Article
Microbiology
Leonardo Brustenga, Maria Pia Franciosini, Manuela Diaferia, Giulia Rigamonti, Laura Musa, Barbara Lidia Russomanno, Fabrizia Veronesi
Summary: This study assessed the endoparasite community in game hares bred for restocking purposes and found that parasites characterized by a direct life cycle, including six species of coccidia from the genus Eimeria and the nematode Trichostrongylus retorataeformis, were the most prevalent parasites.
Article
Microbiology
Marcus Faehndrich, Benno Woelfing, Jana C. Klink, Marco Roller, Wolfgang Baumgaertner, Peter Wohlsein, Katharina Raue, Christina Strube, Christa Ewers, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Jutta Verspohl, Antonio Lavazza, Lorenzo Capucci, Herbert Tomaso, Ursula Siebert
Summary: By analyzing samples from European brown hares in three locations in the northernmost German state of Schleswig-Holstein, it was found that infectious diseases have a relatively low importance on the observed population dynamics, but there is a high prevalence of chronic inflammations of unknown origin.
Article
Agronomy
Gabriela Frunza, Otilia Cristina Murariu, Marius-Mihai Ciobanu, Razvan-Mihail Radu-Rusu, Daniel Simeanu, Paul-Corneliu Boisteanu
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the nutritional and technological properties of rabbit and hare meat. The results showed that hare meat had lower fat content, lighter energy, and better lipid health indices compared to rabbit meat.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Magdalena Solka, Magdalena Misiorowska, Nina Strzalkowska, Zaneta Zdanowska-Sasiadek, Alireza Seidavi, Pawel Urbanski
Summary: The brown hare is a popular game species in Poland, but its populations have drastically decreased and are currently threatened with extinction. This study used microsatellite analysis to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of brown hares in south-eastern Poland, revealing unique genetic variation. Conservation measures such as protecting populations, restoring habitats, and establishing ecological corridors are recommended.
ANIMAL SCIENCE PAPERS AND REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jakub Gryz, Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Summary: Brown hares in a field and forest mosaic in central Poland have experienced a long-term decline in population, possibly due to changes in farming practices resulting in decreased habitat quality.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Violeta Razmaite, Arturas Siukscius
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of sex and hunting season on the carcass, meat, and fat quality of brown hares. The data analysis revealed no significant differences in carcass measurements between male and female hares, but the hunting season influenced the size of the hares. Moreover, males had lower dry matter content and higher drip loss in the thigh muscle compared to females. The hunting season affected protein and hydroxyproline contents in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and also had an impact on the dry matter, protein, and hydroxyproline contents in the biceps femoris (BF) muscles.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marian Flis, Piotr Czyzowski, Slawomir Beeger, Boguslaw Rataj, Miroslaw Karpinski
Summary: A method based on animal body weight was developed to determine the age of brown hares, which can be used in scientific research and population management.
Review
Ecology
Emiliano Mori, Roberto Carbone, Andrea Viviano, Martina Calosi, Niccolo Fattorini
Summary: The European brown hare is widely distributed throughout Eurasia and is an important species for management and conservation. This study used meta-analytic approaches to investigate the home range size, habitat preference, and activity patterns of the hare. The results showed that home range size decreased with increasing cropland cover, indicating a correlation with food availability. The hare preferred cropland and grassland for foraging, but also showed avoidance of human settlements. They were mainly nocturnal and showed moonlight avoidance. The importance of open habitats, particularly cropland, for the hare was highlighted, and their plasticity in space and time usage was also observed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeljko Linsak, Ivana Gobin, Dijana Tomic Linsak, Dalibor Broznic
Summary: In Croatia's Podravina region, the heavy exploitation of natural gas, thriving agricultural industry, and transportation hub have led to significant lead pollution. This study focused on the bioaccumulation of lead in various organs of hares, particularly the liver, kidney, muscle, and brain, and its impact on the organism's oxidative status. The research also explored a potential ionic mechanism for lead exchange in the brain. The findings showed that long-term lead exposure negatively affected the oxidative status of hares, with the brain and muscles experiencing the strongest toxicity.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Neil Reid, Maria F. Hughes, Rosaleen A. Hynes, W. Ian Montgomery, Paulo A. Prodohl
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence of hybridisation and genetic introgression between introduced European brown hares and endemic Irish hares. The results showed a high prevalence of bidirectional hybridisation and introgression in Ireland, which may pose a threat to the native species. Compared to other areas in Europe, the situation in Ireland is more complex. Therefore, further genetic surveillance and population monitoring are needed to understand the conservation implications of European brown hares in Ireland.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ilias Karmiris, Thomas G. Papachristou, Dimitrios Fotakis
Summary: Silvopasture is a traditional agroforestry practice that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting species. However, the abandonment of this practice in Europe has led to changes in vegetation and wildlife habitats, potentially negatively impacting certain species' habitat use.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katharina Sliwinski, Egbert Strauss, Klaus Jung, Ursula Siebert
Summary: Incorporating hunters into monitoring can provide reliable and valid data if conducted in a standardized scientific way. Take possible counting errors into account and ideally perform repeated counts to assess the error margin for each counting site would help to quantify the uncertainty in the calculation of mortality rates.
Article
Microbiology
Mariagiovanna Domanico, Patrizia Cavadini, Roberto Nardini, Daniele Cecca, Giovanni Mastrandrea, Claudia Eleni, Valentina Galietta, Lorenzo Attili, Antonella Pizzarelli, Roberta Onorati, Cristina Amoruso, Donatella Stilli, Giulia Pacchiarotti, Francesca Merzoni, Andrea Caprioli, Ida Ricci, Antonio Battisti, Antonio Lavazza, Maria Teresa Scicluna
Summary: This study describes the occurrence of European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in Italian hares (Lepus corsicanus) and expands the understanding of the etiological characteristics of the virus. The ability of EBHS virus to cause a fatal disease in Italian hares represents a serious threat to the conservation of this vulnerable species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Anna Padula, Marina Bambi, Chiara Mengoni, Claudia Greco, Nadia Mucci, Ilaria Greco, Alberto Masoni, Sara Del Duca, Giovanni Bacci, Giacomo Santini, Renato Fani, Marco Zaccaroni
Summary: This study examined the changes in gut microbial communities of European hares after a short-term diet modification, finding that the short-term variation in food availability did not significantly alter the hares' gut microbiome. Further research is needed to estimate significant time threshold for impacting microbiome composition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Craig T. Michell, Jaakko L. O. Pohjoismaki, Goran Spong, Carl-Gustaf Thulin
Summary: This study provides the first whole genome sequences from different subspecies of hares in Sweden, revealing unique characteristics of the heath hare and potential causes for its regional extinction. The data presented here are important for studying the local adaptations and conservation status of mountain hares and brown hares in Sweden.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Rasoul Khosravi, Mohammad Ali Adibi, Atie Taktehrani, Ho Yi Wan, Samuel A. Cushman
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Snezana Radenkovic, Ante Vujic, Dragana Obreht Vidakovic, Mihajla Djan, Dubravka Milic, Sanja Veselic, Gunilla Stahls, Theodora Petanidou
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Mohammad S. Farhadinia, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Helen Senn, Sohrab Ashrafi, Hamid Farahmand, Muhammad Ghazali, Luke T. B. Hunter, David W. Macdonald
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rasoul Khosravi, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Shima Malakoutikhah, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Samuel A. Cushman
Summary: The study found that incorporating prey availability into species distribution models significantly affects the predicted outcomes for Persian leopards, but has minimal impact on predictions for Asiatic cheetahs when considering climate change.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ante Vujic, Snezana Radenkovic, Ljiljana Sasic Zoric, Laura Likov, Tamara Tot, Sanja Veselic, Mihajla Djan
Summary: This study revised six species of the Afrotropical Bombiformis species group, including three new species. It provided descriptions of the species, discussed their distribution, larval host plants, and provided identification keys for both males and females.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Ana Grkovic, Jeroen Van Steenis, Marija Milicic, Natasa kocis Tubic, Mihajla Djan, Snezana RadenkoviC, Ante Vujic
Summary: This study investigates the diversity in the Eumerus tricolor group in Southeast Europe and describes two new species as well as one related species from Switzerland. Lectotypes are designated for several species and a distribution map is provided. The significance of small habitat patches for species preservation is also discussed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Dragana Snjegota, Astrid Vik Stronen, Barbara Boljte, Dusko Cirovic, Mihajla Djan, Djuro Huber, Maja Jelencic, Marjeta Konec, Josip Kusak, Tomaz Skrbinsek
Summary: The Balkan Peninsula and the Dinaric Mountains are home to a diverse wolf population, with a west-east substructure observed among wolves in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The study identified three genetic clusters in the region, providing a foundation for future genomic research to further understand the population structure and evolutionary history of wolves and other taxa. These findings are crucial for conservation planning and habitat protection efforts for wolves in the European range.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Daniela Elena Ilie, Alexandru Eugeniu Mizeranschi, Ciprian Valentin Mihali, Radu Ionel Neam, George Vlad Goilean, Ovidiu Ionut Georgescu, Daniela Zaharie, Mihai Carabas, Ioan Hutu
Summary: This study conducted the first GWAS for somatic cell score (SCS) in Romanian dairy cattle breeds, identifying one significant SNP associated with SCS and 40 suggestive SNPs. The results contribute to expanding the knowledge on genetic variability explained by SNPs for SCS in dairy cattle.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zoltan Bagi, Katalin Balog, Bianka Toth, Milan Feher, Peter Barsony, Edina Baranyai, Sandor Harangi, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Bettina Hegedus, Laszlo Stundl, Szilvia Kusza
Summary: Spinal deformity is a significant unsolved problem in intensive fish farming systems, causing economic and animal welfare issues in the fish sector. This study investigated the gene expression and element content in tissues associated with spinal deformity in common carps. The results revealed significant correlations between gene expression, element content, and tissue types, suggesting that genes regulating the nervous system and growth, as well as elements and tissues, are closely associated with spinal deformity. The findings of this study can provide direction and momentum for further exploration of these complex processes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ciprian Valentin Mihali, Constantin Marian Petrescu, Calin Flavius Ciolacu-Ladasiu, Endre Mathe, Cristina Popescu, Viviane Bota, Alexandru Eugeniu Mizeranschi, Daniela Elena Ilie, Radu Ionel Neamt, Violeta Turcus
Summary: This study evaluates the phenotypic variability of Ilex aquifolium in different insular populations, and explores its adaptation and efficiency. The findings suggest distinct differences between populations from Bulgaria and Romania, as well as similarities between populations from Serbia and Hungary in terms of quantitative morphological traits.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Iva Gorse, Mihajla Djan, Ante Vujic, Ljiljana Sasic Zoric
Summary: Considering the threat of pollinator decline to seriously affect ecosystem function and food security, the conservation of pollinating insects has become of utmost importance. This study successfully resolved the taxonomy of the Merodon ruficornis group using genetic markers and demonstrated their potential as molecular tools for resolving taxonomic questions within the Merodon genus.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ante Vujic, Snezana Radenkovic, Laura Likov, Iva Gorse, Mihajla Djan, Zlata Markov Ristic, Anatolii V. Barkalov
Summary: Further revision of material from the Merodon ruficornis group revealed three new species and provided an upgraded identification key and distribution maps. The descriptions of these new species expanded the range of the group and highlighted its high level of endemism.
Article
Zoology
Dragana Snjegota, Magdalena Niedzialkowska, Astrid Vik Stronen, Tomasz Borowik, Kamila Plis, Marine Arakelyan, Dusko Cirovic, Gabriel Danila, Mihajla Djan, Astghik Ghazaryan, Zurab Gurielidze, Tigran Hayrapetyan, Zsolt Hegyeli, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Natia Kopaliani, Josip Kusak, Dmitry Politov, Maya Talala, Elena Tsingarska, Bogumila Jedrzejewska
Summary: Mountain regions play a crucial role in maintaining the populations and genetic diversity of wild species that require large areas to sustain viable populations. A study on wolves in the Caucasus, Carpathian, and Dinaric-Balkan regions revealed high genetic diversity and overlap of major haplogroups. The findings highlight the importance of these regions for intraspecific variability and the need for further research and conservation efforts, particularly in the biodiverse Caucasus region. Broad-scale planning is essential for conserving evolutionary processes in these transboundary areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fereydoun Ghaedi Bardeh, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Iraj Hashemzadeh Segherloo, Ruhollah Rahimi
Summary: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and alteration are major threats to freshwater pond turtles, with scarce data on suitable habitats and connectivity in Iran. This study used MaxEnt to predict habitat suitability for the Caspian pond turtle, finding that 10.46% of the study area could be considered suitable, but only about 6.23% of these areas are covered by conservation efforts. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing habitat protection and connectivity for conservation efforts.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Daniela Elena Ilie, A. E. Mizeranschi, C. Mihali, R. Neamt, M. Carabas, A. C. Gradinaru
Summary: This study investigated the HinfI polymorphism of PIT1 gene in Romanian Spotted and Romanian Brown cattle breeds, identifying three genotypes and two alleles. The AA genotype of PIT1 gene significantly influenced milk fat percentage in both breeds, with variations in genotype frequencies observed between the two breeds.
REVISTA ROMANA DE MEDICINA VETERINARA
(2021)