Article
Food Science & Technology
Nikolina Kelava Ugarkovic, Miljenko Konjacic, Josip Malnar, Kristijan Tomljanovic, Nikica Sprem, Damir Ugarkovic
Summary: This study aimed to determine the effects of sex and age on the proximate chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and lipid indices of brown bear meat. Results showed that age had an effect on the traits analyzed, while no significant differences were found related to sex.
Article
Forestry
Angela Anna Rositi, Giovanna Jona Lasinio, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: The availability of hard mast and soft-mast producing species is influenced by forest typology, historical forestry practices, and topographical features. Herb cover is negatively affected by terrain steepness and basal area, while ant richness is associated with forest volume and density. These findings provide valuable information for forest management practices to support the conservation of Apennine bears in the long term.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Neda Bogdanovic, Andreas Zedrosser, Anne G. Hertel, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias, Dusko Cirbvic
Summary: Natural habitats are being degraded and fragmented due to human expansion, threatening the survival of many species. Understanding species distribution and identifying movement corridors is crucial for conservation. Serbia's geographical position plays a significant role in connecting bear metapopulations. The study predicts suitable habitats and proposes measures for habitat permeability to benefit not only bears but also other species in the region.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Vincenzo Buono, Salvatore Burgio, Nicole Macri, Giovanni Catania, Heidi C. Hauffe, Nadia Mucci, Francesca Davoli
Summary: An assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of two endangered brown bear populations in Italy was conducted to propose a cost-effective management protocol for populations with low genetic variation. By analyzing microsatellite loci, the study identified the most effective STR marker sets for evaluating genetic diversity and individual discrimination. The findings indicate that the Uam population should be considered a conservation priority due to its depleted genetic variability.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ana Balseiro, Laura Polledo, Jose Tunon, Juan Francisco Garcia Marin
Summary: A captive female Eurasian brown bear in her 24th year of age gave birth to a stillborn cub with multiple malformations resulting from anomalous neural tube development. These malformations, including anencephaly, hypoplasia, micromyelia, severe myelodysplasia, syringomyelia, and spina bifida, have not been previously reported in bears. The cause of the malformations remains unknown, but the mother's advanced age and/or folic acid deficiency may be possible factors. Supplementing the mother with folate before and during early pregnancy could help prevent the occurrence of neural tube defects in captive bears, thus safeguarding the future generations of this endangered species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
James P. Kilfoil, Thomas P. Quinn, Aaron J. Wirsing
Summary: Humans can significantly alter the temporal activity of wildlife, and the ecological consequences of such shifts can lead to reduced fitness, increased competition, and trophic cascades. This study examined the potential of human disturbance as a temporal-shield for brown bears foraging on sockeye salmon in southwestern Alaska. The results showed that all bears avoided peak times of human activity, but socially-subordinate subadult bears had higher overlap with humans compared to females with cubs and single adults. The findings suggest that human-disturbance can have complex effects on large carnivores and may provide increased foraging opportunities for socially subordinate, but more human-tolerant individuals.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francesco Maroso, Giada Padovani, Victor Hugo Munoz Mora, Francesco Giannelli, Emiliano Trucchi, Giorgio Bertorelle
Summary: Reduction in population size and its predicted effects on population fitness is a major concern for endangered species. Genetic rescue (GR) is a controversial approach that introduces compatible individuals to reduce the genetic load and restore fitness of declining populations. The study on Apennine brown bears showed that introducing individuals with higher fitness and lower levels of deleterious mutations can rapidly increase fitness but also result in some loss of ancestry. Doubling the population size without genetic rescue gradually improved fitness without losing ancestry, making it the best strategy for Apennine brown bear conservation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maja Lazarus, Agnieszka Sergiel, Maja Ferencakovic, Tatjana Orct, Luciene Kapronczai, Lana Paden, David M. Janz, Slaven Reljic, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Filip Zieba, Nuria Selva, Duro Huber
Summary: Environmental contaminants like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) or lead (Pb) may disrupt hormone levels in wildlife, leading to negative effects on reproduction and stress response. However, there is a lack of data on the impact of these contaminants on large terrestrial carnivores.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamshid Parchizadeh, Jerrold L. Belant
Summary: Large carnivore attacks on humans have increased globally in recent decades, with brown bears and Persian leopards being responsible for attacks in Iran. Attacks often occur during the day in spring and summer, with bears attacking more frequently in western provinces and leopards in northern provinces of Iran. Recommendations include implementing a national reporting system and developing management plans to mitigate human risk and improve attitudes toward these carnivore species for conservation purposes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alberto Garcia-Rodriguez, Nuria Selva, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Jorg Albrecht, Clement Lionnet, Delphine Rioux, Pierre Taberlet, Marta De Barba
Summary: A study on the diet of brown bears in Tatra National Park revealed a marked seasonality, with fleshy-fruited plants being the main food source. Despite high levels of human disturbance, brown bears continue to play a key role as seed dispersers.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tzoulia-Maria Tsalazidou-Founta, Evangelia A. Stasi, Maria Samara, Yorgos Mertzanis, Maria Papathanassiou, Pantelis G. Bagos, Spyros Psaroudas, Vasiliki Spyrou, Yorgos Lazarou, Athanasios Tragos, Yannis Tsaknakis, Elpida Grigoriadou, Athanasios Korakis, Maria Satra, Charalambos Billinis
Summary: This study estimated the population size, genetic status, and gene flow of brown bear sub-populations in three National Parks in Greece. The results showed high levels of inbreeding in some sub-populations and a distinct genetic structure in one sub-population. Significant gene flow was also observed between certain sub-populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pablo Cisneros-Araujo, Teresa Goicolea, Maria Cruz Mateo-Sanchez, Juan Ignacio Garcia-Vinas, Miguel Marchamalo, Audrey Mercier, Aitor Gaston
Summary: Ecological modeling requires high spatial resolution and careful selection of environmental variables for good predictive performance. Developing models from datasets with different coverage and accessibility can provide powerful information for estimating habitat and connectivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aurora Donatelli, Gianluca Mastrantonio, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: This study examines the circadian rhythms and activity patterns of Apennine brown bears. The results show a bimodal curve of activity, with peaks around sunrise and sunset. Bears exhibit higher movement rates during the mating season and increase their movement rate near roads and settlements during spring and late summer, suggesting a trade-off between foraging opportunities and risk avoidance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eloy Revilla, Damian Ramos Fernandez, Alberto Fernandez-Gil, Agnieszka Sergiel, Nuria Selva, Javier Naves
Summary: Chemical communication is essential for brown bears, as they utilize glands and pedal marks to convey information at specific marking sites. Gender and age play different roles in this process, with adult males being the primary performers of marking behaviors. Behavior associations and repeated marking contribute to the establishment of long-term communication hubs at marking sites.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Vincenzo Penteriani, Cindy Lamamy, Ilpo Kojola, Samuli Heikkinen, Cedric Vermeulen, Maria del Mar Delgado
Summary: The study of brown bears revealed that movement patterns were primarily influenced by season and body weight, with subadult bears showing more marked intraindividual movements within their home ranges. Despite similarities in behavior between subadult and adult bears, different motivations and behavioral patterns still exist.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Thomas C. Thannickal, Jerome M. Siegel, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using orexin-A immunohistochemical staining, the nuclear parcellation of orexinergic neurons in the hypothalami of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee was described, revealing similarities to patterns observed in other mammals. The distribution of orexinergic neurons in the ape hypothalamus appears broader than in other primate species, with some differences observed in specific clusters. High density terminal networks were found within certain regions of the brain, typical for mammals, indicating a potentially significant role for orexinergic neurons in these areas.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Lea Roumazeilles, Frederik J. Lange, R. Austin Benn, Jesper L. R. Andersson, Mads F. Bertelsen, Paul R. Manger, Edmund Flach, Alexandre A. Khrapitchev, Katherine L. Bryant, Jerome Sallet, Rogier B. Mars
Summary: Comparative neuroimaging of ring-tailed lemurs, black-capped squirrel monkeys, and rhesus macaques revealed differences in frontal projections and white matter architecture. The results suggest that squirrel monkeys and rhesus macaques have expanded frontal projections compared to ring-tailed lemurs, while ring-tailed lemurs have reduced connectivity in the parietal region. Furthermore, squirrel monkeys have a specific occipito-parietal anatomy.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry, the study describes the nuclear parcellation of the cholinergic system in the brains of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee, showing similarities and differences compared to humans. Notable variations of cholinergic neuronal distribution in apes compared to other primates may relate to the differing modes of locomotion. Additionally, soma volume differences in specific nuclei suggest a relationship with the adult derivatives of the alar and basal plate across mammalian species.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Through the analysis of immunohistochemically stained sections, the study details the morphology and nuclear parcellation of serotonergic neurons in the brainstem of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee. While the neuronal morphology and nuclear organization of the serotonergic system in these apes closely resemble that of other primates, a unique expansion in the lateral division of the dorsal raphe nucleus was observed in the chimpanzee.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina Lynggaard, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Casper Jensen, Matthew S. Johnson, Tobias Guldberg Froslev, Morten Tange Olsen, Kristine Bohmann
Summary: Biodiversity monitoring at the community scale is critical for understanding the impacts of environmental and human activities on natural ecosystems. This study demonstrates that airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) can be a powerful tool for studying and monitoring terrestrial vertebrate communities. The researchers collected air samples from different locations in a zoo and used eDNA analysis to detect diverse vertebrate species. They found that the distance to the sampling device and animal biomass influenced the detection probability.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Henrik H. Petersen, Rikke Stenbak, Camilla Blaabjerg, Anne K. H. Krogh, Mads F. Bertelsen, Peter Buss, Peter M. H. Heegaard
Summary: Objective disease markers are in high demand for southern white rhinoceros. The study developed an ELISA to quantify haptoglobin in white rhinoceros serum, which can serve as a reliable biomarker of disease. The assay demonstrated precision, sensitivity to free hemoglobin, and significant increase in inflammatory disease.
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Illke B. Malungo, Reabetswe Mokale, Mads F. Bertelsen, Paul R. Manger
Summary: This study provides an analysis of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and orexinergic neuronal populations in the brain of the lesser hedgehog tenrec. The cholinergic system shows the most variation, while the other systems are broadly similar to those observed in other mammals. The lesser hedgehog tenrec has a significant mesencephalic flexure in its brain, which is not present in the greater otter shrew. This suggests either complex parallel evolution or a need to re-examine the classification of the Potomogalidae lineage.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric R. Schuppe, Lindsey Cantin, Mukta Chakraborty, Matthew T. Biegler, Electra R. Jarvis, Chun-Chun Chen, Erina Hara, Mads F. Bertelsen, Christopher C. Witt, Erich D. Jarvis, Matthew J. Fuxjager
Summary: A study found that except for woodpeckers, there is little evidence of gene expression specializations related to vocal learning in the brains of other non-learning bird lineages. Woodpeckers have forebrain regions similar to the song nuclei of vocal learning birds. These brain nuclei in male woodpeckers show increased expression of immediate early genes during their elaborate bill-hammering behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Demi Oddes, Ayanda Ngwenya, Illke B. Malungo, Anita Burkevica, Therese Hard, Mads F. Bertelsen, Muhammad A. Spocter, D. Michael Scantlebury, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using orexin-A immunohistochemistry, the distribution, morphology, and nuclear parcellation of orexinergic neurons in the hypothalami of Asiatic lions, African lions, and Southeast African cheetahs were studied. The clustering and distribution of orexinergic neurons in these felids appear to be more complex than in other mammals.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Line Kristensen, Juliana Q. Zardo, Sofie M. Hansen, Mads F. Bertelsen, Aage K. O. Alstrup, Tobias Wang, Catherine J. A. Williams
Summary: Giving turtles atropine reduces the minimum anaesthetic concentration of isoflurane, and propofol can also reduce the required concentration of inhaled anaesthesia. These findings are important for the control of inhalant anaesthesia.
VETERINARY ANAESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie A. Bergeron, Soren Besenbacher, Jiao Zheng, Panyi Li, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Benoit Quintard, Joseph I. Hoffman, Zhipeng Li, Judy St Leger, Changwei Shao, Josefin Stiller, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Mikkel H. Schierup, Guojie Zhang
Summary: We sequenced and compared high-coverage genomes of 151 parent-offspring trios from 68 species of vertebrates and found that the per-generation mutation rate varies greatly among species, with males having higher rates than females in mammals and birds. We identified generation time, age at maturity, and species-level fecundity as key factors influencing this variation. Species with larger long-term effective population sizes tend to have lower mutation rates, supporting the drift barrier hypothesis. Domesticated animals with shorter generation times display exceptionally high yearly mutation rates, emphasizing the importance of generation time in mutation rate evolution.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Anita Wittwer, Marco Roller, Dennis W. H. Mueller, Mads F. Bertelsen, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Beatrice Steck, Rebecca Biddle, Lars Versteege, Marcus Clauss
Summary: Zoo animal husbandry is a skill that needs constant development to improve animal survivorship. Species at higher risk of extinction in the wild may face greater difficulties in zoo conditions. This study found that the survival rates of black, greater one-horned, and white rhinos in zoos were consistent with their extinction risk status. The survivorship of black and white rhinos has significantly improved over time, while the greater one-horned rhino's survivorship stagnated.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
N. P. Sunil-Chandra, Asa Fahlman, Shantha Waidyarathna, Jonas Naslund, M. V. M. L. Jayasundara, Lwande Olivia Wesula, Goran Bucht
Summary: The study in Sri Lanka provides important insights into the occurrence and transmission of orthohantaviruses and leptospira in small mammals. It highlights the potential reservoir hosts and dual infections in rats, contributing to the understanding of the occupational risk of orthohantavirus infections and leptospirosis.
ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK
(2022)
Article
Biology
Marc Palmada-Flores, Joseph D. Orkin, Bettina Haase, Jacquelyn Mountcastle, Mads F. Bertelsen, Olivier Fedrigo, Lukas F. K. Kuderna, Erich D. Jarvis, Tomas Marques-Bonet
Summary: Researchers have generated a new high-quality reference genome assembly for the ring-tailed lemur, which is of great significance for the study of this species and related species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richard M. Gunner, Rory P. Wilson, Mark D. Holton, Phil Hopkins, Stephen H. Bell, Nikki J. Marks, Nigel C. Bennett, Sam Ferreira, Danny Govender, Pauli Viljoen, Angela Bruns, O. Louis van Schalkwyk, Mads F. Bertelsen, Carlos M. Duarte, Martin C. van Rooyen, Craig J. Tambling, Aoife Goppert, Delmar Diesel, D. Michael Scantlebury
Summary: The combined use of GPS technology and motion sensors in movement ecology has increased in recent years. However, the precision and accuracy of GPS loggers depend on animal behavior. This study presents a movement-verified filtering protocol that compares GPS-derived speed data with dynamic body acceleration to accurately identify genuine traveling movement. The findings demonstrate the importance of this protocol in avoiding inaccurate and biased estimates of movement.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)
