DOCSLIB.ORG

Foxes, Fleas, and Plague in New Mexico

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

720 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 48, no. 4 FOXES, FLEAS, AND PLAGUE IN NEW MEXICO ROBERT L. HARRISON,* MICHAEL J. PATRICK,** AND C. GREGORY SCHMITT Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 (RLH) Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona College, Altoona, PA 16601 (MJP) New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504 (CGS) * Correspondent: [email protected] ** Deceased ABSTRACT We identi®ed species of ¯eas found in New Mexico on kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis), swift foxes (V. velox), red foxes (V. vulpes), and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Pulex irritans and P. simulans were the ¯eas found most commonly. All species found, except 2, are known to carry plague, and we found ¯eas on foxes throughout New Mexico capable of carrying plague, which occurs in every county of New Mexico. Thus, every fox in New Mexico should be considered a potential carrier of plague. RESUMEN Identi®camos especies de pulgas encontradas en Nuevo MeÂxico en la zorra del de- sierto (Vulpes macrotis), la zorra de pradera (V. velox), la zorra roja (V. vulpes) y la zorra gris (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Pulex irritans y P. simulans fueron las pulgas maÂs frecuentemente halladas. Se sabe que todas las especies encontradas, excepto dos, transportan la plaga, y encontramos pulgas en zorros de todas partes de Nuevo MeÂxico capaces de trasportar la plaga, la cual puede ocurrir en cualquier condado de Nuevo MeÂxico. Entonces, cada zorro de Nuevo MeÂxico se debe considerar un portador potencial de la plaga. Foxes and other furbearers can have a vari- we describe all red foxes that we collected as V. ety of diseases and parasites (Addison et al., vulpes (Kamler and Ballard, 2002). 1987). Some furbearer diseases, such as We obtained fox specimens from roadkills, plague, murine typhus, tularemia, and salmo- United States Department of Agriculture Wild- nellosis, also affect humans and are associated life Services trappers, and private landowners. with ¯eas (Siphonaptera; Cheng, 1973). To in- Foxes were placed in plastic bags as soon as vestigate the risk of plague exposure to biolo- possible after death and were frozen until they gists, trappers, and others handling furbearers could be examined in the laboratory. Each fox in New Mexico, we collected and identi®ed was examined thoroughly for ¯eas using a ®ne- ¯eas from fox carcasses obtained by the New toothed comb. Flea species were identi®ed us- Mexico Department of Game and Fish from ing original descriptions and a key to the Si- 1996 through 1998. phonaptera of Utah by Stark (1958). We de- Four species of foxes occur in New Mexico posited voucher specimens in the Division of (Findley et al., 1975). The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis Arthropods, Museum of Southwestern Biology, Merriam) occurs west of the Pecos River in de- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. sert grassland and desert shrub habitats. The We examined 53 kit foxes, 30 swift foxes, 8 swift fox (Vulpes velox Say) occurs east of the Pe- red foxes, and 14 gray foxes. We obtained ¯eas cos River in shortgrass prairie habitats. The red from 36 kit foxes, 15 swift foxes, 4 red foxes, fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) occurs statewide, es- and 9 gray foxes. We collected a total of 422 pecially in montane and cropland habitats. The ¯eas from 64 foxes (Table 1). Some fox car- gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus Schreber) oc- casses did not have ¯eas. Fleas leave carcasses curs statewide, primarily in woodland and rocky after the death of hosts. Our lists of ¯ea species habitats. We note that the taxonomy of V. velox, might be incomplete for this reason. A few fox- V. macrotis, and V. vulpes is controversial. We fol- es might not have had ¯eas prior to death. The low Mercure et al. (1993) and describe V. velox intensity of ¯ea infestation (number of ¯eas per and V. macrotis as separate species. We did not individual fox) was low. The median (and distinguish native and nonnative red foxes, and range) numbers of ¯eas of all species per fox December 2003 Notes 721 TABLE 1ÐPercentage of hosts carrying ¯eas, median and range of numbers of ¯eas per host, and county in New Mexico where ¯eas were collected from kit foxes (n 5 36), swift foxes (n 5 15), red foxes (n 5 4), and gray foxes (n 5 9). Flea species % Median (range) Countya Kit fox: Cediopsylla inaequalis (Baker) 2.8 1.0 13 Euhoplopsyllus glacialis af®nis (Baker) 2.8 1.0 2 Foxella ignota apachina (C. Fox) 2.8 2.0 10 Orchopeas agilis (Rothschild) 2.8 1.0 2 Orchopeas caedens ( Jordan) 8.3 1.0 (1±1) 2, 5, 10 Oropsylla (Diamanus) montana (Baker) 2.8 1.0 10 Pleochaetis exilis ( Jordan) 5.6 1.0 (1±1) 4, 15 Pulex irritans (Linnaeus)b 58.3 2.0 (1±8) 2, 4, 9, 10, 16 Pulex simulans (Baker)b 27.8 1.0 (1±2) 2, 13 Pulex sp.c 75.0 2.0 (1±12) 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16 Stenistomera alpina (Baker) 2.8 6.0 10 Swift fox: Euhoplopsyllus glacialis af®nis (Baker) 13.3 1.5 (1±2) 7 Orchopeas agilis (Rothschild) 6.7 1.0 7 Orchopeas caedens ( Jordan) 6.7 3.0 7 Pulex irritans (Linnaeus)b 73.3 3.0 (1±11) 7, 12, 17 Pulex simulans (Baker)b 20.0 3.0 (1±4) 7 Pulex sp.c 86.7 7.0 (1±23) 6, 7, 12, 17 Red fox: Cediopsylla inaequalis inaequalis (Baker) 25.0 2.0 10 Euhoplopsyllus glacialis af®nis (Baker) 25.0 1.0 12 Pulex simulans (Baker)b 25.0 4.0 12 Pulex sp.c 50.0 3.0 (2±3) 12 Gray fox: Cediopsylla inaequalis (Baker) 22.2 2.0 (1±3) 13 Euhoplopsyllus glacialis af®nis (Baker) 22.2 2.0 (2±2) 11, 13 Pulex irritans (Linnaeus)b 11.1 1.0 1 Pulex simulans (Baker)b 33.3 1.0 (1±2) 7, 14 Pulex sp.c 77.8 3.0 (2±9) 3, 7, 11, 13, 14 a Counties: 1, Catron; 2, Chaves; 3, Colfax; 4, DeBaca; 5, Eddy; 6, Harding; 7, Lea; 8, Lincoln; 9, Luna; 10, McKinley; 11, Otero; 12, Roosevelt; 13, San Juan; 14, Santa Fe; 15, Socorro; 16, Torrance; 17, Union. b Numbers given are only for males of the species. c Numbers given are only for females of the species complex. were: kit fox 2 (1 to 21); swift fox 7 (1 to 37); agilis was formerly considered a subspecies of O. red fox 2 (1 to 7); and gray fox 4 (1 to 10). Two sexdentatus (Baker) (Hubbard, 1947), which has species, Pulex irritans (Linnaeus) and P. simulans been found to be naturally infected with plague (Baker), were the most common ¯eas collected. (K. Gage, Centers for Disease Control, Fort Col- There were no new records of occurrence of lins, Colorado, pers. comm.). We found ¯eas ca- ¯eas for New Mexico. Species richness of ¯eas pable of carrying plague on foxes from counties found upon the 4 fox species corresponded by throughout New Mexico, including 17 of 33 rank exactly with the number of ¯ea-infested counties in the state (Table 1). Plague might fox carcasses of each fox species (Table 1). occur in every county of New Mexico (P. Reyn- All of the ¯ea species that we found on foxes olds, New Mexico Department of Health, Santa are known to carry plague (Fagerlund et al., Fe, New Mexico, pers. comm.). 2001), with the exceptions of Orchopeas caedens People handling foxes in New Mexico ( Jordan) and O. agilis (Rothschild). Orchopeas should consider every fox as a potential carrier 722 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 48, no. 4 of plague. When handling foxes likely to have CHENG, T. C. 1973. General parasitology. Academic live ¯eas, we recommend dusting the foxes im- Press, New York. mediately with ¯ea powder containing pyre- FAGERLUND, R. A., P. L. FORD, AND P. J. POLECHLA,JR. thrins. Handlers should wear long sleeves, long 2001. New records for ¯eas (Siphonaptera) from New Mexico with notes on plague-carrying spe- pants, and double or heavy gloves, and handle cies. Southwestern Naturalist 46:94±96. foxes on a brightly-colored plastic sheet so that FINDLEY, J. A., A. H. HARRIS,D.E.WILSON, AND C. ¯eas are more easily seen. JONES. 1975. Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. We thank R. A. Fagerlund (Environmental Servic- HUBBARD, C. A. 1947. Fleas of western North Amer- es, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque) for as- ica. Iowa State College Press, Ames. sistance with species identi®cation and taxonomy, R. KAMLER,J.F.,AND W. B. BALLARD. 2002. A review of E. Lewis (Department of Entomology, Iowa State native and nonnative red foxes in North America. University, Ames) for information on fox ¯eas, and Wildlife Society Bulletin 30:370±379. D. Campagna and D. Sinah for technical assistance MERCURE, A., K. RALLS,K.P.KOEPFLI, AND R. K. in the laboratory. This project was funded in part by WAYNE. 1993. Genetic subdivisions among small the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and canids: mitochondrial DNA differentiation of Pennsylvania State University. swift, kit, and arctic foxes. Evolution 47:1313± 1328. LITERATURE CITED STARK, H. E. 1958. The Siphonaptera of Utah. Unit- ADDISON, E. M., I. K. BARKER, AND D. B. HUNTER. ed States Department of Health, Education, and 1987. Diseases and parasites of furbearers. In: No- Welfare, Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, vak, M., J. A. Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Mal- Georgia. loch, editors.
Recommended publications
  • Check List Lists of Species Check List 12(1): 1833, 24 January 2016 Doi: ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors

    Check List Lists of Species Check List 12(1): 1833, 24 January 2016 Doi: ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors

    12 1 1833 the journal of biodiversity data 24 January 2016 Check List LISTS OF SPECIES Check List 12(1): 1833, 24 January 2016 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.1.1833 ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors Carnivores (Mammalia) from areas of Nearctic–Neotropical transition in Puebla, central Mexico: presence, distribution, and conservation Osvaldo Eric Ramírez-Bravo1, 2* and Lorna Hernandez-Santin3 1 Durrell Institute for Conservation Ecology, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, England 2 Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Santa Catarina Mártir, Sin Número, Cholula, Puebla. CP. 72820, México 3 School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The Nearctic and Neotropical realms converge and Neotropical realms meet. Thus, Puebla contains in central Mexico, where many areas have not been a wide variety of habitats that range from semi-arid adequately characterized. Our objective was to revise to tropical rain forest, including cloud forests, oak the distribution and conservation status of carnivores in forests, pine forests, tropical dry forests, and xeric scrub the state of Puebla, central Mexico. Between September (Ramírez-Pulido et al. 2005). Elevation in the region 2008 and January 2011, we conducted interviews varies widely ranging from a minimum of 200 m on the and fieldwork on seven previously selected areas. We coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico up to a maximum of complemented our data with bibliographical research. 5,700 m at the Pico de Orizaba, with abrupt variations We obtained 733 records for 21 species, representing on its four different mountain ranges (Ramírez-Pulido 63% of the carnivores reported for Mexico.
  • Phylogeographic and Diversification Patterns of the White-Nosed Coati

    Phylogeographic and Diversification Patterns of the White-Nosed Coati

    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 131 (2019) 149–163 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Phylogeographic and diversification patterns of the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica): Evidence for south-to-north colonization of North America T ⁎ Sergio F. Nigenda-Moralesa, , Matthew E. Gompperb, David Valenzuela-Galvánc, Anna R. Layd, Karen M. Kapheime, Christine Hassf, Susan D. Booth-Binczikg, Gerald A. Binczikh, Ben T. Hirschi, Maureen McColginj, John L. Koprowskik, Katherine McFaddenl,1, Robert K. Waynea, ⁎ Klaus-Peter Koepflim,n, a Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA b School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA c Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, Mexico d Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA e Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA f Wild Mountain Echoes, Vail, AZ 85641, USA g New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY 12233, USA h Amsterdam, New York 12010, USA i Zoology and Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia j Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA k School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA l College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA m Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.
  • Coati, White-Nosed - Nasua Narica Page 1 of 19

    Coati, White-Nosed - Nasua Narica Page 1 of 19

    BISON-M - Coati, White-nosed - Nasua narica Page 1 of 19 Home Disclaimer Policy Close Window Booklet data last updated on 9/11/2009 Back Print Page Coati, White-nosed Note: If you have any questions, concerns or updates for this species, please click HERE and let us know. Tip: Use Ctrl-F on your keyboard to search for text in this Jump to Section: == Please Select == booklet. Taxonomy Back to top Species IDa 050165 Name Coati, White-nosed Other Common Coatimundi;Coati (Indian Names name);Pizote;El gato solo (Los gatos en familia);Chula;Chulo Category 05 Mammals Elcode AMAJE03010 BLM Code NANA Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia Subclass Theria Click here to search Google for images of this species. Order Carnivora SubOrder Fissipedia Predicted Habitat Family Procyonidae Genus Nasua Species narica Subspecies No Data Submitted Authority (Merriam) Scientific Name Nasua narica Account Type This account represents the entire species, including any and all subspecies recognized in http://bison-m.org/booklet.aspx?id=050165 4/11/2011 BISON-M - Coati, White-nosed - Nasua narica Page 2 of 19 the Southwest. There are no separate subspecies accounts relating to this species. Taxonomic 01, 02, 06, 16, 24, 26, References 33 Click here to explore the map further. Comments on Taxonomy The common Mexican coatimundi --Nasua nasua-- barely enters New Mexico, where it is rare and represented by but a single record *01*. This species is also known as Coati (Indian name), Pizote, El gato solo (Los gatos en familia), Chula, and Chulo (Hass, 1997) *33*. 9/23/93 -- Species name changed to N.
  • An Educator's Resource to Texas Mammal Skulls and Skins

    An Educator's Resource to Texas Mammal Skulls and Skins

    E4H-014 11/17 An Educator’s Resource to Texas Mammal Skulls and Skins for use in 4-H Wildlife Programs and FFA Wildlife Career Development Events By, Denise Harmel-Garza Program Coordinator I, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 4-H Photographer and coauthor, Audrey Sepulveda M.Ed. Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 2017 “A special thanks to the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections at Texas A&M University for providing access to their specimens.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating. Introduction Texas youth that participate in wildlife programs may be asked to identify a skull, skin, scat, tracks, etc. of an animal. Usually, educators must find this information and assemble pictures of skulls and skins from various sources. They also must ensure that what they find is relevant and accurate. Buying skulls and skins to represent all Texas mammals is costly. Most educators cannot afford them, and if they can, maintaining these collections over time is problematic. This study resource will reduce the time teachers across the state need to spend searching for information and allow them more time for presenting the material to their students. This identification guide gives teachers and students easy access to information that is accurate and valuable for learning to identify Texas mammals.
  • Coatimundi (Nasua Nasua)

    Coatimundi (Nasua Nasua)

    www.nonnativespecies.org For definitive identification, contact: [email protected] Coatimundi (Nasua nasua) Synonyms: - Coatis, Ring-tailed Coati, Coatis-mondis, Cwatimwndi (Welsh) Native to: South America Consignments likely to come from: unknown Identification difficulty : Easy Identification information: The coatimundi is similar in size to a small dog, weighing up to 5.5 kg and the head-to-tail length ranging from 80 to 130 cm with a little more than half the length being tail. It has short forelegs, long hind legs, black feet, a pointed snout with black fa- cial markings and a distinctive long, banded tail. It has a harsh red-brown and black coat which light- ens to yellow-brown on the underparts. Coatimundi walk with a bear-like gait. Key ID Features Banded tail, usually carried erect with Reddish-brown curled tip and black coat Black facial marking with white on chin and throat Black paws Long, pointed muzzle * * Coati swarm by j / f / photos, Creative Common BY-ND http://www.flickr.com/photos/good-karma/401110526/sizes/o/ Similar species Nasua nasua may be confused with other medium sized mammals but can be distinguished by its distinctive coat and tail. Coatimundi Nasua nasua) For comparison Coati by Olivier Duquesne, Creative Common BY-SA http://www.flickr.com/photos/daffyduke/3644277763/sizes/o/ Raccoon Distinctive dark Badger Body length Short tail with non-native eye patches Native 75 - 90 cm white tip (Procyon lotor) (Meles meles) Low to ground, short limbs No bands Body length on tail 40 - 70 cm Fur is grey Thick furry to black Black and white ringed tail face markings Red Fox Ears erect Native and pointed Red-brown (Vulpes vulpes) with black in colour backs Even length fore and hind limbs Tail long, thick and bushy, with no bands White and red face with pointed white muzzle Body length 90 - 120 cm Photos from: Ruthanne Annaloro, Danial Winchester, j / f / photos, Olivier Duquesne .
  • Museum of Natural History

    Museum of Natural History

    p m r- r-' ME FYF-11 - - T r r.- 1. 4,6*. of the FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE COMPARATIVE ECOLOGY OF BOBCAT, BLACK BEAR, AND FLORIDA PANTHER IN SOUTH FLORIDA David Steffen Maehr Volume 40, No. 1, pf 1-176 1997 == 46 1ms 34 i " 4 '· 0?1~ I. Al' Ai: *'%, R' I.' I / Em/-.Ail-%- .1/9" . -_____- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE Numbers of the BULLETIN OF THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY am published at irregular intervals Volumes contain about 300 pages and are not necessarily completed in any one calendar year. JOHN F. EISENBERG, EDITOR RICHARD FRANZ CO-EDIWR RHODA J. BRYANT, A£ANAGING EMOR Communications concerning purchase or exchange of the publications and all manuscripts should be addressed to: Managing Editor. Bulletin; Florida Museum of Natural Histoty, University of Florida P. O. Box 117800, Gainesville FL 32611-7800; US.A This journal is printed on recycled paper. ISSN: 0071-6154 CODEN: BF 5BAS Publication date: October 1, 1997 Price: $ 10.00 Frontispiece: Female Florida panther #32 treed by hounds in a laurel oak at the site of her first capture on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in central Collier County, 3 February 1989. Photograph by David S. Maehr. THE COMPARATIVE ECOLOGY OF BOBCAT, BLACK BEAR, AND FLORIDA PANTHER IN SOUTH FLORIDA David Steffen Maehri ABSTRACT Comparisons of food habits, habitat use, and movements revealed a low probability for competitive interactions among bobcat (Lynx ndia). Florida panther (Puma concotor cooi 1 and black bear (Urns amencanus) in South Florida. All three species preferred upland forests but ©onsumed different foods and utilized the landscape in ways that resulted in ecological separation.
  • Mammals of the Tres Marias Islands

    Mammals of the Tres Marias Islands

    MAMMALS OF MARIAS ISLANDS. THE TRES Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/naf/article-pdf/doi/10.3996/nafa.14.0002/2583808/nafa_14_0002.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 By E. W. NELSON. Mammals are not numerous either in species or individuals upon the Tres Marias. So far as known, they number but eleven species, of which seven are peculiar to the islands; one is introduced, and the other three are widely ranging bats. A sea lion and two species of porpoise were found near the shores, and whales were reported to occur during certain seasons. As with the birds, one of the most unaccountable features of the mammal fauna is the absence of a num- ber of species that are common on the aldjacentmainland. Considering the primitive condition of the islauds, it is difficult to explain the presence of field mice, the pigmy opossum, rabbit, and raccoon, while the large gray opwsum, nasua, skunk, fox, coyote, deer, peccary, squirrel, and various small rodents of the adjacent mainland remain unrepresented. The Tres Marias mouse was rather common above 200 feet on all of the larger islands; the rabbit was very numerous near the north end of Maria Madre, on San Juanito, and in some places on Maria Magdalena, and two species of bats were abundant in caves on Maria Madre. Aside from these species, mammals were uncommon and difficult to find. One cause of their general scarcity may be the very limited supply of permanent fresh water, and the absence of small species from a broad belt near the shore was easily accounted for by the abundance of carnivorous crabs.
  • Phylogenomic Systematics of the Spotted Skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale)

    Phylogenomic Systematics of the Spotted Skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale)

    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.23.353045; this version posted October 25, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Phylogenomic systematics of the spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale): 2 Additional species diversity and Pleistocene climate change as a major driver of 3 diversification 4 Molly M. McDonough*,†, Adam W. Ferguson*, Robert C. Dowler, Matthew E. Gompper, and 5 Jesús E. Maldonado 6 *-Equally contributing lead authors 7 †-Corresponding Author 8 Molly M. McDonough, Ph.D. 9 Chicago State University 10 Department of Biological Sciences 11 9501 S. King Drive, WSC 290 12 Chicago, IL 60628-1598 13 [email protected] 14 (773) 995-2443 15 16 17 Abstract 18 Four species of spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale) are currently recognized: 19 Spilogale angustifrons, S. gracilis, S. putorius, and S. pygmaea. Understanding species 20 boundaries within this group is critical for effective conservation given that regional populations 21 or subspecies (e.g., S. p. interrupta) have experienced significant population declines. Further, 22 there may be currently unrecognized diversity within this genus as some taxa (e.g., S. 23 angustifrons) and geographic regions (e.g., Central America) never have been assessed using 24 DNA sequence data. We analyzed species limits and diversification patterns in spotted skunks 25 using multilocus nuclear (ultraconserved elements) and mitochondrial (whole mitogenomes and 26 single gene analysis) data sets from broad geographic sampling representing all currently 27 recognized species and subspecies.
  • University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting

    University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting

    UNDERSTANDING CARNIVORAN ECOMORPHOLOGY THROUGH DEEP TIME, WITH A CASE STUDY DURING THE CAT-GAP OF FLORIDA By SHARON ELIZABETH HOLTE A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2018 © 2018 Sharon Elizabeth Holte To Dr. Larry, thank you ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my family for encouraging me to pursue my interests. They have always believed in me and never doubted that I would reach my goals. I am eternally grateful to my mentors, Dr. Jim Mead and the late Dr. Larry Agenbroad, who have shaped me as a paleontologist and have provided me to the strength and knowledge to continue to grow as a scientist. I would like to thank my colleagues from the Florida Museum of Natural History who provided insight and open discussion on my research. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Aldo Rincon for his help in researching procyonids. I am so grateful to Dr. Anne-Claire Fabre; without her understanding of R and knowledge of 3D morphometrics this project would have been an immense struggle. I would also to thank Rachel Short for the late-night work sessions and discussions. I am extremely grateful to my advisor Dr. David Steadman for his comments, feedback, and guidance through my time here at the University of Florida. I also thank my committee, Dr. Bruce MacFadden, Dr. Jon Bloch, Dr. Elizabeth Screaton, for their feedback and encouragement. I am grateful to the geosciences department at East Tennessee State University, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard for the loans of specimens.
  • Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes Necator): a Conservation Assessment

    Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes Necator): a Conservation Assessment

    Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator): A Conservation Assessment John D. Perrine * Environmental Science, Policy and Management Department and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology University of California, Berkeley Lori A. Campbell** USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station Sierra Nevada Research Center Davis, California Gregory A. Green Tetra Tech EC Bothell, Washington Current address and contact information: *Primary Author: J. Perrine, Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0401 [email protected] **L. Campbell, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 Perrine, Campbell and Green R5-FR-010 August 2010 NOTES IN PROOF • Genetic analyses by B. Sacks and others 2010 (Conservation Genetics 11:1523-1539) indicate that the Sacramento Valley red fox population is native to California and is closely related to the Sierra Nevada red fox. They designated the Sacramento Valley red fox as a new subspecies, V. v. patwin. • In August 2010, as this document was going to press, biologists on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest detected a red fox at an automatic camera station near the Sonora Pass along the border of Tuolomne and Mono Counties. Preliminary genetic analyses conducted at UC Davis indicate that the fox was a Sierra Nevada red fox. Further surveys and analyses are planned. • The California Department of Fish and Game Region 1 Timber Harvest Program has established a Sierra Nevada red fox information portal, where many management-relevant documents can be downloaded as PDFs. See: https://r1.dfg.ca.gov/Portal/SierraNevadaRedFox/tabid/618/Default.aspx Sierra Nevada Red Fox Conservation Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This conservation assessment provides a science-based, comprehensive assessment of the status of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) and its habitat.
  • Causes and Consequences of Coati Sociality

    Causes and Consequences of Coati Sociality

    chapter 28 Causes and consequences of coati sociality Ben T. Hirsch and Matthew E. Gompper Ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) © B. Hirsch Introduction of Kaufmann’s work, and similar studies on pri- mates and other carnivores, have greatly enhanced Over fifty years ago John Kaufmann conducted a our understanding of how and why animals live in two-year study on the white-nosed coati (Nasua groups. Such issues frame the core of the modern narica) on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The field of behavioural ecology. resulting monograph (Kaufmann 1962) is a solid Animals live in groups when the benefits (e.g. examination of the natural history of the species, a greater ability to survive threats from predators with an emphasis on understanding its social struc- and pathogens) are greater than the costs (e.g. in- ture. Although many such studies now exist, Kauf- creased competition for resources such as food or mann’s study bordered on revolutionary at the time mates) (Krause and Ruxton 2002). Overlaying such because this was one of the first studies to gather cost–benefit ratios are the genetic relatedness of in- detailed ethological data of wild vertebrates via dividuals and the willingness of animals to coop- habituation of free-living social animals. The idea erate in a manner that increases the benefits and of following animals from a distance of just a few decreases the costs of sociality. Among the mus- metres, and observing the nuances of their behav- teloid carnivores, studies of coatis have contrib- iour, was relatively novel at the time. The results uted more to our understanding of the causes and Hirsch, B.
  • Olfactory-Related Behaviors in the South American Coati (Nasua Nasua)

    Olfactory-Related Behaviors in the South American Coati (Nasua Nasua)

    Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Bachelor’s Thesis 16 hp Olfactory-related behaviors in the South American Coati (Nasua nasua) Matilda Norberg LiTH-IFM- Ex--14/2880--SE Supervisor: Matthias Laska, Linköpings universitet Examiner: Anders Hargeby, Linköpings universitet Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Linköpings universitet 581 83 Linköping, Sweden Datum/Date Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi 2014-05-28 Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Språk/Language Rapporttyp ISBN AvdelningenReport category för biologiLITH -IFM-G-EX—14/2880—SE Engelska/English __________________________________________________ Examensarbete ISRN InstutitionenC-uppsats för fysik__________________________________________________ och mätteknik Serietitel och serienummer ISSN Title of series, numbering Handledare/Supervisor Matthias Laska URL för elektronisk version Ort/Location: Linköping Titel/Title: Olfactory-related behaviors in the South American Coati (Nasua nasua) Författare/Author: Matilda Norberg Sammanfattning/Abstract: Knowledge about the use and behavioural relevance of the different senses in the South American Coati is limited. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the use of the sense of smell in this species. Twenty-five captive coatis were observed at the zoo of La Paz for a total of 120 hours to collect data on olfactory-related behaviors. The coatis frequently performed behaviors in response to the detection of odors such as sniffing on the ground, on objects, on food, on conspecifics, or in the air. In contrast, they did not display many odor depositing behaviors such as urinating, defecating, or scent-marking. The most frequently performed olfactory-related behavior was “sniffing on ground” which accounted for an average of 40 % of all recorded behaviors.