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FIG. 14 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 14. — Notoungulates left upper molars (M1 or M2) in occlusal view: A, MNHN VIL 123, the only notoungulate tooth from Tiupampa (cf. Henricosborniidae); B, MNHN.F.CAS2714, cf. Henricosbornia. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 1 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 1. — Molinodus suarezi: anterior portion of a right mandible (MHNC 13883) bearing the alveoli of I1-3, the canine, the p1, the roots of p2, partial alveoli of p3 and the lateral wall of the anterior alveolus of p4 in: A, labial view; B, lingual view; C, anterodorsal view; D, dorsal view; E, medial view of the lateral wall of the incisors showing the V-shaped morphology of the alveolus of i2, which indicates that the tooth was staggered. Scale bar A-D: 5 mm; E, 3 mm.

FIG. 8 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 8. — Simoclaenus sylvaticus: partial right maxilla with root of the canine and P1-4. (MHNC 13868): A, stereophotograph of occlusal view; B, the same in medial view; C, the same in lateral view, with tentative interpretations of bony sutures (see text). Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 3 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 3. — Molinodus suarezi: A, dorsal view of MHNC 13867; B, dorsal view of a partial left mandible bearing m2-3 (MHNC 13871) showing the robust extension of the coronoid crest on the lateral side of the dentary and the deep fossa, which separates the crest from the talonid of m3; C, the same in labial view. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 10. — A in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 10. — A, Tiuclaenus minutus: partial right maxilla of with M1-3 (MHNC 13879), stereophotograph of occlusal view; B, Tiuclaenus robustus: partial right mandible with m2-3 (MHNC 13875), stereophotograph of occlusal view; C, the same in labial view. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 9 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 9. — Simoclaenus sylvaticus: partial right maxilla with M1-2 (MHNC 13876), stereophotograph of occlusal view. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 6 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 6. — Molinodus suarezi: composite occlusion of the maxilla MHNC 13870 and the mandible MHNC 13867 in lingual view. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIG. 12 in New remains of kollpaniine "condylarths" (Panameriungulata) from the early Palaeocene of Bolivia shed light on hypocone origins and molar proportions among ungulate-like placentals

FIG. 12. — Raulvaccia peligrensis: left M2 (cast of MLP 90-II-12-70) in occlusal view. Comment: we tentatively refer this tooth to an M2 (contra Gelfo 2007, who refers it to an M1?) because of the mesiolabial position of the paracone (as related to metacone), which provides to the tooth a distinct asymmetrical morphology as is observed on the M2s of Molinodus and Simoclaenus but not on the M1s of these taxa. Scale bar: 5 mm.

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Supplementary material 2 from: Buzan E, Potušek S, Urzi F, Pokorny B, Šprem N (2020) Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates: successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy. ZooKeys 965: 141-156. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.965.54862

Microsatellite loci for muscle tissue samples and recent bone samples

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2020View details →

Figure 1 from: Buzan E, Potušek S, Urzi F, Pokorny B, Šprem N (2020) Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates: successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy. ZooKeys 965: 141-156. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.965.54862

Figure 1 Micro-locations of sampling bone material for DNA isolation (see arrows) A roe deer mandibles B ethmoid bone of chamois C wild boar mandible D chamois skull.

opencc-zeroSep 2020View details →

Supplementary material 1 from: Buzan E, Potušek S, Urzi F, Pokorny B, Šprem N (2020) Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates: successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy. ZooKeys 965: 141-156. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.965.54862

Tables S1–S4

Fragmentation and translocation distort the genetic landscape of ungulates: red deer in the Netherlands

Many ungulate populations have a complex history of isolation and translocation. Consequently, ungulate populations may have experienced substantial reductions in the level of overall gene flow, yet simultaneously have augmented levels of long distance gene flow. To investigate the effect of this dual anthropogenic effect on the genetic landscape of ungulates, we genotyped 35K SNPs in 47 red deer (Cervus elaphus) of Netherlands, including putative autochthonous relic populations as well as allochthonous populations established in private estates and rewilding areas. We applied FST and ordination analyses to determine the meta-population genetic structure and thereby the occurrence of hybridization. At population level, we investigated levels of inbreeding through individual-based diversity measures, including Runs of Homozygosity. We documented that both spatial genetic structure and within-population genetic variation differed markedly from patterns assumed from present-day abundance and distribution. Notwithstanding the small spatial scale, red deer populations formed distinct genetic clusters, and some had higher genetic similarity to distant than to nearby populations. Moreover, the putative autochthonous relic deer populations had much reduced levels of polymorphism and multi-locus heterozygosity, despite relatively large current population sizes. Accordingly, genomes of these deer contained a high proportion of long (>5 Mb) Runs of Homozygosity. Whereas the observed high levels of inbreeding warrant defragmentation measures, the presence of adjacent autochthonous and allochthonous genetic stocks imply that facilitation of gene flow would cause genetic homogenization. Such distortions of the genetic landscape of ungulates creates management dilemmas that cannot be properly anticipated without baseline genetic monitoring.

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

A negative association between horn length and survival in a weakly dimorphic ungulate

While all models of sexual selection assume that the development and expression of enlarged secondary sexual traits are costly, males with larger ornaments or weapons generally show greater survival or longevity. These studies have mostly been performed in species with high sexual size dimorphism, subject to intense sexual selection. Here we examined the relationships between horn growth and several survival metrics in the weakly dimorphic Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica). In this unhunted population living at high density, males and females were able to grow long horns without any apparent costs in terms of longevity. However, we found a negative relationship between horn growth and survival during prime age in males. This association reduces the potential evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting in male chamois. We also found that females with long horns tended to have lower survival at old ages. Our results illustrate the contrasting conclusions that may be drawn when different survival metrics are used in analyses. The ability to detect trade-off between the expression of male secondary sexual traits and survival may depend more on environmental conditions experienced by the population than on the strength of sexual selection.

opencc-zeroJan 2021View details →

Influence of biological and environmental conditions on winter mortality risk of a northern ungulate: evidence for a late-winter survival bottleneck

1. A relationship between winter weather and survival of northern ungulates has long been established, yet the possible roles of biological (e.g., nutritional status) and environmental (e.g., weather) conditions make it important to determine which potential limiting factors are most influential. 2. Our objective was to examine the potential effects of individual (body mass and age) and extrinsic (winter severity and snow melt conditions) factors on the magnitude and timing of mortality for adult (>2.5 years old) female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus [Zimmerman, 1780] during February–May in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. 3. One hundred and fifty deer were captured and monitored during 2009–2015 in two areas with varying snowfall. February–May survival ranged from 0.24–0.89 (mean = 0.69) across years. Mortality risk increased 1.9% with each unit increase of cumulative winter severity index, decreased 8.2% with each cumulative snow free day, and decreased 4.3% with each kg increase in body mass. Age and weekly snow depth did not influence weekly deer survival. Predation, primarily from coyote (Canis latrans [Say, 1823]) and wolves (Canis lupus [L., 1758]), accounted for 78% of known-cause mortalities. 4. Our results suggest that cumulative winter severity, and possibly to a lesser degree deer condition entering winter, impacted deer winter survival. However, the timing of spring snow melt appeared to be the most influential factor determining late winter mortality of deer in our study. This supports the hypothesis that nutrition and energetic demands from weather conditions are both important to northern ungulate winter ecology. Under this model, a delay of several weeks in the timing of spring snow melt could exert a large influence on deer survival, resulting in a survival bottleneck.

opencc-zeroJan 2021View details →

Data from: Growth and reproduction trade-offs can estimate previous reproductive history in alpine ungulates

1. Life-history theory predicts energy allocation trade-offs between traits when resources are limited. If females reduce allocation to growth when they reproduce, annual growth could reveal past reproductive effort, which would be useful to assess population dynamics and harvest sustainability. The potential and accuracy of growth measures for predicting reproductive success have rarely been evaluated with individuals with known reproductive history. 2. We used long-term monitoring of annual growth and reproduction of marked female bighorn sheep and mountain goats, two species in which primiparity normally occurs well before growth completion, to evaluate growth vs. reproduction trade-offs and their potential for predicting reproductive history of young females using mixed models and 10-fold block cross-validation. 3. We documented a significant reduction in mass gain and horn growth in young reproducing females of both species. This trade-off was affected by individual differences in energy acquisition and allocation, because population density and previous allocation to growth affected the trade-off. We then parametrized models to predict individual reproductive history of young females based on the growth traits subjected to a reproductive trade-off. 4. The accuracy of predictive models ranged from 85.2% to 91.0% across species and traits, indicating that growth is a good predictor of reproductive history. This method is especially useful for population management of species with traits that form permanent visible yearly annuli because they retain a record of annual growth that allows retrospective estimation of reproductive history over multiple years. 5. Synthesis and applications. We show that because growth significantly decreased in years of allocation to reproduction, annual growth increments provide insights on reproductive history of young females. Population or temporal differences in reproduction of young females affect demographic rates and sustainable harvest. Growth measures of traits that form yearly annuli, such as teeth and horns, could be easily obtained at a low cost from animals harvested or found dead in multiple species. Thus, predictive models of reproductive history based on annual growth could assist conservation and management in a broad range of species.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Little to fear: largest lizard predator induces weak defense responses in ungulate prey

Non-consumptive effects can strongly influence apex predator ecological function. These effects arise because prey produce often induce costly phenotypic responses to mitigate predation risk. Yet because predator-prey interactions are complex, prey defences may vary considerably. We investigated if the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), an reptile apex predator, induced multi-scale anti-predator responses in key prey, the Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) and the wild pig (Sus scrofa). To this end, we examined the temporal and spatial partitioning of habitats by predator and prey, determined the size of ungulate groups as a function of risk, and assessed changes in individual behavior of prey individuals exposed to predator kairomones at feeding stations. Komodo dragon, deer and pig populations exhibited significant, but subtle differences in three habitat preferences, that otherwise indicated high niche overlap. Komodo dragon predation risk, alongside other commonly considered predictor variables did not affect deer or pig group size. With the exception of one individual-based vigilance type behavior in pigs, no other anti-predator behavior, including reduced food consumption, significantly varied in the presence of predator odour cue at feeding stations. Overall our results indicated limited evidence for anti-predator behavior and suggest Komodo dragons exert weak non-consumptive effects of predation in ungulates. However, weak predatory interactions could be beneficial in island ecosystems as it could promote predator-prey co-existence that reduces extinction risk.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Migratory behavior predicts greater parasite diversity in ungulates

Long-distance animal movements can increase exposure to diverse parasites, but can also reduce infection risk through escape from contaminated habitats or culling of infected individuals. These mechanisms have been demonstrated within and between populations in single-host/single-parasite interactions, but how long-distance movement behaviors shape parasite diversity and prevalence across host taxa is largely unknown. Using a comparative approach, we analyze the parasite communities of 93 migratory, nomadic, and resident ungulate species. We find that migrants have higher parasite species richness than residents or nomads, even after considering other factors known to influence parasite diversity, such as body size and host geographic range area. Further analyses support a novel "environmental tracking" hypothesis, whereby migration allows parasites to experience environments favorable to transmission year-round. In addition, the social aggregation and large group sizes that facilitate migration might increase infection risk for migrants. In contrast, we find little support for previously-proposed hypotheses, including migratory escape and culling, in explaining the relationship between host movement and parasitism in mammals at this cross-species scale. Our findings, which support mechanistic links between long-distance movement and increased parasite richness at the species level, could help predict the effects of future environmental change on parasitism in migratory animals.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Special delivery: scavengers direct seed dispersal towards ungulate carcasses

Cadaver decomposition-islands around animal carcasses can facilitate establishment of various plant life. Facultative scavengers have great potential for endozoochory, and often aggregate around carcasses. Hence, they may disperse plant seeds that they ingest across the landscape towards cadaver decomposition-islands. Here, we demonstrate this novel mechanism along a gradient of wild tundra reindeer carcasses. First, we show that the spatial distribution of scavenger feces (birds and foxes) was concentrated around carcasses. Second, feces of the predominant scavengers (corvids) commonly contained viable seeds of crowberry, a keystone species of the alpine tundra with predominantly vegetative reproduction. We suggest that cadaver decomposition-islands function as endpoints for directed endozoochory by scavengers. Such a mechanism could be especially beneficial for species that rely on small scale disturbances in soil and vegetation, such as several Nordic berry-producing species with cryptic generative reproduction.

opencc-zeroDec 2015View details →

Data from: The influence of weather conditions during gestation on life histories in a wild Arctic ungulate

The internal predictive adaptive response (internal PAR) hypothesis predicts that individuals born in poor conditions should start to reproduce earlier if they are likely to have reduced performance in later life. However, whether this is the case remains unexplored in wild populations. Here, we use longitudinal data from a long-term study of Svalbard reindeer to examine age-related changes in adult female life-history responses to environmental conditions experienced in utero as indexed by rain-on-snow (ROSutero). We show that females experiencing high ROSutero had reduced reproductive success only from 7 years of age, independent of early reproduction. These individuals were able to maintain the same annual reproductive success between 2 and 6 years as phenotypically superior conspecifics that experienced low ROSutero. Young females born after high ROSutero engage in reproductive events at lower body mass (about 2.5 kg less) than those born after low ROSutero. The mean fitness of females that experienced poor environmental conditions in early life was comparable with that of females exposed to good environmental conditions in early life. These results are consistent with the idea of internal PAR and suggest that the life-history responses to early-life conditions can buffer the delayed effects of weather on population dynamics.