基于红外相机技术的白鹇日活动节律分化研究——以都庞岭和大围山种群为例

种群行为分化是物种适应环境的基础,而同一物种不同地理种群活动节律的分化是体现其生态适应的重要内容。不同地理种群活动节律的分化是由生态条件和种间竞争等因素引起的,研究不同地理种群物种活动节律的分化,有助于对种群的动态管理和保护。为研究同一物种在不同分布区域的年周期行为节律,通过提取2017年10月至2018年9月在湖南都庞岭国家级自然保护区和湖南浏阳大围山省级自然保护区分别布设的60台红外相机中监测到的白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)种群数据,利用核密度估计方法(kernel Density Estimation)和雅各布斯选择指数(Jacobs Selection Index, JSI)对白鹇的日活动节律和日活动时间选择进行了构建与比对,同时采用皮尔逊相关系数(Pearson correlation coefficient)及T检验(T-Test)分析了两个异域分布的白鹇种群活动节律的分化趋势。结果表明：都庞岭分布的白鹇在全年和冷季的日活动节律为单峰模式,暖季为双峰模式;大围山分布的白鹇在全年的日活动节律为连续多峰模式,冷季和暖季为单峰模式。在活动时段的选择上,都庞岭分布的...     

基于红外相机技术的贺兰山同域分布阿拉善马鹿和岩羊活动规律研究

为了探究同域分布的阿拉善马鹿(Cervur alashanicus)与岩羊(Pseudois nayaur)的日活动节律,及两者在时间生态位上的分化情况。于2014.10—2015.10,在贺兰山利用红外相机技术,对两者进行野外监测。相关监测数据,在R软件中利用"overlap"统计包,采取核密度估计(Kernel density estimation)、重叠指数(Coefficient of overlap):■进行分析。结果表明,马鹿日活动节律模式属于晨昏活动类型(日活动高峰期:5:00—10:00、16:00—21:00),存在季节性变化(冷暖季日活动节律重叠指数■=0.77),由暖季到冷季晨昏活动高峰期均向中午移动(暖季:4:00—8:00、16:00—22:00,冷季:6:00—11:00、15:00—20:00),昼间活动强度大于暖季,而夜间低于暖季。岩羊日活动节律为主要在昼间活动的模式,其活动高峰期在8:00—10:00、13:00—15:00两个时间段。由暖季到冷季存在季节性变化特征(■=0.74),昼间活动高峰期向后推迟(暖季7:00—9:00、12:00—14:00,冷季9:00—11:00、13:00—17:00),夜间活动降低。两者在日活动节律模式上的相似度较高(■=0.67),存在冷季(■=0.66)高于暖季(■=0.61)的季节变化。在日活动节律模式分离特征为:马鹿为晨昏活动模式,岩羊为昼间活动模式;前者昼间活动强度低于后者,而夜间强于后者;两者活动在高峰期上大体错开。本研究不仅提供了马鹿与岩羊的日活动节律模式,而且还分析了两者在时间生态位上的分化方式和共存机制,并为两者行为生态学研究的深入提供必要的科学依据。     

长江源区同域分布兔狲、藏狐和赤狐的时空重叠度

兔狲(Otocolobus manul)、藏狐(Vulpes ferrilata)和赤狐(V. vulpes)是青藏高原三江源区域分布的重要小型食肉兽。本研究于2014年6月至2019年9月在青海省长江源区沱沱河和通天河沿岸选取208个位点布设红外相机, 通过所获取的时空分布数据比较了上述3种同域分布小型食肉兽的时空利用情况。通过空间重叠度系数的比较分析, 兔狲和藏狐、兔狲和赤狐以及藏狐和赤狐之间的空间重叠度系数分别为0.25、0.48和0.17, 这表明兔狲、藏狐和赤狐三者在空间利用上存在一定的差异。通过核密度估计方法分析, 兔狲和藏狐属典型的昼行性动物, 而赤狐以夜行性活动为主。兔狲、藏狐和赤狐每个物种在冷暖两季的日活动节律重叠指数分别为0.83、0.78和0.88。两两比较分析表明, 兔狲和藏狐二者的日活动节律重叠指数最高(0.84), 兔狲和赤狐在夜间活动时段存在一定重叠(0.63), 而藏狐和赤狐的时间生态位分化最明显, 重叠指数最低(0.48)。此外, 在暖季, 两两物种之间的日活动节律重叠指数均小于其冷季的重叠指数。综上所述, 长江源区兔狲、藏狐和赤狐3种小型食肉兽可通过空间和时间资源的利用差异来降低物种间的干扰和竞争, 从而达到同域物种共存的目的。     

山西铁桥山省级自然保护区华北豹及其猎物的时空动态研究

生态位分化使时空资源利用重叠的物种实现共存,并且生态位研究在野生动物管理、种间关系和群落结构等方面有广泛应用和深远影响。放牧作为最主要的人为干扰之一,通过资源（食物、时间、空间等）竞争改变野生动物资源利用特征,甚至影响同域分布物种的生存。华北豹（Panthera pardus japonesis）是我国特有的珍稀野生动物,而其野生猎物种群数量会因与家畜资源竞争而减少,甚至直接或间接地影响华北豹种群生存。因此掌握保护区内家畜与野生动物的空间、时间利用情况,得以评估野生动物的生存状态。于2018年10月-2019年5月,通过架设62台红外自动相机获取铁桥山自然保护区4种哺乳动物活动数据,采用双物种单季节模型（Two-species single season model）和核密度估计（kernel density estimation）分析华北豹与猎物及其家畜在圈养、散养期的空间互作关系和活动规律,并且通过重叠系数（Coefficient of overlap）计算两物种间日活动时间重叠。结果表明：（1）家畜放养期间,华北豹-狍,华北豹-野猪的空间回避作用均比无家畜存在时减弱,可能是时间重叠程度增大的补偿机制。华北豹-牛的空间回避作用最强。（2）华北豹-牛时空重叠程度不大,牛-狍时空重叠程度较大,牛-野猪空间上共存而时间重叠程度较小。（3）日活动节律的结果说明狍为昼行性,野猪为晨昏活动。因探测到华北豹的次数有限,故关于其的日活动节律仍待考究。研究表明,放牧将影响华北豹与猎物的时间、空间资源利用情况,并有可能导致人-豹冲突加剧。     

青海省可可西里地区几种有蹄类动物的食物重叠初步分析

2005年7月和2006年1月,应用粪便显微组织分析法测定了可可西里地区的藏野驴、藏羚、藏原羚、野牦牛,以及家牦牛和藏羊在冷季(1月)和暖季(7月)的食物构成.用Schoener's Index计算了这些同域分布动物种间的食物重叠度.结果表明,藏野驴分别与藏羚羊、野牦牛、藏原羚在暖季的食物重叠度各为63.0%、48.4%和24.1%,在冷季的重叠度为别为71.6%、42.0%和11.4%;藏羚羊与野牦牛、藏原羚在暖季的食物重叠度分别为52.0%和33.4%,其在冷季的食物重叠度各为50.3%和29.3%;野牦牛与藏原羚在冷暖季的食物重叠度分别为13.1%和15.9%.在可可西里地区吲域分布野牛有蹄类动物种间,藏原羚与其他有蹄类动物食物重叠较少,而藏羚羊、藏野驴、野牦牛之间则存在不同程度的食物重叠,且随季节不同而变化,反映了这些动物之间复杂的竞争和共存关系.此外,家牦牛和藏羊均与这些野生有蹄类动物存在高度的食物重叠.     

同域分布的绿孔雀与白鹇时空生态位分化

生态位分化是同域分布的潜在竞争物种长期稳定共存的基础。研究对比一个物种与其同域分布的潜在竞争者的生态位分化,可用于指导多物种保护工作的实践。2018年6月—2019年5月利用红外相机技术对云南省玉溪市新平和峨山交界处同域分布的绿孔雀Pavo muticus和白鹇Lophura nycthemera进行野外调查,使用Wilcoxon秩和检验和非参数核密度分析旱季和雨季对植被、海拔的利用情况和日活动节律进行比较。结果表明,该地区同域分布6种雉类中,绿孔雀和白鹇的RAI指数最高(分别为0.73和0.56),为优势物种。绿孔雀活动的平均海拔高于白鹇(1 486 m±75.2 m vs. 1 390 m±71.9 m; w=8 122.5,P 0.001),且海拔生态位宽度更宽。绿孔雀对4种植被类型利用较为平均,而白鹇则倾向于利用半湿润常绿阔叶林(旱季利用率93.00%,雨季利用率77.27%)。绿孔雀的日活动节律为正常的晨昏双峰模式,白鹇却呈现出与其他研究结果不同的单峰模式,且与绿孔雀差异明显。二者在不同生态位维度上的分化可能是种间竞争的结果。建议将该地区划为以绿孔雀为主的重点雉类保护区域,未来开展更多关于野生绿孔雀的基础生态学研究。     

四川卧龙国家级自然保护区三种高山同域鸡形目鸟类的时空生态位比较

高海拔山区气候条件恶劣, 资源匮乏, 探究同域分布的近缘物种如何利用有限的资源以实现稳定共存, 对于了解高山生态系统生物多样性格局的形成和维持机制具有重要意义。鸡形目鸟类飞行能力弱, 属于典型的地栖物种, 生态位空间相对狭窄, 可能面临更高的种间竞争压力。本研究旨在比较几种同域分布的鸡形目鸟类的时空生态位, 为了解高山生态系统同域物种的共存机制提供新的研究案例。2020年4-9月, 研究人员在四川卧龙国家级自然保护区海拔3,300-4,200 m的高山区域进行了野外调查, 通过样线法和样方法对鸡形目鸟类群落优势物种绿尾虹雉(Lophophorus lhuysii)、雉鹑(Tetraophasis obscurus)和雪鹑(Lerwa lerwa)繁殖期的微生境进行调查, 使用红外相机对其活动节律进行监测, 并运用核密度估计法从微生境利用和日活动节律两个生态维度进行了种间生态位比较。结果显示, 雪鹑在微生境利用和日活动节律上均与其他两个物种存在显著差异。绿尾虹雉与雉鹑在微生境的利用上具有相似偏好; 但绿尾虹雉的早活动高峰晚于雉鹑, 晚活动高峰早于雉鹑, 表现出显著的种间日活动节律差异; 然而, 整合两个维度后, 绿尾虹雉和雉鹑的整体生态位仍然高度重叠, 没有显著分化。本研究表明高山鸡形目物种间的生态位分化体现于多个不同的生态维度, 并且不同物种之间的分化方式有所差异。在空间和时间生态位上的显著分化使雪鹑与同域物种间的竞争压力相对较小, 有利于其实现稳定共存。而绿尾虹雉与雉鹑的整体生态位高度重叠, 建议进一步对其食性开展研究, 探讨营养生态位上的潜在种间分化。     

东北虎豹国家公园东部的野猪生境利用和活动节律初步研究

野猪是世界上分布最广的大型哺乳动物之一,也是东北虎豹国家公园内主要的有蹄类动物,东北虎主要的猎物之一。本文采集了中国虎豹观测网络架设在东北虎豹国家公园东部区域的红外相机完整一年的拍摄数据（2015年5月至2016年4月）,通过占域模型和核密度分析,获得不同季节的野猪生境利用情况和日活动节律,探究人为因素、环境因素和生物因素对野猪生境利用的影响。结果显示,野猪偏好于针叶林和针阔混交林,在靠近居民点的区域活动增加。不同物种间的相互作用对野猪的生境利用产生不同影响,受捕食者压力野猪会倾向于躲避东北虎,但东北豹对野猪占域显示为正向影响。梅花鹿和狍对野猪的影响在不同季节呈现相反,梅花鹿对野猪的占域在冬季呈负向影响,而狍对野猪的占域则在夏季呈负向影响。本研究区域内的野猪夏季有2个活动高峰,冬季有1个活动高峰,在不同季节都倾向于白天和晨昏活动,在日落前达到活动最高峰。本研究揭示东北虎豹国家公园东部区域的野猪生境利用和活动节律是受到植被生境、大型食肉动物和人类因素等多种因素相互作用,长期相适应的结果。     

同域分布的黑麂和小麂的时空生态位分化

生态位分化是解释物种共存的重要理论。Schonenr认为空间维度对生态位差异形成的影响程度最高,营养维度次之,时间维度则最后被启动。为验证这一假说,我们于2018年12月至2019年11月,在浙江清凉峰国家级自然保护区龙塘山区域采用公里网格法布设52台红外相机,对同域分布且食性相似的黑麂和小麂种群进行监测,计算平均拍摄率,分析不同季节黑麂和小麂对不同植被类型、海拔、坡位、水源距离的选择差异,并运用核密度估计法分析二者日活动节律及重叠程度。结果显示,(1)黑麂和小麂对空间生态位的选择出现分化：黑麂偏好针阔混交林,主要栖息于1 301～1 500 m的高海拔地区,回避下坡位和谷地,在距离水源较近的区域内活动频繁;小麂则偏好落叶阔叶林,主要栖息于901～1 100 m的中海拔地区,偏好中坡位,回避谷地,对水源距离没有明显的选择倾向。(2)黑麂和小麂均为晨昏性活动的昼行性动物,二者全年日活动节律重叠程度较高(Δ4=0.86),仅冬季较低(Δ1=0.65)。上述结果支持Schonenr的假说：首先,空间维度对物种生态位分化的影响大于时间维度,龙塘山区域黑麂和小麂主要通过选择不同的栖息地来增加空间...     

梵净山黔金丝猴与藏酋猴冬春季生态位分化初探

同域物种的共存往往是通过生态位分化实现的,黔金丝猴（Rhinopithecus brelichi）和藏酋猴（Macaca thibetana）为梵净山同域分布物种。为了理解二者的生态位分化关系,2020年12月至2021年6月通过在梵净山保护区安放的24台红外相机进行冬春季的野外监测,发现有18台相机捕获到藏酋猴,4台相机捕获到黔金丝猴,有3台相机对二者均有捕获。总共获得了黔金丝猴的照片23张,事件发生8次;藏酋猴的照片373张,事件发生95次;未捕获到黔金丝猴和藏酋猴同一时间段出现。通过海拔高度、采食行为、出现时间这些数据对二者生态位分化进行了分析,得到了同域分布的这两种灵长类动物生态位分化模式。调查结果显示,虽然梵净山冬春季黔金丝猴和藏酋猴的分布区域存在部分重叠,但黔金丝猴活动高峰早于藏酋猴约2 h;黔金丝猴更倾向于树上取食,藏酋猴更倾向于地上取食,避免了直接在食物资源上的竞争。二者通过活动节律和觅食策略差异实现生态位分化,从而更好地适应生存环境,以实现同域共存状态。     

Temporal activity patterns of North China leopards and their prey in response to moonlight and habitat factors

The nocturnal activities of predators and prey are influenced by several factors, including physiological adaptations, habitat quality and, we suspect, corresponds to changes in brightness of moonlight according to moon phase. In this study, we used a dataset from 102 camera traps to explore which factors are related to the activity pattern of North China leopards (Panthera pardus japonensis) in Shanxi Tieqiaoshan Provincial Nature Reserve (TPNR), China. We found that nocturnal activities of leopards were irregular during four different lunar phases, and while not strictly lunar philic or lunar phobic, their temporal activity was highest during the brighter moon phases (especially the last quarter) and lower during the new moon phase. On the contrary, roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) exhibited lunar philic activity, while wild boar (Sus scrofa) and tolai hare (Lepus tolai) were evidently lunar phobic, with high and low temporal activity during the full moon, respectively. In terms of temporal overlap, there was positive overlap between leopards and their prey species, including roe deer and tolai hare, while leopard activity did not dip to the same low level of wild boar during the full moon phase. Human activities also more influenced the temporal activity of leopards and wild boar than other species investigated. Generally, our results suggested that besides moonlight risk index (MRI), cloud cover and season have diverse effects on leopard and prey nocturnal activity. Finally, distinct daytime and nighttime habitats were identified, with leopards, wild boar, and tolai hare all using lower elevations at night and higher elevations during the day, while leopards and roe deer were closer to secondary roads during the day than at night.     

Prey selection and dietary response by wolves in a high-density multi-species ungulate community

Studies on predation by the wolf (Canis lupus) have often reported contradictory results about the role of prey density and vulnerability on wolf prey use. We investigated dietary response and prey selection by wolves in a high-density and multi-species ungulate community, analysing scats collected over a period of 11 years in the Casentinesi Forests, Italy. The second most abundant species, wild boar (Sus scrofa), was found to be the main wolf prey, and we did not observe any dietary response of wolves to variations in the density of either primary or secondary prey species. Selection patterns were uniform throughout the study period. Wolves strongly selected for wild boar piglets, while roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns and adults, red deer (Cervus elaphus) adults and fallow deer (Dama dama) adults were avoided. Wolf preference for wild boar was inversely density dependent. Within each species, juveniles were preferred to adults. Medium-sized, young individuals of both wild boar and roe deer were optimal prey, although with different selection patterns related to the different anti-predator strategies adopted by each prey species. The results of this study suggest that in productive ecosystems with high density and high renewal rates of prey, selection patterns by wolves are determined by prey vulnerability, which is connected to prey age and body size. The different patterns of wild boar versus cervids use by wolf across Europe seems to be related to their relative abundances, while the strong selection of wild boar in Italian Apennines with respect to the more frequent avoidance in central-eastern Europe is better explained by higher piglet productivity and smaller body size of adults boar in Mediterranean temperate forests.     

Trophic niche overlap and wild ungulate consumption by red fox and wolf in a mountain area in Italy

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wolf (Canis lupus) are two widespread opportunistic predators living in simpatry in many areas. Nonetheless, scarce information are available on their trophic interactions. We investigated food habits of these two carnivores in a mountain area in Italy and assessed the extent of their trophic niche overlap, focusing on the consumption of wild ungulates. Thereby we analyzed the content of 669 red fox scats and 253 wolf scats collected between May 2008 and April 2009. Red foxes resulted to have a more than three times higher niche breadth than wolves. Vegetables, small mammals, wild ungulates, and invertebrates were major items (altogether 92% of volume) of the red fox annual diet. On the contrary wolf annual diet relied on wild ungulates (94% of volume) with wild boar (Sus scrofa) being the main food item. The degree of trophic niche overlap between the two species was found to be low (Pianka's O = 0.356). Diet variation between the warm and the cold seasons was limited in both species, and higher in red fox than in wolf. The two canids appeared to use wild ungulates unevenly being the former more selective for younger preys, smaller in size (newborn piglets and roe deer Capreolus capreolus fawns), whereas the latter exhibited a preference for medium-sized and large ungulates (10–35 kg wild boar and adult roe deer). Even if wild ungulates represent the main shared food category, the different use of age/weight classes by the two predators, together with their possible consumption as carrions by red fox, suggests a very limited trophic competition between wolf and red fox.This study represents a contribution to the knowledge of trophic interaction in predator–prey systems where sympatric carnivores are present.     

Inter-specific synchrony of two contrasting ungulates: wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Very few studies on ungulates address issues of inter-specific synchrony in population responses to environmental variation such as climate. Depending on whether annual variation in performance of ungulate populations is driven by direct or indirect (trophic) interactions, very different predictions regarding the pattern of inter-specific synchrony can be derived. We compared annual autumn body mass variation in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Poland over the period 1982–2002, and related this to variation in winter and summer climate and plant phenological development [the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from satellites]. Roe deer fawns (∼1.3 kg increase from year 1982 to 2002) and yearlings both increased markedly in mass over years. There was also an increase for wild boar mass over years (∼4.2 kg increase for piglets from 1982 to 2002). Despite our failure to link annual body mass to spring or winter conditions or the NDVI, the body mass of roe deer and wild boar fluctuated in synchrony. As this was a field roe deer population, and since wild boar is an omnivore, we suggest this may be linked to annual variation and trends in crop structure (mainly rye). We urge future studies to take advantage of studying multiple species in order to gain further insight into processes of how climate affect ungulate populations. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Temporal dynamics of seed excretion by wild ungulates: implications for plant dispersal

Dispersal is a key process in metapopulation dynamics as it conditions species' spatial responses to gradients of abiotic and biotic conditions and triggers individual and gene flows. In the numerous plants that are dispersed through seed consumption by herbivores (endozoochory), the distance and effectiveness of dispersal is determined by the combined effects of seed retention time in the vector's digestive system, the spatial extent of its movements, and the ability of the seeds to germinate once released. Estimating these three parameters from experimental data is therefore crucial to calibrate mechanistic metacommunity models of plant–herbivore interactions. In this study, we jointly estimated the retention time and germination probability of six herbaceous plants transported by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) through feeding experiments and a Bayesian dynamic model. Retention time was longer in the nonruminant wild boar (>36 h) than in the two ruminant species (roe deer: 18–36 h, red deer: 3–36 h). In the two ruminants, but not in wild boar, small and round seeds were excreted faster than large ones. Low germination probabilities of the excreted seeds reflected the high cost imposed by endozoochory on plant survival. Trait‐mediated variations in retention time and germination probability among animal and plant species may impact plant dispersal distances and interact with biotic and abiotic conditions at the release site to shape the spatial patterns of dispersed plant species.     

Temporal pattern of wild ungulate-related traffic accidents in northwest Spain

Wildlife-related accidents are a serious problem in different countries and describing their temporal pattern allows for the development of measures to mitigate them. We described the temporal pattern of wild ungulate-related accidents occurring between January 2006 and December 2010 in the Autonomous Region of Galicia, northwest of Spain. We examined the temporal distribution of the accidents according to months, phenological and hunting seasons, days of the week and time of the day. From the 6,255 wild ungulate-related traffic accidents analysed, 36.5% were related to roe deer Capreolus capreolus and 62.8% were related to wild boar Sus scrofa. The monthly distribution of accidents was not random but follows a characteristic pattern for each species. Roe deer-related accidents have their maximum in April and May, coinciding with the breeding season, followed by July, coinciding with the rut. Wild boar-related accidents have their maximum between October and January, coinciding with the hunting season but also with months with the longest nights. Both roe deer- and wild boar-related accidents showed an increase at weekends, specially on Sundays. During the hunting season, the wild boar-related accidents showed a marked peak on the same day. This weekly pattern was explained by drivers’ behaviour and by hunting. For roe deer, peaks of accidents occurred between 19:00 and 22:00 (about dusk) and between 05:00 and 08:00 (about dawn). For wild boar, 69% of accidents occurred between 18:00 and 23:00, coinciding with dusk and night. This daily pattern of accidents was explained by the behaviour of the species.     

Population dynamics in a guild of four Mediterranean ungulates: density‐dependence,environmental effects and inter‐specific interactions

Population fluctuations in ungulates are driven by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Available information, however, mainly refers to arctic, temperate and African ungulate populations, while the dynamics of Mediterranean species, exposed to a milder climate, is known to a much lesser extent. Here we studied the population dynamics of four wild ungulate species in the Castelporziano Preserve near Rome, Italy, as obtained from detailed bag counts from hunting drives during the period 1878–1986: the Italian roe deer Capreolus capreolus italicus, the Maremma wild boar Sus scrofa majori (both endemic to Italy), the native red deer Cervus elaphus, and the alien fallow deer Dama dama. We also considered the effects of the presence of another alien ungulate, the nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus. This ungulate community experienced an accidental ‘removal experiment’ when, during World War II, red deer and nilgai were exterminated. This event and the length of the time series allowed us to test two main hypotheses: 1) that the complexity level of the ungulate community affects the strength of intra‐ and inter‐specific competition; and 2) that in Mediterranean environments intra‐ and inter‐specific interactions are stronger than climate forcing. Statistical methods ranged from state‐space‐modelling, GLM analysis and structural equation models. The results indicated that direct intra‐specific density dependence played a relevant role for all species, and was stronger after the removal. A complex pattern of species interactions was however revealed; fallow deer had a negative effect on roe deer population, while roe deer had an apparent positive effect on red deer and wild boar, possibly mediated by environmental factors. Nilgai appeared to facilitate all deer species. The results of the analysis also confirmed that at present climate appears to play a minor role with respect to density dependence; however, the increasing aridity of the Mediterranean area could change this picture in coming decades.     

Being a parasitoid of parasites: host finding in the tick wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri by odours from mammals

The parasitic wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizes larvae and nymphs of a number of tick species worldwide. Ticks themselves are parasitic on vertebrate hosts. To study the specificity and reliability of vertebrate odours used by I. hookeri for host location, we conducted bioassays in a four‐chamber olfactometer. Wasps were arrested by carbon dioxide and by odours from roe deer faeces and odours from hair of roe deer and wild boar. Odours from faeces of cattle, rabbit, and field mouse as well as odours from hair of cattle and field mouse had no effect. Odours from faeces of the host tick species Ixodes ricinus L. (Acari: Ixodidae) were attractive only up to a distance of 1 cm. Thus, I. hookeri reacts to general (carbon dioxide) and specific vertebrate odours from wild boar and deer. Examination of freshly shot specimens demonstrates that deer and wild boars are infested with a sufficient number of tick nymphs to tap the full reproductive potential of an I. hookeri female, which makes cues from these mammal species reliable. These results indicate that I. hookeri locates its hosts using specific and reliable mammal odours and that ticks are parasitized on their vertebrate hosts. The implications of this host‐finding strategy and its benefits for the parasitoid are discussed.     

Combined evaluation of bovine tuberculosis in wild boar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sus scrofa</Emphasis>) and red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus</Emphasis>) from Central-East Portugal

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), widely considered a disease of livestock, can also affect large game species despite their poorly understood role in the epidemiology of the endemic state of the disease. The Idanha-a-Nova County, situated in the eastern region of central Portugal, is one of the most important regions for large game hunting activity. In order to investigate the role of large game and the presence of bTB in Idanha-a-Nova, 132 wild boar (Sus scrofa) and 339 red deer (Cervus elaphus) were inspected for bTB-compatible lesions (bTBCL) during the 2008–2009 hunting season. Tissue samples with bTBCL were collected and processed for bacteriological confirmation and spoligotyping of Mycobacterium bovis isolates. In wild boar, bTB lesions were single, mostly calcified (21/29, 72.4%) and situated in the mandibular lymph nodes. Lesions were more severe and largely non-calcified (36/40, 90%) in red deer. Wild boar presented a consistently higher bTB infection rate than the red deer; however, the difference was only significant in the southern B area. This area was significantly affected by bTB for both animal species (up to 72.7% in wild boar and 34.8% in red deer) and requires the urgent implementation of intervention measures to contain the disease. Wild boar may assume an important role in the emergence of new disease foci in distant areas that infected red deer cannot reach. Spoligotyping of M. bovis isolates grouped the strains into three clusters, revealing patterns common to wild boar, red deer, and also to local cattle, indicating possible transmission among different animal species.