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Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2024) | Viewed by 8565

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Stefano Focardi

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Guest Editor

Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi del CNR, via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: movement ecology; population dynamics; social behaviour; statistical modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ungulates are now considered a heterogeneous group of species characterised by the presence of hooves and by a prevalent herbivorous diet. For the purposes of this Special Issue, the word “ungulates” is restricted to the terrestrial forms of Cetartiodactyla, including hippos, and to Perissodactyla. According to the IUCN Red List, most of these species are least-concern or near-threatened (almost 50%), but at least 35% of species present problems of conservation. Indeed, several species of ungulates are considered overabundant and causing economic concerns. This Special Issue provides the opportunity to investigate the population dynamics of this group of species (almost 300) which are present in all continents except Antarctica.

In this Special Issue, we welcome both theoretical and empirical studies on ungulate population dynamics. Topics and areas of interest include but are not limited to age- and stage-population models, population trends, density dependence, inter- and intra-specific competition, facilitation, trophic webs, predation, as well as population conservation and management. Any spatial and temporal scale of analysis is appropriate, but multiscale analyses are especially welcome. Evolutionary patterns and selective forces shaping population dynamic of ungulates are of utmost interest for the Special Issue. Methodological papers, reviews, and critical notes are also of interest.

Studies should not be purely descriptive but explicitly test work hypotheses and be embedded in up-to-date literature.

Dr. Stefano Focardi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

population dynamics
bovids
cervids
mathematical models
interspecific competition
stable age distribution
environmental stochasticity
demographic stochasticity
survival
dispersal
migration
demographic rates
elasticity
population assessment
individually based models
extinction

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Population and Conservation Status of Bighorn Sheep in the State of Baja California, Mexico

by Guillermo Romero-Figueroa, Enrique de Jesús Ruiz-Mondragón, Eahsan Shahriary, Carlos Yee-Romero, Aldo Antonio Guevara-Carrizales, Rafael Paredes-Montesinos, Jesús Miguel Corrales-Sauceda, Israel Guerrero-Cárdenas and Raul Valdez

Animals 2024, 14(3), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030504 - 3 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1060

Abstract

The bighorn sheep in Mexico is classified as at-risk by the Mexican federal government. In the state of Baja California, wild sheep can be observed throughout the length of the state from the USA–Mexico border south to the Agua de Soda mountain range. This research aimed to document the historical trend of the bighorn population based on aerial surveys conducted in 1992, 1995, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and the abundance, distribution, and structure of bighorn sheep populations in Baja California, based on an aerial survey conducted from 8–14 November 2021, covering thirteen mountain ranges. The estimated sheep population in 2021 was based on the number of individuals observed; the sightability of the animals; the area sampled; and the total area of habitat available. In 30.5 flight hours, 456 bighorn sheep were observed, with an estimated population of 1697 ± 80 individuals. The observation rate was 16 sheep sighted per hour of flight, and the ram:ewe:lamb ratio was 62:100:19. When the results of the 2021 flight were compared to the results of the previous aerial surveys, there was a large variation between the data, which was related to the lack of consistency between the sampling designs used in each study. Nevertheless, a statistical test of the results of aerial surveys conducted in the state suggest that the Baja California bighorn sheep population remained stable between 1992 and 2021. This study highlights the need to standardize wild sheep aerial surveys by defining flight paths and establishing a consistent duration of flights. On the other hand, Baja California authorities should consider modifying the current conservation strategy for bighorn sheep to increase the species’ population in the state by initiating community-based wildlife conservation programs in rural communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation)

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20 pages, 5886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Potential Super-Spreaders and Disease Transmission Hotspots Using White-Tailed Deer Scraping Networks

by Scoty Hearst, Miranda Huang, Bryant Johnson and Elijah Rummells

Animals 2023, 13(7), 1171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071171 - 26 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1750

Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, WTD) spread communicable diseases such the zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which is a major public health concern, and chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal, highly contagious prion disease occurring in cervids. Currently, it is not well understood how WTD are spreading these diseases. In this paper, we speculate that “super-spreaders” mediate disease transmission via direct social interactions and indirectly via body fluids exchanged at scrape sites. Super-spreaders are infected individuals that infect more contacts than other infectious individuals within a population. In this study, we used network analysis from scrape visitation data to identify potential super-spreaders among multiple communities of a rural WTD herd. We combined local network communities to form a large region-wide social network consisting of 96 male WTD. Analysis of WTD bachelor groups and random network modeling demonstrated that scraping networks depict real social networks, allowing detection of direct and indirect contacts, which could spread diseases. Using this regional network, we model three major types of potential super-spreaders of communicable disease: in-degree, out-degree, and betweenness potential super-spreaders. We found out-degree and betweenness potential super-spreaders to be critical for disease transmission across multiple communities. Analysis of age structure revealed that potential super-spreaders were mostly young males, less than 2.5 years of age. We also used social network analysis to measure the outbreak potential across the landscape using a new technique to locate disease transmission hotspots. To model indirect transmission risk, we developed the first scrape-to-scrape network model demonstrating connectivity of scrape sites. Comparing scrape betweenness scores allowed us to locate high-risk transmission crossroads between communities. We also monitored predator activity, hunting activity, and hunter harvests to better understand how predation influences social networks and potential disease transmission. We found that predator activity significantly influenced the age structure of scraping communities. We assessed disease-management strategies by social-network modeling using hunter harvests or removal of potential super-spreaders, which fragmented WTD social networks reducing the potential spread of disease. Overall, this study demonstrates a model capable of predicting potential super-spreaders of diseases, outlines methods to locate transmission hotspots and community crossroads, and provides new insight for disease management and outbreak prevention strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation)

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15 pages, 2955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feeding Ecology of the Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri, Ogilby, 1841) in the Sahara Desert

by F. Javier Herrera-Sánchez, Omar López, Javier Rodríguez-Siles, Miguel Ángel Díaz-Portero, Ángel Arredondo, Juan Manuel Sáez, Begoña Álvarez, Inmaculada Cancio, Jesús de Lucas, Joaquín Pérez, Gerardo Valenzuela, Jaime Martínez-Valderrama, Mariola Sánchez-Cerdá, Abdeljebbar Qninba, Emilio Virgós, Juan Antonio Calleja, Jordi Bartolomé, Elena Albanell, Emmanuel Serrano, Teresa Abáigar and Jose María Gil-Sánchez Show full author list Hide full author list

Animals 2023, 13(4), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040567 - 6 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1968

Abstract

Knowledge of the feeding ecology of ungulates in arid biomes offers an interesting model for understanding the drought resistance of large desert-adapted herbivores, a crucial issue in the face of increasing desertification due to climate change. To assess the feeding ecology of the endangered Cuvier’s gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) in the Sahara desert, we used a multi-method approach combining faecal samples, direct observations, and the recording of indirect signs of feeding. We hypothesised that browser behaviour is the best foraging strategy for species living in hyper-arid environments, mainly due to long periods without grazing opportunities. Complementarily, we explored the effects of the main environmental descriptors (rainfalls and NDVI) on feeding patterns and diet quality. We found that Cuvier’s diets are based mainly on acacias (Vachellia tortilis, V. flava) and occasionally on the annual forb Anastatica hierochuntica. In total, eighteen species (five trees, nine shrubs, three herbs, and one grass) belonging to fifteen families were recorded. Our result confirmed the browsers’ characteristic of this species, reaffirming its ability to settle in a hostile environment. Acacias stand out as key species consumed at the southernmost limit of their range; hence, future conservation plans and strategies should take this into account for the survival of Cuvier’s gazelle in desert environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation)

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12 pages, 2179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Relative Abundance of Ungulates and Other Medium and Large Mammals in Flooded Forests in the Dahomey Gap (Togo)

by Gabriel Hoinsoudé Segniagbeto, Kokouvi Gbétey Akpamou, Yawo Konko, John Kokou Toviho Gaglo, Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh, Daniele Dendi, Julia Elizabeth Fa and Luca Luiselli

Animals 2022, 12(21), 3041; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213041 - 4 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1652

Abstract

“The Dahomey Gap” is a human-derived mostly savannah region that separates the Guineo-Congolian rainforest block into two major units: the Upper Guinean and the Lower Guinean Forest blocks. Several forest patches are distributed throughout this savannah-dominated habitat. The mammal communities in the Dahomey Gap region have been poorly studied. In this paper we analyse the species richness and abundance of, as well as conservation implications for, medium and large mammals (especially ungulates) inhabiting a complex of flooded forests near the Mono river in south-eastern Togo. We use several field methods to describe the species richness of mammals in this area, including camera-trapping, recce transects, Kilometric Index of Abundance (KIA) estimates, examination of hunters’ catches and face-to-face hunter interviews. Overall, we directly recorded 19 species that coexist in these forests. Based on interviews, nine other species were confirmed as present in the study area. Only five species were common: Cephalophus rufilatus, Tragelaphus scriptus, Chlorocebus aethiops, Atilax paludinosus and Herpestes ichneumon. The area still contains various threatened species such as Tragelaphus spekii and Hippopotamus amphibius. We stress that to ensure the protection of the Dahomey Gap mammals, it is important to seriously consider protecting not only the forest patches but also the surroundings, mainly savannah landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation)

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Review

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15 pages, 1387 KiB

Open AccessReview

Saving the Last West African Giraffe Population: A Review of Its Conservation Status and Management

by Kateřina Gašparová, Julian Fennessy, Abdoul Razack Moussa Zabeirou, Ali Laouel Abagana, Thomas Rabeil and Karolína Brandlová

Animals 2024, 14(5), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050702 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1069

Abstract

The West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) was historically spread across much of the Sudano-Sahelian zone but is now restricted to Niger. Several factors resulted in their dramatic decline during the late 20th century. In 1996, only 49 individuals remained, concentrated in the ‘Giraffe Zone’. Conservation activities implemented by the Government of Niger, supported by local communities and NGOs, facilitated their population numbers to increase. This review summarizes past and present conservation activities and evaluates their impact to advise and prioritize future conservation actions for the West African giraffe. The long-term conservation of the West African giraffe is highly dependent on the local communities who live alongside them, as well as supplementary support from local and international partners. Recent conservation initiatives range from community-based monitoring to the fitting of GPS satellite tags to better understand their habitat use, spatial movements to expansion areas, and environmental education to the establishment of the first satellite population of West African giraffe in Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve, the latter serving as a flagship for the future restoration of large mammal populations in West Africa. The integration of modern technologies and methods will hopefully provide better-quality data, improved spatial analyses, and greater understanding of giraffe ecology to inform the long-term management of West African giraffe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ungulate Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Conservation)

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