Predicting seasonal and spatial variations in diet quality of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Gálvez‐Cerón, Arturo; Serrano, Emmanuel; Bartolomé, Jordi; Mentaberre, Gregorio; Fernández-Aguilar, Xavier; Fernández-Sirera, Laura; Navarro-González, Nora; Gassó, Diana; López‐Olvera, Jorge Ramón; Lavı́n, Santiago; Marco, Ignasi; Albanell, Elena

doi:10.1007/s10344-012-0672-9

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The Pyrenean chamois ( Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica ) is a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate that experiences much of the previously mentioned characteristics linked to male-biased parasitism. In this caprinae, rut begins at the end of October and lasts until December [ 8 ] coinciding with a period of diet impoverishment [ 9 ]. In addition, seasonal changes in androgen metabolites match the sexual cycle of this mammal, and an increase in lung nematode load in males [ 10 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male-biased gastrointestinal parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate

et al. 2015

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BackgroundPyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) is a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate with an unbiased sex-specific overwinter adult survival. Few differences in gastrointestinal parasitism have been reported by coprology as yet. This study aims to assess diversity, prevalence, intensity of infection and aggregation of gastrointestinal nematodes in male and female adult chamois. We expect no differences in the parasite infection rates between sexes.FindingsGastrointestinal tracts of 28 harvested Pyrenean chamois in the Catalan Pyrenees (autumn 2012 and 2013) were necropsied and sexual differences in the diversity and structure of parasite community, prevalence, intensity of infection, and richness were investigated. We found 25 helminth species belonging to 13 different genera.ConclusionsContrary to our expectations, male chamois showed different parasite communities, higher prevalence, intensity of infection and richness than females. Such sexual differences were clear irrespective of age of individuals. Hence, male chamois must cope with a more diverse and abundant parasite community than females, without apparent biological cost. Further research will be required to confirm this hypothesis.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male-biased gastrointestinal parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate

et al. 2015

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“…Though winter cumulative snowfalls in these ecosystems show great interannual variation, episodes of heavy snow falls affecting chamois populations tend to occur at least once every 10 years ( Capurro et al, 1997 ; Rughetti et al, 2011 ; Willisch et al, 2013 ). In addition, early summer conditions determine chamois population dynamics through their effect on diet quality ( Gálvez-Cerón et al, 2013 ; Villamuelas et al, 2015 ), body growth, reproductive success, and survival ( Garel et al, 2011b ).…”

Section: Environmental Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%

Border Disease Virus: An Exceptional Driver of Chamois Populations Among Other Threats

et al. 2015

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Though it is accepted that emerging infectious diseases are a threat to planet biodiversity, little information exists about their role as drivers of species extinction. Populations are also affected by natural catastrophes and other pathogens, making it difficult to estimate the particular impact of emerging infectious diseases. Border disease virus genogroup 4 (BDV-4) caused a previously unreported decrease in populations of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) in Spain. Using a population viability analysis, we compared probabilities of extinction of a virtual chamois population affected by winter conditions, density dependence, keratoconjunctivitis, sarcoptic mange, and BD outbreaks. BD-affected populations showed double risk of becoming extinct in 50 years, confirming the exceptional ability of this virus to drive chamois populations.

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“…() retrieved using near infrared spectroscopy (Gálvez‐Cerón et al. ) on faecal samples of the same individuals in 2011, showed that, during the mating season, territorial males fed on much higher‐quality forage than did non‐territorial males (crude protein: 12.3% vs. 9.7%, respectively). In addition, despite a consistent decreasing trend in forage quality from June onwards – likely due to plant phenology – the mean percentage of crude protein registered for territorial males during the rut remained similar (but with a slight increase) to that registered in the pre‐rut (12.2%) (Corlatti et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting Alternative Hypotheses to Explain Rut‐Induced Hypophagia in Territorial Male Chamois

Corlatti

Bassano

2013

Ethology

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Male ungulates in temperate environments often show a severe reduction in time spent foraging during the mating season. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon but, so far, no study investigated the proximate mechanisms underlying rut-induced hypophagia in ungulates using alternative mating tactics (AMTs). Between the pre-rut and post-rut of 2011 and 2012, we collected data on activity budgets, parasite burden and androgen levels of territorial and non-territorial male Alpine chamois Rupicapra r. rupicapra in the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy). We aimed to investigate whether AMTs showed similar reduction in time spent foraging during the mating period and to test the predictions underlying alternative hypotheses that may explain rut-induced hypophagia. Only territorial males showed a significant reduction in time spent foraging during the rut; the lack of correlation between proportion of time spent foraging and androgen metabolites or parasite burden did not fully support the physiological and the parasite hypotheses, while the foraging constraint, the energy-saving and the physical rest hypotheses could not be discounted. Territorial males decreased the time spent lying down from the pre-rut to the rut, but not their foraging-to-lying-down ratio. During the mating period, we found negative correlations between time spent foraging or lying down and time spent rutting. Our data suggest that territorial males' behaviour is more consistent with the foraging constraint hypothesis than with the energy-saving hypothesis previously suggested. Yet, during the rut territorial males did not maximise their foraging time, and the optimisation of their energy balance could rather depend upon feeding on relatively high-quality plants. This suggestion -possibly named 'forage quality hypothesis' -now requires further investigations. This work showed that alternative mating behaviours may underlie different patterns of foraging strategies: we suggest that tests of alternative hypotheses to explain rut-induced hypophagia within ungulate populations should not ignore the occurrence of AMTs.

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Predicting seasonal and spatial variations in diet quality of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Cited by 28 publications

References 25 publications

Male-biased gastrointestinal parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate

Male-biased gastrointestinal parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mountain ungulate

Border Disease Virus: An Exceptional Driver of Chamois Populations Among Other Threats

Contrasting Alternative Hypotheses to Explain Rut‐Induced Hypophagia in Territorial Male Chamois

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