Genetic variability of sable Martes zibellina L., pine marten M. martes L., and their hybrids in Western Siberia: Protein and DNA polymorphism

Using four types of markers, the genetic variability of sable and pine marten inhabiting Western Siberia was examined. Izoenzyme and restriction endonuclease analysis of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene fragment, as well as the ISSR-PCR and analysis of microsatellite variation, revealed a low differentiation level of sable and pine marten and confirmed the hybrid origin of atypical representatives of these species. The hybrids were characterized by an increased heterozygosity level and were genetically closer to sable than to pine marten. In atypical martens, the presence of mtDNA haplotypes of eastern sable was identified. This could be the consequence of the reintroduction of the Barguzin sable in the 20th century. In Western Siberia, the introgression of genes between sable and pine marten was massive and symmetrical. It apparently occurred in the past and continues in the present.     

Summer food of sympatric red fox and pine marten in the German Alps

Based on fecal analyses, we compared summer diet composition and trophic niche breadth for the sympatric red fox Vulpes vulpes (n=55 scats) and pine marten Martes martes (n=64) in the foothills of the German Alps. Mammals accounted for 41 and 51% of the consumed biomass by pine martens and red foxes, respectively, and no single mammal species exceeded 8% of the diet. The larger red fox consumed a wider range of prey sizes than the smaller pine marten, and both consumed large amounts of plants and also insects. Whereas the Levins index suggested that both predators have specialist feeding niches, the Shannon-Wiener index showed that both predators were relatively generalist. Despite its preliminary nature, our study suggests that a strict distinction between generalist and specialist trophic niches is not justified for medium-sized carnivores in the Alps, particularly as results greatly depend on the indices used.     

Trophic and spatial relationships of the pine marten (Martes martes) and American mink (Neovison vison) on mountain rivers of the Southern Urals

The American mink (Neovison vison) and pine marten (Martes martes) are the most common mustelid species in mountain forests of the Southern Urals. The bulk of the diet (85.3%) in the American mink consists of small mammals (35.8%), insects (22.7%), gastropods (14.1%), and fish (12.7%). In the pine marten, the main components comprising 79.6% of the diet are vegetable foods (29.8%), small mammals (27.0%), and insects (22.8%). The low diversity of their food spectra is accounted for by landscape and ecological features of the study region. The abundance of rodents is low, their distribution has a mosaic pattern, and other kinds of food are more abundant near rivers and streams, which explains the preference of both mustelid species for riparian biotopes. The breadth of trophic niches in the pine marten and American mink are 1.67 and 1.62, respectively, and the coefficient of their overlap is 0.75.     

A comparative analysis of craniological variability of Eurasian (sable and pine marten) and North American (American marten) species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes</Emphasis> genus

This paper studies the craniological variability of closely related species—the pine marten Martes martes, the American marten M. americana, and the sable M. zibellina. The study included the data on 22 nonmetric characters of skulls in 2344 individuals. The studied Martes species were revealed to have an evident species-specific manifestation of the investigated craniological characters. Sables stand apart most of all in the interspecific comparison of populations. The degree of epigenetic variability is somewhat higher in the sable than in the pine marten. The American marten significantly differs from Eurasian species in the manifestation of the nonmetric skull characters, which is noted when analyzing even a small number of samples.     

Metagenomic analysis of the viral flora of pine marten and European badger feces

A thorough understanding of the diversity of viruses in wildlife provides epidemiological baseline information about potential pathogens. Metagenomic analysis of the enteric viral flora revealed a new anellovirus and bocavirus species in pine martens and a new circovirus-like virus and geminivirus-related DNA virus in European badgers. In addition, sequences with homology to viruses from the families Paramyxo- and Picornaviridae were detected.     

Genetic analysis of sable (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Martes zibellina</Emphasis>) and pine marten (<Emphasis Type=Italic>M. martes</Emphasis>) populations in sympatric part of distribution area in the northern Urals

Analysis of nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (495 bp) of sables (Martes zibellina) and pine martens (M. martes) from allopatric parts of the species ranges has shown a considerable interspecific genetic distance (>3%). In sympatric populations of these species in the northern Urals, differences between two species-specific mtDNA lineages are still large; however, classification of each individual nucleotide sequence with one of the two lineages is not correlated with whether the given animal is phenotypically a sable, a pine marten, or a potential hybrid (the so-called “kidas”). This indicates a high degree of reciprocal introgression of the sable and pine marten mtDNA in the northern Urals and suggests that their interspecific hybridization is common in the sympatric zone.     

Zoological prerequisites of human tick-borne infections in the Northern Urals

The results of studies in the pessimum of the taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus Sch., 1930) range in the Urals have shown that this species occurs in the regions at latitudes of up to 60°50′ N. In Northern Ural mountains, the ticks show preference for secondary small-leaved forests growing on southern slopes, where their abundance along census routes reaches 7 ind./km. The abundance and distribution of taiga ticks hosts, birds and small mammals, have been estimated in the main types of their habitats. Larvae and nymphs of the taiga tick have been found on nine bird and seven small mammal species, with the main parasitic load falling on the northern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys rutilus P., 1779), which is widespread and abundant in the greater part of the study area. Molecular biological analysis of I. persulcatus ticks and blood samples from their hosts has revealed the presence of nucleic acids of pathogenic microorganisms A. phagocytophilum, E. muris, and A. burgdorferi sensu lato, the RNA of tick-borne encephalitis virus, and the DNA of Babesia microti.     

Ectomycorrhizal communities of ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine in the south-central Oregon pumice zone

Forest ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest of the USA are changing as a result of climate change. Specifically, rise of global temperatures, decline of winter precipitation, earlier loss of snowpack, and increased summer drought are altering the range of Pinus contorta. Simultaneously, flux in environmental conditions within the historic P. contorta range may facilitate the encroachment of P. ponderosa into P. contorta territory. Furthermore, successful pine species migration may be constrained by the distribution or co-migration of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). Knowledge of the linkages among soil fungal diversity, community structure, and environmental factors is critical to understanding the organization and stability of pine ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to establish a foundational knowledge of the EMF communities of P. ponderosa and P. contorta in the Deschutes National Forest, OR, USA, and to examine soil characteristics associated with community composition. We examined EMF root tips of P. ponderosa and P. contorta in soil cores and conducted soil chemistry analysis for P. ponderosa cores. Results indicate that Cenococcum geophilum, Rhizopogon salebrosus, and Inocybe flocculosa were dominant in both P. contorta and P. ponderosa soil cores. Rhizopogon spp. were ubiquitous in P. ponderosa cores. There was no significant difference in the species composition of EMF communities of P. ponderosa and P. contorta. Ordination analysis of P. ponderosa soils suggested that soil pH, plant-available phosphorus (Bray), total phosphorus (P), carbon (C), mineralizable nitrogen (N), ammonium (NH₄), and nitrate (NO₃) are driving EMF community composition in P. ponderosa stands. We found a significant linear relationship between EMF species richness and mineralizable N. In conclusion, P. ponderosa and P. contorta, within the Deschutes National Forest, share the same dominant EMF species, which implies that P. ponderosa may be able to successfully establish within the historic P. contorta range and dominant EMF assemblages may be conserved.     

Socio-spatial ecology of pine marten (Martes martes) in conifer forests,Ireland

Understanding the social organisation and spacing patterns of wildlife populations is an important aspect of conservation management and applied science. The present study investigated the spatial ecology of pine marten (Martes martes) inhabiting conifer forests in Ireland, the largest habitat resource available for the species. It represented the first study of pine marten spacing patterns in Irish conifer forests. Pine marten (n?=?7; five males and two females) were live-trapped and radio-tracked for between 4 and 10 months from March 2008 to March 2009. Mean annual home-range estimates (95 % fixed kernel) for males (150.7 ha) were generally larger than those of females (90.2 ha). There was considerable inter-seasonal overlap in home ranges (approx 85 %) with less inter-sexual (12.0 %) or intra-sexual (11.8 %) overlap, although the sample size of individuals for comparison was small. Pine marten home ranges were stable from season to season. Core ranges varied in size from 10.6 to 104.1 ha, and as a mean percentage of home-range area were 22.9 and 42.5 % for males and females, respectively. In terms of forest management, potential under occupancy of available space by pine marten and vulnerability of very small core ranges to clear felling practices needs further research to determine any impacts on individuals and populations.     

Stress physiological responses to tourist pressure in a wild population of European pine marten

The tourist pressure in natural parks is a potential source of stress and may cause an increase in the adrenal activity of wild populations of European pine marten (Martes martes). Seventy-six faecal samples were collected during 15 months in a natural park of Northwest Spain. Analysis of faecal DNA was used for the specific identification using the PCR-RFLPs technique. Faecal steroid determinations were performed by EIA. Natural park was divided in three areas: free entry, restricted area, and integral reservation, and number of daily human visitors recorded. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (ng/g dry faeces) were significantly higher in spring (56.36 ± 19.62) and summer (31.27 ± 11.98) compared to autumn (15.33 ± 6.89) and winter (11.13 ± 3.30). These data are closely related to daily number of visitors (spring: 3204, summer: 1672, winter: 646, autumn: 551). Androgen, progestin and oestrogen levels were also significantly higher in spring (reproductive season) showing values of 43.62 ± 18.6, 154.31 ± 53.50 and 829.62 ± 456.1, respectively. Glucocorticoid levels were significantly lower in integral reservation (15.95 ± 3.56) compared to restricted (31.4 ± 16.30) and free entry areas (41.59 ± 12.73), respectively. Wild populations of European pine marten showed stress physiological response induced by the tourist pressure and this response is higher during reproductive season.     

Invasion of Siberian Pine Populations in Mountain Tundra in the Northern Urals

A new method for determining the upper forest border (UFB) as the border of the “root-closed” stand and regrowth as its potential vanguard is proposed. The mass dispersal of Pinus sibirica populations by the nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in the UFB ecotone in the Northern Urals (Pavdinskii Kamen’ and Tretii Bugor Mountain) from the middle-mountain taiga to the mountain forest tundra and tundra at a distance reaching 1 km is found. It is done based on the original reconstruction method of the dynamics of population number in P. sibirica annual seedlings and on an analysis of their relations with the dynamics of the seed bearing and population number of the nutcracker. The trustworthy consortive relations of the number of Pinus sibirica generations in the mountain forested tundra and tundra zones, with its seed bearing and nutcracker number in the previous year in the middle-mountain taiga zone, are found. A significant increase, 3.7 times, in the number of seedling generations during the last 49 years is found in connection with the increase in the summer air temperature in the subarctic to 2.0°C. A hypothesis of the formation of the united genetic metapopulation of P. sibirica in the forest–tundra mountain ecotone zone as a consequence of its seed ornitochory from the highly different populations is formulated. A forecast of the mosaic formation of the vanguard “thin forests” in 20–25 years and the root-closed curtains of the forest in 40–50 years in the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals at the current rate of the rise in temperature is made.     

Statistical analysis of secondary sex ratio variation in sable Martes zibellina L

The secondary sex ratio in sable Martes zibellina L. maintained in captivity was estimated for the first time ever. The data obtained at the Pushkin pedigree breeding farm (Moscow oblast) in 1982 through 1987 were analyzed. In total, 1705 litters of 414 females were examined. The total frequency of male births (P) was 0.527 +/- 0.007; the 95%-confidence interval of p (the probability of birth of a male) was within the limits 0.513 < p < 0.541, and the deviation from the expected 1:1 ratio was statistically significant. No effect of parental age and litter size on the number of male progeny was found. This may indicate a small influence of the parental hormonal and immunological status on sex ratio, which was reported in many other mammal species including those related to sable. Apparently, there is an evolutionary mechanism underlying the stable excess of males in sable litters.     

Evaluating phenotype and genotype of drug-resistant strains in herpesviruses

The isolation of drug-resistant strains of herpesviruses, including Herpes Simplex Virus type I (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV), has been reported with increasing frequency in immunocompromised patients and is a matter of major concern. Determination of antiviral drug susceptibilities is a prerequisite for the management of drug-resistant herpesvirus infections. Phenotyping studies should be correlated with genotyping, i.e., characterization of the mutations in the target genes. The isolation of drug-resistant virus in the laboratory and the determination of their phenotype and genotype may be useful to clarify the mechanisms of selective drug action. We describe here the procedures used for in vitro selection of drug-resistant herpesvirus mutants and the determination of their patterns of drug-susceptibility. The subcloning of the HSV-1 DNA polymerase gene is described as an example of the methodology followed to determine the mutation(s) in the drug-target viral gene that are associated with the resistant phenotype. To avoid the introduction of mutations by PCR amplification, all subcloning experiments were executed directly on viral DNA. Viral DNA was prepared from each plaque-purified viral strain and a 3.4 kb BamHI fragment containing 87% of the HSV-1 DNA polymerase gene coding region was purified and further digested with SacI; the two resulting fragments were subcloned into pU18 and propagated in Escherichia coli. Plasmid DNA was isolated and the inserts were sequenced using dideoxynucleotide chain termination method with T7 DNA polymerase and Taq DNA polymerase in an automated laser fluorescent DNA sequencer. pUC/M13 reverse, universal primers and oligonucleodite primers based on the wild-type virus sequence were used. The nucleotide sequences of the DNA polymerase genes of the different mutants was then compared with the nucleotide sequence of the wild-type HSV-1 KOS strain.     

Linking habitat characteristics with genetic diversity of the European pine marten (Martes martes) in France

Although typically considered as a forest specialist species, the European pine marten (Martes martes) is an example of a number of species that have recently been found to also live in fragmented landscapes. Considering that habitat fragmentation and loss is a major threat to the persistence of mammal species in such landscapes, we investigated the association between habitat characteristics and genetic diversity across four pine marten populations occupying contrasting landscapes in France with different degrees of forest availability and fragmentation. Bayesian and multivariate clustering methods evidenced the presence of three genetic clusters and isolation by distance between populations was found at the national scale. We found an overall moderate level of genetic variability, but no evidence of a bottleneck or deficit in heterozygosity in any of the populations. No pattern of isolation by distance was found within the populations, except in the one located in the Pyrenean Mountains which appeared partly isolated from other continental populations and also showed a lower level of genetic diversity. No obvious association between the pattern of genetic variability and the pattern of forested habitat characteristics was found. We discuss the possibility that pine martens show greater behavioural plasticity than typically expected allowing them to adapt to different habitat types.