The effect of vegetation cover on vigilance and foraging tactics in the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus

Tchabovsky, A.V.; Krasnov, Boris R.; Khokhlova, Irina S.; Shenbrot, Georgy I.

doi:10.1007/s101640170006

Cited by 58 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Small mammals perceive dense vegetation as good protection [75] since the reduction of vegetation cover exposes small mammals to increased predation risk [44], [76], [77]. Thus, our results suggest that habitats without cattle, therefore with more grass and shrub cover, could be considered as better quality habitats with a higher protection from predators and therefore lower FCM values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Are Motorways Potential Stressors of Roadside Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Populations?

et al. 2014

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Linear infrastructures represent one of the most important human impacts on natural habitats and exert several effects on mammal populations. Motorways are recognized as a major cause of habitat fragmentation and degradation and of biodiversity loss. However, it is unknown whether motorways lead to increased physiological stress reactions in wild animal populations. We analysed faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in wild populations of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) living in a well-preserved Mediterranean agro-pastoral woodland at different distances (verge, 500 m and 1000 m) from the AP-51 motorway in Spain. Wood mice were captured with Sherman live traps, and fresh faecal samples from 424 individuals were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. The quantification of FCM was performed by a 5α-pregnane-3β,11β, 21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassay. Results showed that females had higher FCM levels than males, and these levels were higher in breeding females. In addition, FCM levels were positively correlated with body weight of individuals. Wood mice captured where cattle were present showed higher FCM levels than individuals living where cattle were not detected. FCM levels were higher in non-breeding individuals living close to the motorway compared with FCM levels in those individuals captured further from the motorway. This is the first study showing evidence of the motorways' impact on physiological stress reactions in wild wood mice populations. Understanding how free-living animals are influenced by human interventions could help to understand other subtle changes observed in wild animal populations. Since mice are used world-wide as research models these results could open new perspectives testing human influence on the natural environment and trade-offs of species in degraded ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Are Motorways Potential Stressors of Roadside Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Populations?

et al. 2014

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“…P. obesus , the most important reservoir host, is highly fastidious, feeding on wild plants and burrowing under their roots [16], [35]. This rodent does not adapt well to highly modified agricultural environments [3], [9], [36], [37], [38]. Sde Eliyahu receives at least twice as much rain-fall annually than most other L. major foci and is surrounded by agricultural fields (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Newly Emerged Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus in Northern Israel and Two New Reservoir Hosts of Leishmania major

Faiman¹,

Abbasi²,

Jaffe³

et al. 2013

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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In 2006/7, 18 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were reported for the first time from Sde Eliyahu (pop. 650), a village in the Beit She'an valley of Israel. Between 2007–2011, a further 88 CL cases were diagnosed bringing the total to 106 (16.3% of the population of Sde Eliyahu). The majority of cases resided in the south-western part of the village along the perimeter fence. The causative parasite was identified as Leishmania major Yakimoff & Schokhor, 1914 (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli), 1786 (Diptera: Psychodidae) was found to be the most abundant phlebotomine species comprising 97% of the sand flies trapped inside the village, and an average of 7.9% of the females were positive for Leishmania ITS1 DNA. Parasite isolates from CL cases and a sand fly were characterized using several methods and shown to be L. major. During a comprehensive survey of rodents 164 Levant voles Microtus guentheri Danford & Alston, 1880 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) were captured in alfalfa fields bordering the village. Of these 27 (16.5%) tested positive for Leishmania ITS1 DNA and shown to be L. major by reverse line blotting. A very high percentage (58.3% - 21/36) of Tristram's jirds Meriones tristrami Thomas, 1892 (Rodentia: Muridae), found further away from the village also tested positive for ITS1 by PCR. Isolates of L. major were successfully cultured from the ear of a wild jird found positive by ITS1 PCR. Although none of the wild PCR-positive voles exhibited external pathology, laboratory-reared voles that were infected by intradermal L. major inoculation, developed patent lesions and sand flies became infected by feeding on the ears of these laboratory-infected voles. This is the first report implicating M. guentheri and M. tristrami as reservoirs of Leishmania. The widespread co-distribution of M. guentheri and P. papatasi, suggests a significant threat from the spread of CL caused by L. major in the Middle East, central Asia and southern Europe.

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“…Prey perceive tall vegetation as good protection (Tchabovsky et al 2001) and the less-restricted movement could allow efficient foraging and easier contact with potential mates. Because low vegetation caused restricted spatial activity that may lessen the direct impact of predation; the success of pest rodent management relying only on the decrease of vegetation height may be partially offset.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of farming practices on spatial behaviour of common voles

Jacob

Hempel

2003

J Ethol

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This study aimed to reveal changes in spatial behaviour of common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) after alteration of their habitat by farming practices. Radio-collared common voles were tracked before and after mulching, mowing, harvesting wheat, and ploughing in the flood plain of the river Unstrut in central Germany. Voles undisturbed by agricultural practices were tracked on a mulchland, an abandoned pasture, and a cattle pasture. There was a large decrease in home-range size after harvesting wheat (96%, P < 0.001). Changes after mowing (-74%, P = 0.06) were almost significant whereas changes after mulching were not ( + 14%, P = 0.60). On the cattle pasture we found a decrease in home-range size (42%, P = 0.03) possibly due to increased spatial activity of cattle in autumn. There was a positive correlation of home-range size and vegetation height for plots with and without farming activity but no correlation with vegetation cover, population density, and breeding. Radio-collared common voles did not show evasive movements and farming practices did not cause a shift of centres of activity. Common voles clearly reacted to sudden changes in vegetation height, which may indicate an immediate response to predation risk.

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The effect of vegetation cover on vigilance and foraging tactics in the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus

Cited by 58 publications

References 37 publications

Are Motorways Potential Stressors of Roadside Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Populations?

Are Motorways Potential Stressors of Roadside Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Populations?

A Newly Emerged Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus in Northern Israel and Two New Reservoir Hosts of Leishmania major

Effects of farming practices on spatial behaviour of common voles

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