The wild goats Capra aegagrus Erxleben, 1777 of the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean islands

• 1 Populations of wild goats that can be referred to as phenotypes of the pasang, or Bezoar goat, or wild goat Capra aegagrus Erxleben, 1777, still occur on several of the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic islands. Other populations became extinct not many decades ago.
• 2 Fossil evidence for the natural spread of the wild goat to any of these islands has not been found. Originating in the Near East, the region of its natural range and its earliest domestication, the species was introduced by humans onto the Mediterranean islands starting as early as the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic.
• 3 The islands of the Eastern Atlantic were colonized artificially by animals of ‘pre‐Hispanic’ origin. The principal phenotypes expressed by all these populations of goats can be matched with the characteristics of both C. a. aegagrus Erxleben, 1777 (aegagrus phenotype) and C. a. dorcas Reichenow, 1888 (dorcas phenotype).
• 4 Most of these animals currently survive on the islands without being fed by humans, and should be protected.

     

The Origin and Genetic Status of Insular Caprines in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Case Study of Free-Ranging Goats (Capra aegagrus cretica) on Crete

The history and species status of free-ranging goats inhabiting the Eastern Mediterranean islands is discussed with reference to morphometric, archaeological and genetic findings. A case study on the free-ranging goats on Crete (Capra aegagrus cretica) is presented. The phenotype of the Cretan goat resembles that of the wild bezoar goat (C. aegagrus). However, the mitochondrial DNA of cytochrome b and d-loop sequences shows affinity with domestic goats. It has been suggested that the Cretan goat represents a feral animal that was introduced onto the island during the 6th millennium b.c. as a primitive domestic, and has retained the wild morphotype but has undergone significant genetic change. An alternative explanation, and the one that is proposed here, is that the goat was introduced onto the island in wild form and released as a food source. Subsequent introgressions with domestic animals, especially ewes, have influenced its genotype. These conclusions are applicable to other free-living goats and sheep which inhabit islands in the Eastern Mediterranean.     

Distribution,status and conservation problems of the Spanish Ibex,Capra pyrenaica (Mammalia: Artiodactyla)†

In this paper, the distribution and status of the Spanish Ibex, Capra pyrenaica (Mammalia: Artiodactyla), are revised. The whole Iberian population numbers nearly 50 000, distributed in more than 50 nuclei, and has generally increased during the last decades. Nevertheless, within this wider context, different conditions apply to different populations, including recent extinction (the Pyrenean population), recovery from recent severe epizooty of sarcoptic mange (e.g. the Sierras de Cazorla and Segura y Las Villas range population) and populations at high densities (e.g. Gredos mountain range and Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, among others). The main factors affecting the conservation of this species are also reported and discussed. On the basis of current information we propose the status of ‘vulnerable’ for the Spanish Ibex.     

青山羊（Capra，hircus）小肠凝集素的分离、纯化及性质研究

报道了青山羊小肠凝集素的分离、纯化及性质研究。青山羊小肠先经过含有巯基乙醇的磷酸缓冲液抽提,然后上Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ６Ｂ柱及ＤＥＡＥ－Ｃｅｌｌｕｌｏｓｅ－２３柱,得到纯化的青山羊小肠凝集素。采用ＳＤＳ电泳法测得其分子量在６６１００左右,而且该凝集素不含糖,对人Ｂ型血球有专一性凝集作用。半抗原抑制实验表明它对半乳糖（乳糖）有亲和性。其中酸性氨基酸含量较高,组氨酸、蛋氨酸含量较低。该凝集素在胚胎期出现,出生后几个月达到高峰然后逐渐下降,最后消失。     

Biochemical and genetic analysis of variant C of caprine αs2-casein (Capra hircus)

Two alleles, A and B, were previously described at the goat α_s2-casein locus. Isoelectric focusing allowed us to subdivide the former one in two new alleles, called A and C. Although α_s2-casein C cannot actually be distinguished from its A counterpart by starch or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it differs from the previous allele by a single substitution Lys (A)/Ile (C) at position 167, which was confirmed at the nucleotide level. The frequencies of the three α_s2-casein alleles A, B and C were estimated to be 0.85, 0.04 and 0.11 in the French dairy breeds ‘Alpine’ and ‘Saanen’.     

An allele associated with a non-detectable amount of αs2 casein in goat milk

The goat CSN1S2 locus is characterized by the presence of three alleles, A, B and C, all associated with about 2.5 g/l of protein per allele. The SDS-PAGE analysis of 441 individual milk samples obtained from goats belonging to a population reared in Southern Italy showed that the milk produced by three goats did not apparently contain alpha s2-casein, whereas milk produced by 37 goats showed a less intense electrophoretic band of this casein fraction (about 50%). These results can be explained by hypothesizing the presence of another allele at this locus, CSN1S2o, associated with a 'null' content of alpha s2-casein. Southern blot, PCR and PCR-RFLP analyses of the DNA region containing the CSN1S2 gene of individuals producing milk with and without alpha s2-casein did not show differences between the two groups. As a consequence, goats producing milk without alpha s2-casein carry an apparently intact gene. The first results obtained by sequencing part of the CSN1S2o allele revealed a G-->A transition at nucleotide 80 of the 11th exon which creates a stop codon and could be responsible for the absence of the alpha s2-casein in goat milk. This mutation eliminates a NcoI restriction site. A test based on this polymorphism has been established in order to identify carriers of the CSN1S2o allele.     

Geographical partitioning of goat diversity in Europe and the Middle East

Thirty microsatellite markers were analysed in 1426 goats from 45 traditional or rare breeds in 15 European and Middle Eastern countries. In all populations inbreeding was indicated by heterozygosity deficiency (mean FIS = 0.10). Genetic differentiation between breeds was moderate with a mean FST value of 0.07, but for most (c. 71%) northern and central European breeds, individuals could be assigned to their breeds with a success rate of more than 80%. Bayesian-based clustering analysis of allele frequencies and multivariate analysis revealed at least four discrete clusters: eastern Mediterranean (Middle East), central Mediterranean, western Mediterranean and central/northern Europe. About 41% of the genetic variability among the breeds could be explained by their geographical origin. A decrease in genetic diversity from the south-east to the north-west was accompanied by an increase in the level of differentiation at the breed level. These observations support the hypothesis that domestic livestock migrated from the Middle East towards western and northern Europe and indicate that breed formation was more systematic in north-central Europe than in the Middle East. We propose that breed differentiation and molecular diversity are independent criteria for conservation.     

Epizoochorous dispersal by ungulates depends on fur,grooming and social interactions

The transport phase of the animal‐mediated plant dispersal process is critical to dispersal effectiveness as it determines the spatial distribution of the diaspores released and their chance for further recruitment. Assessing this specific phase of the dispersal process generally requires combining diaspore retention times with the associated distances covered. Here, we specifically tested the effect of grooming behavior, interindividual contacts and ungulate fur on diaspore retention times and associated dispersal distances for the hooked diaspores of Xanthium strumarium L. experimentally attached to tamed individuals of three ungulate species. We used a comparative approach based on differing fur quality on different body zones of these three ungulates. During 6‐hr sessions, we monitored for grooming and social interactions that may induce intended or inadvertent diaspore detachment. Additionally, we proposed innovative approaches to directly assessing diaspore dispersal distances by red deer in situ. Fat‐tailed functions fitted diaspore retention time, highlighting the potential for long‐distance dispersal events. The longer the hair, the higher the retention capacity of diaspores in the animal's fur. As predicted, donkey retained diaspores longer than red deer and dwarf goat; and we also confirmed that diaspores attached to the short hair of the head fell off more quickly than did those on the other body zones. Dwarf goat groomed more often than both red deer and donkey, but also when it carried diaspores. Up to 14% of the diaspores detached from animal fur after specific grooming behavior. We observed, in controlled conditions, for the first time and for each ungulate species, interindividual transfers of diaspores, representing 5% of the diaspores attached to animals’ fur. Our results militate for incorporating animal behavior into plant dispersal modeling approaches.     

InDels within caprine IGF2BP1 intron 2 and the 3′-untranslated regions are associated with goat growth traits

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is involved in the Hedgehog pathway and has been shown to regulate the RNA stability of several growth-related target genes. It is located in a quantitative trait locus showing a strong association with traits related to body size in ducks. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) also participates in Hedgehog signaling pathways and has been reported to be associated with organic growth and development. FGFR1-knockout mice have been shown to have severe postnatal growth defects, including an approximately 50% reduction in body weight and bone mass. Meanwhile, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor (SMG6) can maintain genomic stability, which is associated with organic growth and development. Therefore, we hypothesized that IGF2BP1, FGFR1 and SMG6 genes may play important roles in the growth traits of goats. In this study, the existence of two insertion/deletion (InDel) variants within IGF2BP1, one InDel within FGFR1 and two InDels within SMG6 was verified and their correlation with growth traits was analyzed in 2429 female Shaanbei white cashmere goats. Results showed both the 15 bp InDel in intron 2 and the 5 bp InDel in the 3′ regulatory region within IGF2BP1 were significantly associated with growth traits (P < 0.05) and goats with the combinatorial homozygous insertion genotypes of these two loci had the highest body weight (P = 0.046). The other InDels within FGFR1 and SMG6 were not obviously associated with growth traits (P > 0.05). Therefore, the two InDels in IGF2BP1 were vital mutations affecting goat growth traits.     

New aspects of an old discussion - phylogenetic relationships of Ammotragus and Pseudois within the subfamily Caprinae based on comparison of the 12S rDNA sequences

A mitochondrial 12S rDNA fragment was amplified by PCR and directly sequenced from eight members of the Caprinae ( Ammotragus lervia, Capra aegagrus, Ovis ammon, O. musimon, O. nivicola, O. orientalis, O. vignei and Pseudois nayaur ). Multiple alignment of the sequences and genetic distance calculation with the'distance of Taijama and Nei and the algorithms of Saitou and Nei (neighbour-joining - NJ) showed that Pseudois is grouped together with Capra and Ammotragus . All members of the genus Oxis formed a second cluster. Phylogenetic analyses supported these results. NJ-analyses and maximum parsimony (MP) trees did not support the present phylogenetic classification. Bootstrap values of 95% (NJ) and 96% (MP) confirms the grouping of P. nayaur and C. aegagrus . Another clade, O. ammon and O. orientalis supported weakly by bootstrap values of 65% (MP) and 70% (NJ) and the clade O. musimonand O. vignei had bootstrap values of 50% (MP) and 60% (NJ). So the phylogenetic relationship within the genus Oxis is still unsafe. But the parsimony analyses lead to the conclusion that Ammotragus represents an old lineage that diverged from ancestral caprines together with true sheep a long time ago and that both true goats and blue sheep forms represent one evolutionary lineage.     

Characterization of two new alleles at the goat CSN1S2 locus

Two novel alleles at the goat CSN1S2 locus have been identified: CSN1S2(F) and CSN1S2(D). Sequence analyses revealed that the CSN1S2(F) allele is characterized by a G --> A transition at the 13th nucleotide in exon 3 changing the seventh amino acid of the mature protein from Val to Ile. The CSN1S2(D) allele, apparently associated with a decreased synthesis of alpha s2-casein, is characterized by a 106-bp deletion, involving the last 11 bp of the exon 11 and the first 95 bp of the following intron. Methods (PCR-RFLP and PCR) for identification of carriers of these alleles have been developed.     

Buck (Capra hircus) genes encode new members of the spermadhesin family

Spermadhesins are the major proteins of boar seminal plasma and form a group of polypeptides probably involved in reproduction. In previous work, a member of the spermadhesin family from buck seminal plasma, called BSFP, was characterized by mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. The present study aimed to clone and characterize the BSFP gene and investigate its expression along the genital tract using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cDNAs of the seminal vesicle, testis, epididymis, bulbourethral gland, and ductus deferens were prepared from a buck. Following 3'- and 5'-end amplifications using seminal vesicle cDNA, we cloned and sequenced four highly similar (97-98%) nucleotide sequences encoding spermadhesins, which were named Bodhesin-1(Bdh-1), Bdh-2, Bdh-3, and Bdh-4. All deduced amino acid sequences contained the CUB domain signature and were 49-52% similar to boar AWN. Among the four Bdh amino acid sequences, Bdh-2 was the most similar to the BSFP N-terminal fragment. By using real-time PCR, it was verified specific amplifications for all Bdh in the seminal vesicle, testis, epididymis, and bulbourethral gland, with the exception of Bdh-2 in epididymis. The amplicons had a melting temperature and size of approximately 78 degrees C and 130 bp, respectively. Bdh expression was higher in the seminal vesicle when compared to the other tissues. The present work confirms that goat is the fifth mammalian species, after pig, cattle, horse, and sheep, in which spermadhesin molecules are found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on buck spermadhesin genes using molecular cloning and expression profile.     

不同年龄雄性北山羊发情期时间分配特征

前人研究表明,可多次繁殖的反刍物种其雄性个体在发情期采食时间显著减少。目前有两个假说解释这一现象,即能量摄入最大化假说和能量保存假说。为验证雄性北山羊在不同发情阶段所采取的能量保存策略,作者于2014年10-12月在新疆天山中部采用焦点动物取样法采集数据,采用Kruskal-Wallis检验和Spearman秩相关性检验分析数据。研究发现雄性北山羊成体和亚成体发情期采食时间均显著低于发情前期和发情后期,但二者在不同发情阶段卧息时间无显著变化,发情期采食和卧息时间比亦显著降低。发情期发情行为时间显著高于发情前期和发情后期,非发情时间主要用于采食。发情期采食时间和卧息时间都与发情行为时间呈显著的负相关关系。雌性北山羊发情期采食时间亦显著低于发情前期和发情后期,发情期和发情后期卧息时间显著高于发情前期。本研究结果表明,发情期不同年龄阶段雄羊都主要采取能量摄入最大化策略,但同时也具有部分能量保存策略的特征。     

Eimeria Caprovina Sp. N. From the Domestic Goat, Capra Hircus, From the Usa

Oocysts of Eimeria caprovina sp. n. from the domestic goat, Capra hircus , are ellipsoidal, subspherical or slightly ovoid, usually flattened at the micropylar end. They measure 29.7 (26-36) × 23.7 (23-28) μ. the sporocysts are elongate ovoids, measuring 14.3 (13-17) × 8.3 (8-9) μ. with Stieda bodies at the narrow ends. the oocyst wait is 1.6 μ thick, smooth, dark-brown to brownish-yellow, and 2-layered. A micropyle. 6.2 (4-10) μ in diameter, polar granule, and sporocyst residuum are present: micropylar cap and oocyst residuum are absent.     

Estimating handling times for herbivore diets: a statistical method using the gamma distribution

1. We present a statistical model for the prediction of handling times for different diet items of herbivores foraging in heterogeneous environments, based on the distribution of time intervals between bites.
2. We propose the gamma distribution as a convenient and appropriate model for foraging data and illustrate its use with field observations of foraging Nubian ibex ( Capra ibex nubiana Linnaeus 1758) in the Negev Desert of Israel.
3. Specifically, we demonstrate how to estimate handling times from skewed frequency data of intervals between bites within patches.
4. We compared two mathematically equivalent gamma models and found a pronounced difference in the numerical results in fitting empirical data.
5. Estimated handling times varied with bite size, but not with plant category or sex of the foraging animal.
6. Fitting a gamma model to foraging data allows the efficient estimation of minimum handling constraints, mean handling times and within-patch cropping rates, which should be useful for models of the herbivore foraging process.     

甘肃马鬃山北山羊春季卧息地的选择

2010年4～5月,在甘肃马鬃山采用样线法对北山羊Capra ibex春季卧息地的选择性进行了研究,共测定了63个卧息地样方,63个对照样方.经过分析表明,北山羊卧息地选择偏好利用阳坡、上坡位、膜果麻黄与裸岩(P<0.05),同时具有海拔高、坡度大、远离道路、远离居民点、距水源较近、接近隐蔽物、隐蔽级高等特征(P<0....     

Daily rhythm of body and auricle temperature in goats kept at two different ambient temperatures

In fluctuating environmental temperature, homeotherms are able to maintain stable their body temperature, which however reveals a rhythmic daily pattern as described in literature. Because of the importance of body temperature rhythmicity in the knowledge of thermal homeostasis and as a means to facilitate the study of biological rhythmicity in general, the aim of our study was to assess the influence of two different ambient temperature on the daily rhythmicity of body and auricle temperature in goat (Capra hircus). For our study 6 female adult Maltese goats (18 month old), not pregnant and clinically healthy were used. On each subject body and auricle temperature was recorded during two different periods, of 7 days each, every 3 hours for 24 hours from 07.00 to 04.00, at different environmental temperature (1^st period 18.25 ± 1.48°C, 2^nd period 28.25 ± 2.05°C). The analysis of the obtained result under two ambient temperature indicates the existence of a daily periodicity, with small differences in amplitude and acrophase between the two studied period, both in body and auricle temperature in Maltese breed goat so we can assume that environmental temperature can influence in a significant way the daily pattern of body and auricle temperature.     

Effects of Nu-Serum® on in vitro development of goat (Capra hircus) embryos

To evaluate the effects of a commercially produced serum substitute on the in vitro development of caprine embryos, registered Nubian doelings were synchronized with norgestomet-impregnated implants (Synchromate-B®: CEVA) and superovulated with descending doses of FSH-p® (Schering). A total of 246 embryos was collected and placed in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM 199, Gibco Laboratories) containing Nu-Serum® (NuS) at concentrations of 2.5%, 5.0%, 10%, or 20%. Control treatments consisted of TCM 199 alone or TCM 199 plus 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS). Embryos developed in all concentrations of NuS to the morula, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst stages. The TCM 199 plus 10% NuS had significantly higher percentages of embryos developing to the expanded blastocyst stage than TCM 199 plus 10% FBS. Time to expanded blastocyst development in NuS was shorter than in the TCM 199 plus FBS. No stage-specific block to development was observed with embryos collected and cultured in vitro for any of the treatments. These results demonstrate that NuS, when compared to FBS, allowed a higher percentage (P < 0.05) of caprine embryos to develop to the expanded blastocyst stage, thus providing a valuable substitute for FBS.     

天山中部地区北山羊食性及其季节变化

本研究采用粪便显微组织分析法,调查了天山中部地区北山羊(Capra sibirica)的食物组成及季节变化。结果表明,在北山羊的粪便显微装片中共鉴定出14科37种(属)植物。禾本科为北山羊主要食物,夏季和冬季分别占食谱的54.30%和59.34%。莎草科、豆科、蔷薇科以及菊科也是北山羊较为重要的食物。其中高山早熟禾(Poa alpina)、嵩草属(Kobresia spp.)和针茅属(Stipa spp.)物种均为夏季和冬季采食较多的植物。卡方检验结果表明,北山羊的食物组成在夏季和冬季间有明显变化,蔷薇科和菊科在冬季食谱中所占的比例显著低于夏季(蔷薇科,Pearson χ~2=13.737,df=1,P0.01;菊科,Pearson χ~2=4.784,df=1,P0.05),而对禾本科的采食比例冬季显著高于夏季(禾本科,Pearson χ~2=4.319,df=1,P0.05)。种属水平上北山羊夏季与冬季的采食食物种类的比例具有极显著差异(Pearson χ~2=89.495,df=36,P0.01)。上述研究结果表明,天山中部地区的北山羊属于泛食性物种,且食性有明显的季节变化。     

The Fate of Mitochondria in Ibex-hirus Reconstructed Early Embryos

Nuclear transfer can be used to maintain limited popu-lations of highly endangered species [1–3] . Especiallywhen the oocytes of these species are difficult to obtain,inter-species nuclear transfer seems more appropriate forthis goal. The main methods are as follows: somatic cellis injected directly or fused by electroporation with re-cipient enucleated oocyte. Therefore, nDNA as well asmtDNA ought to be transferred totally or partially to theoocyte. Mitochondria provides adenosine triphos…