out every 2 or 3 years in some key areas, in order to get a better idea of the short‐term fluctuation range of the population. For one‐off, single‐observation surveys, a simpler and more‐robust sett classification is desirable, based on the number of intact holes, instead of on ‘main setts’.
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus populations in Scotland since the introduction of myxomatosis
Authors: KOLB HUGH H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA Rabbit survey of Scotland was carried out in 1991 following the methods used for previous surveys in 1969, 1970, 1973 and 1974. The survey was split into direct field and postal questionnaire sections, and the results from the two were compared. Rabbit infestations were categorized as slight and serious. Slight infestation proved to be an inconsistent indicator of Rabbits, but the percentage of serious infestations was highly correlated across sampling areas, and was also related to the average loss estimated by farmers. The pattern of recovery of Rabbit populations after myxomatosis varied between different parts of the country. In the East, Northeast and eastern Highlands the percentage of serious infestations was 26.5% in 1991, as compared to previous survey estimates of 55.9% before 1954 and 1.5% in 1969/70. In the Central, West, South and South‐west serious Rabbit problems disappeared after 1954 and are now only at the level of 5 %. It is estimated that Rabbits caused £11,790,000 worth of damage to agriculture in Scotland during 1990/91.
The status of the European Mole Talpa europaea L. as an agricultural pest and its management
Authors: ATKINSON R.P.D. , MACDONALD D.W. , JOHNSON P.J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAlthough the pest status of the European Mole Talpa europaea L. in Britain has never been adequately assessed, it is perceived as being a pest of agricultural and amenity land and is widely persecuted. We review the Mole's pest status, and evaluate current and proposed control methods.While there has been a recent decline in the demand for strychnine, abuse of this poison leads annually to the death of many wild and domestic animals. The need remains for a humane, practical and safe alternative. If strychnine were banned without such an alternative being available, the use of mole‐traps would probably increase. Through post‐mortem examination of trapped Moles we evaluate the humaneness of these traps.Our returned questionnaires showed that, while most farmers perceive Moles as pests, the damage which is attributed to them is slight on the great majority of farms. Control of Moles was none the less common and widespread, and was undertaken by 49.5% of respondents in 1992. Perceived pest status and the favoured method of control varied regionally; these trends may be related to soil quality and cultivation type.Silage pollution was the most widely cited agricultural problem attributed to Moles. Practical measures to reduce silage pollution by Moles are discussed, particularly with regard to silage collection and treatment using bacteriophages. The efficiency of these additives merits detailed study because they have the potential, regardless of whether pollution has occurred or not, to improve the quality of the silage to an extent that killing Moles may be unnecessary; less than 1% of respondents reported that 10% or more of their silage was seriously affected by Mole activity.
Fossil Macroscelidea
Authors: BUTLER P. M. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe fossil record of elephant‐shrews, confined to Africa, goes back to the Eocene, but only three pre‐Miocene genera have been described. The two existing subfamilies, Rhynchocyoninae and Macroscelidinae, were clearly distinct in the Miocene and must have diverged much earlier, but their relationships with the Eocene Herodotinae (Chambius, Herodotius) and the Oligocene Metoldobotes are unclear. The Herodotinae have primitive characters which seem to link them with hyopsodontid condylarths. The Rhynchocyoninae have undergone only minor change since the Early Miocene. On the other hand, the Macroscelidinae, which appear in the record only in the Middle Miocene, diversified to produce at least five species in South Africa in the Pliocene. The Early Miocene Myohyracinae appear to be the sister‐group of the Macroscelidinae, with the dentition specialized for a herbivorous or seed‐eating diet. The origin of Macroscelididae is uncertain: some shared cranial characters suggest a common origin with anagalids, lagomorphs and rodents, but the dentition and eye‐lens proteins suggest condylarth relationships.
Comparative ecology of two elephant‐shrew species in a Kenyan coastal forest
Authors: FITZGIBBON CLARE D. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe Four‐toed Elephant‐Shrew Petrodromus tetradactylus is one of the most widely distributed elephant‐shrew species, ranging from Kenya to South Africa, while the Golden‐rumped Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon chrysopygus has a limited distribution, being found only on the north Kenya coast. This paper compares the behaviour and ecology of the two species in Arabukc‐Sokoke Forest, Kenya. Compared with Four‐toed Elephant‐Shrews, Golden‐rumped Elephant‐Shrews have larger home ranges and maintain lower densities, as predicted from their greater body size. Both species prefer areas with dense vegetation cover, avoiding open areas, but the Four‐toed ElephantShrew shows a greater preference for dense thicket areas. Territory size was inversely correlated with dry‐season spider abundance in Golden‐rumped Elephant‐Shrews, and with dry‐season ant abundance in Four‐toed Elephant‐Shrews. Differences in activity patterns, as well as body size, may contribute to niche separation between the two species. Both species appear to be monogamous, with males and females defending overlapping territories. Male Golden‐rumped Elephant‐Shrews range over slightly larger areas than females, and are more likely to trespass into neighbouring territories. The less specific habitat requirements of Four‐toed Elephant‐Shrews and their higher densities are probably the two most important factors resulting in their wide distributional range.
Comparative aspects of the metabolism and thermal biology of elephant‐shrews (Macroscelidea)
Authors: PERRIN M. R. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe metabolic rates of elephant‐shrews are typical of eutherian mammals and follow allometric relationships. They do not exhibit ‘primitive’ characteristics in relation to thermal biology as shown by other insectivores, and their reduced metabolic rates are interpreted as adaptive responses to habitat variables. Stable body temperatures are maintained over a wide range of environmental extremes. Hyperthermia is prevented by evaporative water loss and peripheral vasodilation, whereas hypothermia is probably more widespread than current data suggest. Elephantulus rozeti from the Atlas Mountains of North Africa has been shown to exhibit spontaneous daily torpor. Although the metabolic rates of macroscelids approximate those of tupaiids, they differ in maintaining a high stable body temperature below the thermoneutral zone.The ecophysiology of the species comprising the three genera studied are different. Petrodromus (tetradactylus) maintains a relatively low body temperature and metabolic rate, but has the lowest relative evaporative water loss and the highest absolute thermal conductance. These characteristics are correlated with a thermally stable but warm, humid environment, and are not explained by taxonomy. The thermal biology and metabolism of species of the other two genera, Macroscelides and Elephantulus, are interpreted as adaptations to thermally variable, arid environments. Although physiologically well adapted, the thermal and metabolic strategy of Macroscelides (proboscideus) is greatly influenced by its nocturnal behaviour and use of a burrow. The body temperatures and metabolic rates of Elephantulus species are markedly similar, and evaporative water loss varies with water availability in their respective habitats. Species differences are discussed in relation to habitat, behaviour and taxonomy.It is suggested that the common metabolic characteristics of elephant‐shrews were evolved in a stem ancestor, whereas adaptive characters include physiological and behavioural responses to control evaporative water loss and thermal conductance. The metabolic strategy of elephantshrews contributes to their ecological and evolutionary success.
Conservation issues and strategies for elephant‐shrews
Authors: RATHBUN GALEN B. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe recommendations and implementation of the IUCN conservation plan for African Insectivora and elephant‐shrews (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990) are reviewed. Of the 33 species and subspecies of elephant‐shrews, only six forest‐dwelling taxa are threatened. Until additional status data are gathered, assessed, and published no changes in the IUCN threatened categories should be made: Rhynchocyon chrysopygus is ‘vulnerable’; Rhynchocyon petersi petersi and Rhynchocyon petersi adersi are ‘rare’; and Rhynchocyon cirnei cirnei, Rhynchocyon cirnei hendersoni, and Petrodromus tetradactylus sangi are ‘insufficiently known’. Implementing status surveys that have not been completed, especially for the forms of R. petersi and P. t. sangi, are a high priority. Rhynchocyon petersi and R. chrysopygus densities are lower in altered and trapped forests compared with undisturbed forests. Because undisturbed forests in eastern Africa are highly fragmented, small, and disappearing due to human encroachment, it is important to determine the population dynamics of Rhynchocyon spp. that occupy degraded forest habitats, such as plantations, follow agricultural lands, and coastal scrub. In the face of the expanding human population, with its increasing need for land and natural resources, Rhynchocyon populations that occur in these degraded habitats may be all that remain in the future.
Reintroducing the European Beaver to Britain: nostalgic meddling or restoring biodiversity?
Authors: MACDONALD D.W. , TATTERSALL F.H. , BROWN E.D. , BALHARRY D. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe European Beaver Castor fiber once occurred throughout Europe, but in many countries was exterminated or greatly reduced by over‐hunting. In the UK, Beavers were last recorded in Scotland in the sixteenth century. Thirteen countries have carried out reintroduction programmes to restore the range of the Beaver in Europe, We provide a basis for discussing the feasibility and desirability of reintroducing the Beaver to Britain. The basic biology of the Beaver is described, followed by summaries of reintroductions in Europe and an evaluation of their successes and failures. We address the fundamental questions of propagule size, habitat requirements, habitat size and provenance of Beavers to be released, before examining in theory whether reintroducing Beavers to Britain is likely to fulfil UKCINC and IUCN criteria relating to environmental impact, socioeconomics and conservation. We then make suggestions as to how a reintroduction to Britain could proceed. Essential work outstanding includes site assessment and public consultation. The restoration of the Beaver to Britain could be a fitting start to the millennium.
Place‐name evidence for the former distribution and status of Wolves and Beavers in Britain
Authors: AYBES C. , YALDEN D.W. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTPlace‐name evidence includes over 200 places in England named after Wolves, but only 20 named for Beavers. A few places named for other wild mammals are noted, but coverage of these is less thorough, and is less certain because of either linguistic confusion or confusion with domestic mammals.In England, Wolf place‐names are most frequent in upland counties, but are not related to the counties which had most woodland at the time of the Domesday survey (as a nearest available date), despite the frequent allusions in the place‐names themselves to woodland. Most Beaver placenames are compounded with some reference to water, but are not associated with the fenland areas where archaeological remains of Beavers are most frequent.It appears that Wolves were still numerous and widespread when the Anglo‐Saxons (mostly) were naming our countryside, but Beavers were already scarce.
Relative roles of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors in population dynamics of British deer
Authors: PUTMAN R.J. , LANGBEIN J. , M. HEWISON A.J. , SHARMA S.K. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIt has become increasingly clear that both density‐dependent and density‐independent factors may influence the dynamics of mammalian populations; it remains more difficult, however, to determine which factors may play the more significant role in influencing population number in any particular case. In this paper we review published and unpublished data in an analysis of the various factors affecting population size and trend in three European species of deer: Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Fallow Deer (Dama damd) and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus). We select these species deliberately because they span a range of body size and reproductive strategy ‐ it seems that different demographic parameters might thus play different roles in the dynamics of the three‐which may also be differentially sensitive to the effects of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors. For each species we examine the available evidence to determine the relative roles and effects of density‐dependent feedback mechanisms and density‐independent factors such as climate on recruitment and mortality.Despite differences in bionomic strategy between Red Deer (as essentially a K‐strategist) and the more r‐selected Roe, few differences emerge between the three species in the relative roles of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors ‐ or of the stage at the life cycle at which each factor may act. Overall, however, it is clear that variation in density‐independent factors, such as climate, appears primarily to affect levels of mortality within a population, while effects of density are particularly marked in relation to changes in recruitment.
Population genetic structure across dissolved oxygen regimes in an African cichlid fish
Authors: CRISPO ERIKA , CHAPMAN LAUREN J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEcological isolation is a process whereby gene flow between selective environments is reduced due to selection against maladapted dispersers, migrant alleles, or hybrids. Although ecological isolation has been documented in several systems, gene flow can often be high among selective regimes, and more studies are thus needed to better understand the conditions under which ecological gradients or divergent selective regimes should influence population structure. We test for ecological isolation in a system in which high plasticity occurs with respect to traits that are adaptive in alternate forms under different environmental conditions.Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriaeis a widespread haplochromine cichlid fish in East Africa that exploits both normoxic (normal oxygen) rivers/lakes and hypoxic (low oxygen) swamps. Here, we examine population structure, using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites, to determine if genetic divergence is significantly increased between dissolved oxygen regimes relative to within them, while controlling for geographical structure. Our results indicate that geographical separation influences population structure, while no effects of divergent selection with respect to oxygen regimes were detected. Specifically, we document (i) genetic clustering according to geographical region, but no clustering according to oxygen regime; (ii) higher genetic variation among than within regions, but no effect of oxygen regime on genetic variation; (iii) isolation by distance within one region; and (iv) decreasing genetic variability with increasing geographical distance from Lake Victoria. We speculate that plasticity may be facilitating gene flow between oxygen regimes in this system.