Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah N. Sells, Cecily M. Costello, Paul M. Lukacs, Lori L. Roberts, Milan A. Vinks
Summary: Habitat and corridor mapping are crucial for conservation programs. This study used integrated step selection functions (iSSFs) developed from GPS-collared grizzly bears to predict areas of connectivity and evaluate conservation goals in the US.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna Klees van Bommel, Catherine Sun, Adam T. Ford, Melissa Todd, A. Cole Burton
Summary: The urban-wildland interface is expanding and increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict. In this study, we investigated black bear habitat use in a North American hotspot of conflict and found that bears modify their behaviors by avoiding humans in space and time, but conflicts still occur in summer and autumn.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jason I. Ransom, Andrea L. Lyons, Katherine C. Hegewisch, Meade Krosby
Summary: As Earth faces a crisis of biodiversity loss, reintroduction of imperiled species has become an important tool toward mitigating extirpation. Current habitat quality for a reintroduced species may change dramatically under future climate scenarios, undermining or supporting species conservation efforts. Models designed to understand such change must consider the niche plasticity of a species to assess the costs and benefits of reintroduction.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Don W. Hardeman Jr, Hannah B. Vander Zanden, J. Walter McCown, Brian K. Scheick, Robert A. McCleery
Summary: Growing human populations and development have led to increased conflicts between humans and carnivores, especially bears. Wildlife managers often remove bears from developed areas under the assumption that they will become food conditioned and more likely to cause conflicts. However, our study using isotopic values of bear hair found that the presence of bears in developed areas does not necessarily indicate food conditioning. Therefore, assumptions about bears in developed areas should not be made based solely on observations of their behavior.
Article
Virology
Arturo Oliver-Guimera, Alzbeta Hejtmankova, Kenneth Jackson, Patricia A. Pesavento
Summary: Polyomaviruses are ancient DNA viruses that infect various species of animals. Black bears are the natural hosts for Ursus americanus polyomavirus 1 (UaPyV1), with the virus detected in tissues of six out of seven bears submitted for examination. However, there is currently no evidence of a specific disease associated with UaPyV1 infection in this small group of bears.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Lauren H. Henson, Niko Balkenhol, Robert Gustas, Megan Adams, Jennifer Walkus, William G. Housty, Astrid Stronen, Jason Moody, Christina Service, Donald Reece, Bridgett M. VonHoldt, Iain McKechnie, Ben F. Koop, Chris T. Darimont
Summary: Landscape genetic analyses of grizzly bear populations in coastal British Columbia, Canada, revealed the possible effects of complex landscape and human influences on genetic structure. The study found spatial alignment between Indigenous language families and grizzly bear genetic groups, suggesting that people and wildlife populations may have been shaped by the landscape in similar ways. This research provides new genetic evidence to support locally led management of grizzly bears in the future.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2021)
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
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavio Augusto da Silva Coelho, Stephanie Gill, Crystal M. Tomlin, Marilena Papavassiliou, Sean D. Farley, Joseph A. Cook, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Timothy H. Heaton, Sandra L. Talbot, Charlotte Lindqvist
Summary: During the Late Pleistocene, there were ice sheets covering parts of North America. However, it is unclear whether ice-free refugia existed in the Alexander Archipelago along the SE Alaska coast during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Genetic analyses of black and brown bears in SE Alaska show that there were two subclades of black bears, one preglacial and one postglacial, that diverged over 100,000 years ago. Ancient brown bears are closely related to modern brown bears in the archipelago, suggesting colonization after the LGM. These findings suggest that there were no refugia in SE Alaska during the LGM, but vegetation quickly expanded after deglaciation.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
N. Jane Harms, Meghan Larivee, Brad Scandrett, Don Russell
Summary: Trichinella spp. nematodes in bear species pose health risks to humans when larvae are ingested in meat. The prevalence and intensity of infection vary between black bears and grizzly bears in the Yukon area of Canada, highlighting the importance of communicating the health risks to those consuming bear meat.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Elise A. Loggers, Andrea R. Litt, Frank T. van Manen, Mark A. Haroldson, Kerry A. Gunther
Summary: As outdoor recreation increases and people venture farther into wildland areas, it becomes more difficult for animals to avoid humans. Restricting human access to wildlife habitats can be an effective tool in mitigating the impact of human recreational activities, but its efficacy is rarely evaluated. A study in Yellowstone National Park found that grizzly bears selectively choose areas designated as bear management areas (BMAs) regardless of whether human access is restricted or not, based on availability of food resources and season.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
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
Parasitology
Stefano Catalano, Manigandan Lejeune, Bradley van Paridon, Christopher A. Pagan, James D. Wasmuth, Paolo Tizzani, Padraig J. Duignan, Steven A. Nadler
JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Immunology
Stefano Catalano, Mariama Sene, Nicolas D. Diouf, Cheikh B. Fall, Anna Borlase, Elsa Leger, Khalilou Ba, Joanne P. Webster
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
P. Tizzani, S. Catalano, L. Rossi, P. J. Duignan, A. Menzano, P. G. Meneguz
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2014)
Article
Parasitology
Stefano Catalano, Khalilou Ba, Nicolas D. Diouf, Elsa Leger, Guilherme G. Verocai, Joanne P. Webster
Article
Parasitology
Stefano Catalano, Manigandan Lejeune, Guilherme G. Verocai, Padraig J. Duignan
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2014)
Article
Ecology
Stefano Catalano, Steven A. Nadler, Cheikh B. Fall, Kirsty J. Marsh, Elsa Leger, Mariama Sene, Simon L. Priestnall, Chelsea L. Wood, Nicolas D. Diouf, Khalilou Ba, Joanne P. Webster
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2019)
Article
Parasitology
Stefano Catalano, Amelia Symeou, Kirsty J. Marsh, Anna Borlase, Elsa Leger, Cheikh B. Fall, Mariama Sene, Nicolas D. Diouf, Davide Ianniello, Giuseppe Cringoli, Laura Rinaldi, Khalilou Ba, Joanne P. Webster
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Cheikh B. Fall, Sebastien Lambert, Elsa Leger, Lucy Yasenev, Amadou Djirmay Garba, Samba D. Diop, Anna Borlase, Stefano Catalano, Babacar Faye, Martin Walker, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: Recent research has shown the prevalence of viable zoonotic hybrids between human urogenital Schistosoma haematobium and intestinal Schistosoma species of livestock across Africa and beyond, with implications for host morbidity.
Article
Parasitology
Jerzy M. Behnke, Alex Stewart, Lesley Smales, Gemma Cooper, Ann Lowe, John M. Kinsella, Anna Bajer, Dorota Dwuznik-Szarek, Jeremy Herman, Jonathan Fenn, Stefano Catalano, Christophe A. Diagne, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: The study examined Oxyurid nematodes from bank and field voles in the British Isles, providing genetic signatures of new isolates and confirming S. nigeriana as a parasite of both bank and field voles. Additionally, related Syphacia species were found in Mastomys spp. from West Africa, indicating a wide distribution of parasitic nematodes among rodent genera.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Borlase, James W. Rudge, Elsa Leger, Nicolas D. Diouf, Cheikh B. Fall, Samba D. Diop, Stefano Catalano, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster
Summary: The study focused on unraveling the transmission dynamics of parasite hybrids in northern Senegal, demonstrating the potential for the spread of hybrid schistosomiasis and the relationship between parasite transmission in cattle and human populations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel A. Zarate-Rendon, Michelle N. Salazar-Espinoza, Stefano Catalano, Caroline Sobotyk, Ana Patricia Mendoza, Marieke Rosenbaum, Guilherme Verocai
Summary: Species of the genus Dipetalonema, including Dipetalonema gracile and Dipetalonema yatesi, infect the peritoneal cavity of black-faced spider monkeys. A molecular analysis confirmed D. yatesi as a distinct species and provided insights into the phylogenetic relationships within this filarioid genus of Neotropical primates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stefano Catalano, Valentina La Morgia, Anna Rita Molinar Min, Angela Fanelli, Pier Giuseppe Meneguz, Paolo Tizzani
Summary: The introduction of alien species poses a major threat to biodiversity conservation, driven by human activities. This study focuses on the long-term effects of introducing an alien lagomorph on the native lagomorph community, particularly examining how exotic parasites from the alien species alter the parasite community of native species. Understanding the evolution and impact of these specific parasite communities and alien pathogens in new geographic areas is crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elsa Leger, Anna Borlase, Cheikh B. Fall, Nicolas D. Diouf, Samba D. Diop, Lucy Yasenev, Stefano Catalano, Cheikh T. Thiam, Alassane Ndiaye, Aidan Emery, Alice Morrell, Muriel Rabone, Momar Ndao, Babacar Faye, David Rollinson, James W. Rudge, Mariama Sene, Joanne P. Webster
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Stefano Catalano, Elsa Leger, Cheikh B. Fall, Anna Borlase, Samba D. Diop, Duncan Berger, Bonnie L. Webster, Babacar Faye, Nicolas D. Diouf, David Rollinson, Mariama Sene, Khalilou Ba, Joanne P. Webster
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)