Examining effects of persistent retroviral infection on fitness and pathogen susceptibility in a natural feline host

Many animal populations carry endemic (i.e., permanently present) viruses but few studies have assessed the demographic consequences of these infections under natural conditions. We examined the effects of chronic infection with FIVPco, a feline retrovirus, on the fitness and pathogen susceptibility of its natural host, the cougar (Puma concolor (L., 1771)), in the wild. Based on data obtained through intensive monitoring of 160 cougars from two populations, we estimated survival and different measures of host fecundity of infected and uninfected individuals. In addition, we used serological data collected from 207 cougars to test whether FIVPcopredisposes individuals to a higher probability of infection with other pathogens. We found no evidence for an overall reduction in survival due to FIVPcowhen accounting for other sources of demographic variation (age, sex, and population). There was a consistent but nonsignificant trend towards poorer reproductive performance in FIVPco-infected females. We found no serological evidence for a higher probability of secondary infections associated with FIVPco. Overall, these results support the premise that chronic FIVPcoinfection is asymptomatic in its natural cougar host, probably because of a long evolutionary association between virus and host. However, results of stochastic simulations indicate that only larger reductions in annual survival (>20%) can be excluded with confidence. Also, the possibility of a so far unrecognized cost of FIVPcoinfection on cougar fecundity remains.

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UDDER INFECTION WITH STREPTOCOCCI OF THE SCARLET FEVER TYPE

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.47.6.945 ◽

1928 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 945-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

F. S. Jones ◽

Ralph B. Little

Keyword(s):

Scarlet Fever ◽

Small Town ◽

Raw Milk ◽

The Other ◽

Natural Conditions ◽

Severe Attack ◽

General Reaction ◽

Original Process ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

Short Time

The clinical and bacteriological findings in two cows the udders of which became infected under natural conditions with hemolytic streptococci of the scarlet fever type are discussed. One of the cows was found in a herd supplying raw milk to a small town where a milkborne outbreak of scarlet fever had occurred a short time before. When small numbers of the streptococcus obtained from this case were injected into the udder of a normal cow severe mastitis accompanied by a well marked general reaction resulted. Evidence leads to the conclusion that a severe attack of mastitis due to this organism in one quarter does not sufficiently immunize the other quarters to protect them completely since the streptococcus can be readily implanted in them. The secondary infections were much milder than the original process.

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Exploring the Adaptive Significance of Five Types of Puma (Puma concolor) Vocalizations

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v130i4.1919 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 130 (4) ◽

pp. 289 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maximilian L Allen ◽

Yiwei Wang ◽

Christopher C Wilmers

Keyword(s):

Vocal Communication ◽

Puma Concolor ◽

Scent Marking ◽

Adaptive Significance ◽

Alarm Calls ◽

Central Component ◽

Video Cameras ◽

In The Wild ◽

Indirect Cues ◽

Limit Detection

Communication is a central component of animal behaviour, yet communicative behaviours are poorly studied due to their complexity and varied functions. Pumas (Puma concolor) are wide-ranging, solitary felids that primarily use indirect cues (e.g., scent marking) for communication. Because these cryptic carnivores are rarely observed directly, little is known about their vocalizations in the wild. We recorded a variety of Puma vocalizations among females and family groups using motion-triggered video cameras and then attempted to understand the function of each vocalization. We found two categories of vocalizations: 1) attention-attracting (caterwauling and mewing), and 2) calls (contact, agitated, and alarm). Vocalizations to attract attention ranged across broad frequencies. Contact, agitated, and alarm calls are narrow-frequency vocalizations that varied in intensity and were used to communicate with nearby conspecifics. Vocal communication entails risk, and while some Puma vocalizations may provide benefits that outweigh their risk, others are structured to limit detection and risk. These observations highlight the importance of the structure of vocalizations used during different behaviours to understand their adaptive significance.

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Monitoring species of mammals using track collection by rangers in the Tilarán mountain range, Costa Rica

UNED Research Journal ◽

10.22458/urj.v7i2.1151 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 249-257

Author(s):

J. Edgardo Arévalo ◽

Yoryineth Méndez ◽

Sergio Vargas

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Puma Concolor ◽

Participatory Approach ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Community Members ◽

Focal Species ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Pecari Tajacu ◽

Conservation Organizations

Although monitoring of animal populations for informed decision making is fundamental for the conservation and management of biodiversity, monitoring programs are not widely implemented. In addition, monitoring plans often represent an economic burden for many conservation organizations. Here we report on the monitoring of five focal species of mammals in the Tilarán mountain range, Costa Rica. We used a participatory approach in which trained rangers of four institutions conducted trail surveys in an area of ca 50,000ha to determine the presence/absence of the paca (Cuniculus paca), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), tapir (Tapirus bairdii), jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) using track collections. Permanent transects of 3 km were sampled on the same day every month in 2000-01 (141 km) and 2009-10 (303 km). Four of the five focal species were registered in our sampling. One of the most valuable outcomes of the study was the initiative of the rangers to train community members to participate in the monitoring plan. We believe that this participatory approach not only has great potential for the integration of rangers in long term monitoring, but also the incorporation of citizen science-based programs. Multi-institutional collaboration for species monitoring could reduce costs and increase the sampling effort.

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Controlled reproduction in the wild European eel (Anguilla anguilla): two populations compared

Aquaculture International ◽

10.1007/s10499-012-9611-8 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 1045-1063 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Oliviero Mordenti ◽

Andrea Di Biase ◽

Giuseppe Bastone ◽

Rubina Sirri ◽

Annalisa Zaccaroni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anguilla Anguilla ◽

European Eel ◽

In The Wild ◽

Controlled Reproduction ◽

Two Populations

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Habitat-correlated seed germination behaviour in populations of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.) from northern Italy

Seed Science Research ◽

10.1017/s0960258508084997 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 213-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Andrea Mondoni ◽

Robin Probert ◽

Graziano Rossi ◽

Fiona Hay ◽

Costantino Bonomi

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Embryo Development ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Natural Conditions ◽

Mountain Site ◽

Radicle Emergence ◽

In The Wild ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Shoot Emergence ◽

Mountain Population

AbstractAlthough various aspects of the biology of Anemone nemorosa have been examined, few studies present data on seed germination, and even then information tends to be rather contradictory. A. nemorosa L. is a spring-flowering, woodland geophyte, widely distributed across much of Europe. Germination phenology, including embryo development and radicle and shoot emergence, were investigated in one mountain and three lowland populations from northern Italy. Immediately after harvest, seeds were either sown on agar in the laboratory under simulated seasonal temperatures, or placed in nylon mesh sachets and buried in the wild. Embryos, undifferentiated at the time of dispersal, grew under summer conditions in the laboratory and in the wild. However, seeds did not germinate under continuous summer conditions. Radicle emergence in the field was first recorded at the beginning of autumn, when soil temperatures had dropped to c. 15°C in the case of the three lowland populations, and to c. 10°C at the mountain site. Shoot emergence was delayed under natural conditions until late autumn/early winter, when soil temperatures had dropped to c. 10°C in the lowlands and c. 6°C at the mountain site. In the laboratory, a period of cold stratification was required for shoot emergence, and this requirement was more pronounced in the mountain population. Seeds of the mountain population completed embryo development, radicle emergence and shoot emergence at cooler temperatures compared with the lowland populations. These results suggest that germination in A. nemorosa is highly adapted and finely tuned to local climate. We conclude that seeds of A. nemorosa display deep, simple epicotyl, morphophysiogical dormancy, and this is the first report of such dormancy for the genus Anemone. However, the continuous development and growth of embryos from the time of natural dispersal, and the lack of evidence of developmental arrest under natural conditions, suggests that radicles are non-dormant.

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Trade-offs between molt and immune activity in two populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z05-062 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 83 (6) ◽

pp. 780-787 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Lynn B Martin II

Keyword(s):

Passer Domesticus ◽

Immune Defense ◽

House Sparrows ◽

Immune Activity ◽

Feather Growth ◽

Trade Offs ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild ◽

Time Of Year ◽

Two Populations

Molt and immune defense are critical activities in which all birds must invest. Because each is costly, wild passerines may have to decrease their investment in one activity if they are to increase investments to others. Here, I studied such moltimmune trade-offs in one neotropical and one north-temperate population of house sparrows (Passer domesticus (L., 1758)). I included two populations in my study to investigate if moltimmune trade-offs in this species are phenotypically plastic or fixed. I expected that if they were fixed, then immune activity, molt, and immunemolt trade-offs would be distinct between populations after they were kept in captivity for 1 year under similar conditions. I found evidence for moltimmune trade-offs in house sparrows. Feather growth was inversely related to cutaneous immune activity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Furthermore, feather growth 3 weeks post immune challenge was lower in immune-challenged birds relative to saline-injected controls. However, there was no effect of population of origin on these patterns, or the rate of molt or PHA response at this time of year in each population. Thus, while house sparrows probably do face trade-offs between molt and immune activity in the wild, any variation in these trade-offs between populations are likely plastic responses to different environments.

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Observations of Wild Cougar (Puma concolor) Kittens with Live Prey: Implications for Learning and Survival

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v126i4.1380 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 333 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

L. Mark Elbroch ◽

Howard Quigley

Keyword(s):

Social Learning ◽

Maternal Care ◽

Puma Concolor ◽

Mule Deer ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Odocoileus Hemionus ◽

Video Data ◽

Operant Learning ◽

Live Prey ◽

In The Wild

The Cougar (Puma concolor) is a cryptic species in which social learning or opportunity learning has yet to be documented in the wild. “Opportunity teaching” is teaching in which an animal creates opportunities for conspecifics to observe or participate in operant learning. We present video data on an observation of Cougar kittens exhibiting social learning and inefficiency and inexperience in attempting to kill a live Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawn. Our observations provide evidence for the importance of maternal care and they help explain why Cougar kittens less than a year of age have low survival rates.

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Introduction

Anthrozoology ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198753629.003.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Geoff Hosey ◽

Vicky Melfi

Keyword(s):

Human Activities ◽

Human Society ◽

Animal Populations ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Subject ◽

Human Animal ◽

Areas Of Concern ◽

The Individual

Many animals’ lives, both in the wild and in captivity, are now greatly influenced by human activities. As a result there are many opportunities for human–animal interactions (HAIs), leading to the establishment of human–animal relationships (HARs). In some cases these can result in strong emotional attachments, human–animal bonds (HABs). The study of these constitutes the subject of Anthrozoology. In this chapter we attempt to define these terms in a way that is applicable across all of the different contexts in which humans and animals come into contact. These relationships can have far-reaching consequences, not only for the individual animals and people involved in the interactions, but also for animal populations and human society more generally, so there are many reasons why we should care and be concerned with them. This chapter introduces some of these areas of concern and their relevance to the different contexts, which are explored in subsequent chapters.

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An ecological approach to assessing the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in animal and human populations

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2011.1975 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 279 (1733) ◽

pp. 1630-1639 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Alison E. Mather ◽

Louise Matthews ◽

Dominic J. Mellor ◽

Richard Reeve ◽

Matthew J. Denwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Ecological Approach ◽

Human Populations ◽

Ecological Diversity ◽

Animal Population ◽

Current Policy ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Two Populations ◽

Animal Isolates

We examined long-term surveillance data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (DT104) isolates from concurrently sampled and sympatric human and animal populations in Scotland. Using novel ecological and epidemiological approaches to examine diversity, and phenotypic and temporal relatedness of the resistance profiles, we assessed the more probable source of resistance of these two populations. The ecological diversity of AMR phenotypes was significantly greater in human isolates than in animal isolates, at the resolution of both sample and population. Of 5200 isolates, there were 65 resistance phenotypes, 13 unique to animals, 30 unique to humans and 22 were common to both. Of these 22, 11 were identified first in the human isolates, whereas only five were identified first in the animal isolates. We conclude that, while ecologically connected, animals and humans have distinguishable DT104 communities, differing in prevalence, linkage and diversity. Furthermore, we infer that the sympatric animal population is unlikely to be the major source of resistance diversity for humans. This suggests that current policy emphasis on restricting antimicrobial use in domestic animals may be overly simplistic. While these conclusions pertain to DT104 in Scotland, this approach could be applied to AMR in other bacteria–host ecosystems.

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