Tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazine immobilization of fishers (Martes pennanti)

The effectiveness of tiletamine plus zolazepam (Telazol) and xylazine as an immobilizing combination for fishers (Martes pennanti) was evaluated. Ten fishers were intramuscularly injected using a 5:3 mixture of Telazol (2.9+/-0.6 mg/kg [mean+/-SD]) and xylazine (2.1+/-0.4 mg/kg) at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan (USA) during May to October, 2001-05. Mean induction time was 4.7+/-4.4 min; mean recovery time was 94.6+/-46.0 min. There was no relationship between the amount (mg/kg) of Telazol-xylazine injected and time to first effect of immobilants, dosage and time to induction, or between dosage and time to recovery. Mean heart rate remained constant through 20 min postinduction. Respiratory rate and body temperature declined through 10 and 20 min postinduction, respectively. No mortality occurred and no adverse effects were observed in individuals up to 19 mo later. It was concluded that a 5:3 mixture of Telazol-xylazine is a safe and effective immobilizing agent for fishers when conducting nonsurgical field procedures. Immobilizing fishers with 6-7 mg/kg of the combination (3.8-4.4 mg/kg Telazol and 2.3-2.6 mg/kg xylazine) should provide > or =30 min of handling time and allow full recovery in < 90 min.     

Prenatal development in fishers (Martes pennanti)

We evaluated and quantified prenatal growth of fishers (Martes pennanti) using ultrasonography. Seven females gave birth to 21 kits. The first identifiable embryonic structures were seen 42 d prepartum; these appeared to be unimplanted blastocysts or gestational sacs, which subsequently implanted in the uterine horns. Maternal and fetal heart rates were monitored from first detection to birth. Maternal heart rates did not differ among sampling periods, while fetal hearts rates increased from first detection to birth. Head and body differentiation, visible limbs and skeletal ossification were visible by 30, 23 and 21 d prepartum, respectively. Mean diameter of gestational sacs and crown-rump lengths were linearly related to gestational age (P < 0.001). Biparietal and body diameters were also linearly related to gestational age (P < 0.001) and correctly predicted parturition dates within 1-2 d.     

Delayed implantation in the Beech marten (Martes foina)

A detailed study of more than 100 Beech martens ( Martes foina ) captured in the Bordeaux region of France has revealed that this species exhibits a prolonged eight month period of delayed implantation which is initiated shortly after mating in July and is terminated in late February. Implantation is followed by a period of normal gestation lasting about 30 days. Birth of the young at the end of March/beginning of April is followed by a period of lactation which may last until mid-May.
The Beech marten appears to conform to the pattern exhibited by other mustelids with delayed implantation in possessing inactive corpora lutea throughout the delay phase. The resumption of normal embryonic growth is preceded by a phase of luteal activation during which the corpora lutea increase in size and vascularity the luteal cells hypertrophy and the plasma concentration of progesterone increases significantly.     

Tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazine immobilization of American marten (Martes americana)

The effectiveness of tiletamine-zolazepam (Telazol) and xylazine as an immobilizing combination for American martens (Martes americana) was evaluated. Fifteen martens were intramuscularly injected on 19 occasions using a 3:2 mixture of tiletamine-zolazepam (3.2+/-0.6 mg/kg [mean +/- SD]) and xylazine (2.1+/-0.4 mg/kg) at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan (USA) during May to October 2002-2003. Mean induction time was 2.5+/-1.8 min; mean recovery time was 70.8+/-31.9 min. There was no relation between the amount (mg/kg) of tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazine injected and induction (r(2)=0.08, P=0.26). However, there was an inverse relation (r(2)=0.28, P<0.01) between dosage and time to first effect of immobilants. Time to recovery increased (r(2)=0.21, P=0.05) with increased dosage. Mean heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature declined through 10 min postinduction (P<0.05). No mortality occurred and no short-term adverse effects were observed in recaptured individuals. In conclusion, a 3:2 mixture of tiletamine-zolazepam/xylazine is a safe and effective immobilizing agent for martens when conducting non-surgical field procedures. Immobilizing martens with 4.2 mg/kg tiletamine-zolazepam and 2.8 mg/kg xylazine should provide < or =30 min of handling time and allow full recovery in about 70 min.     

Accuracy in molecular sexing of martens (Martes americana and Martes caurina) varies among sample types

We evaluated the accuracy of sex identification using the SRY marker for American marten (Martes americana) and Pacific marten (Martes caurina) using samples collected from commercial trappers and those obtained via noninvasive sampling. We determined that sex identification from Lut-SRY primers is accurate at >90% for muscle and hair samples collected noninvasively. We found much lower accuracy when using hair samples plucked from trapper-killed carcasses, errors presumably incurred from contamination from the DNA of trappers, who were entirely male. We also found that the sequence generated from Lut-SRY primers, originally developed for Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), differed slightly for martens, and recommend that new primers be developed from the sequences we provide. The SRY marker can be reliably used for sex identification in both species of marten, provided that samples have low probabilities of contamination. Researchers should avoid samples collected from external locations on trapper-killed carcasses for DNA-based analyses.     

Spatio-temporal population genetics of the Danish pine marten (Martes martes)

A spatio-temporal study of genetic variation in the Danish pine marten ( Martes martes ) populations from the Jutland peninsula and from the island of Sealand was performed using 11 microsatellite markers. Samples obtained from 1892 to 2003 were subdivided into historical (prior to 1970) and recent (from 1970) groups. As compared with the historical samples, there was a significant loss of genetic variation in the recent Jutland population, but not in Sealand. Effective population sizes were estimated using Bayesian-based software (TMVP). Historical effective population sizes were 5897 (90% highest probability density, HPD, limits: 1502–6849) in Jutland and 1300 (90% HPD limits: 224–5929) in Sealand, whereas recent effective population sizes were 14.7 (90% HPD limits: 10.9–23.5) in Jutland and 802 (90% HPD limits: 51.8–5510) in Sealand. Significant genetic differentiation ( F _ST) was found between the two historical samples, between the two recent samples, and between the historical and the recent sample in Jutland; whereas the F _ST value between the historical and the recent sample in Sealand was not significant. The significant genetic differentiation between the historical and the recent samples indicates changes in the genetic compositions over time, and the higher F _ST values between the two recent samples, as compared with the two historical samples, indicates that the populations in Sealand and Jutland have drifted apart within a short time span. No deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was found within populations, indicating no further substructuring.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 457–464.     

Mitochondrial genome variation in domesticated sable (Martes zibellina)

The first comparison of mitochondrial variations in sables from captive and natural populations of the Urals, Central Siberia, Yakutia, Kamchatka, and Japan has been performed. The object of comparative analysis was a 427-bp 5' fragment of the mitochondrial control region, including the D-loop. Two main haplogroups of the sable mitochondrial genome have been found, which provides new data for reconstruction of the spread of the sable over its current range. Asymmetry of the haplotype abundances in the captive populations of sables has been detected. The mitochondrial haplotypes characteristic of sable breeds have been identified. The possible role of the frequent mitochondrial haplotypes of the captive population in the sable adaptation to the conditions of captivity is discussed.     

石貂的染色体研究

本文对分布在我国的石貂北方亚种染色体进行了较详细的研究。结果表明２ｎ＝３８,核型为１４（Ｍ）＋４（ＳＭ）＋１８（ＳＴ）,ＸＹ（Ｍ,Ａ）。Ｃ－带显示该亚种的一些染色体着丝粒区域结构异染色质弱化或消失。Ｎｏ,９染色体的短臂完全异染色质化;Ｘ染色体长臂丰出现插入杂色质带;Ｙ为完全结构异染色质组成。     

Conservation genetics of the fisher (Martes pennanti) based on mitochondrial DNA sequencing

Translocation of animals to re-establish extirpated populations or to maintain declining ones has often been carried out without genetic information on source or target populations, or adequate consideration of the potential effects of mixing genetic stocks. We consider the conservation status of the fisher (Martes pennanti) and evaluate the potential genetic consequences of past and future translocations on this medium-sized carnivore by examining population variation in mitochondrial control-region sequences. We sampled populations throughout the fisher's range in North America including five populations unaffected by translocations and two western populations that had received long-distance translocations. Twelve haplotypes showed little sequence divergence. Haplotype frequencies differed significantly among subspecies and between populations within subspecies. Analysis of molecular variance (amova) and neighbour-joining analyses of haplotype relationships revealed population subdivision similar to current subspecies designations, but which may reflect an isolation-by-distance pattern. Populations in Oregon and in Montana and Idaho received several translocations and each showed greater similarity to the populations where translocations originated than to adjacent populations. Additional sequences obtained from museum specimens collected prior to any translocations suggest historical gene flow among populations in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Anthropogenic impacts in that region have greatly reduced and isolated extant populations in Oregon and California. Future translocations may be necessary to recover populations in Washington and portions of Oregon and California; our results indicate that British Columbia would be the most appropriate source population.     

The distribution of the Pine marten (Martes tnartes) in the Republic of Ireland

The Pine marten is now mainly confined to the woodland and scrub areas of the mid-western region of Ireland (west of the river Shannon between Sligo and Limerick), though it was much more widespread in the country as recently as 50 years ago. It is suggested that this major reduction in the species' range can be attributed primarily to the continual loss and fragmentation of established woodland habitat. This resulted in a greater susceptibility of the species to predator control programmes, which included extensive poisoning campaigns and trapping to protect game and livestock. The survey recorded localized expansions of the species' range to occupy recently established conifer plantations, mostly on upland peats.     

Range expansion of the pine marten (Martes martes) in an agricultural landscape matrix (NW Italy)

Habitat segregation is considered to favour the coexistence of sympatric pine martens Martes martes and stone martens M. foina, the latter being displaced to agricultural and urbanised areas. Subsequent to the report of pine martens in cultivated areas of the western River Po plain (NW Italy), we reviewed all available information on the presence of this species in plain areas of northern Italy and, for two study areas, applied a non-invasive PCR-RFLP method for the identification of Martes species from faecal mtDNA.A total of 24 pine marten records were collected, grouped in the western part of the River Po plain. The number of records showed an exponential increase from 1988 to 2007, the percentage of woods in a 10 km² wide circular plot surrounding the location of records being inversely correlated to its distance from the 300 m a.s.l. contour line. In the two study areas, 36 out of 119 “marten-like” faeces were assigned to the pine marten, whilst none belonged to the stone marten. In the best monitored area, the pine marten was present almost constantly.Our results suggest that the pine marten is expanding its range to include cultivated areas which were previously considered a prerogative of the more synanthropic stone marten.     

Adaptations to fasting in a terrestrial mustelid, the sable (Martes zibellina)

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the actively wintering Palearctic sable Martes zibellina has evolved physiological adaptations to tolerate nutritional scarcity. Sixteen farm-bred male sables were divided into a fed control group and an experimental group fasted for 4 days. The rate of weight loss in the sable was similar to other medium-sized mustelids. Fasting led to hypoglycaemia and to a decreased lymphocyte percentage. The sable derived metabolic energy from both subcutaneous and intraabdominal white adipose tissues and the relative decrease in fat mass was the largest for the retroperitoneal and subcutaneous depots. Metabolic energy derived partly from body proteins indicated by the increased plasma levels of urea, uric acid and total essential amino acids. Triacylglycerols accumulated in the livers of the fasted sables and the increased plasma aminotransferase activities suggested hepatic dysfunction. The decreased plasma insulin concentrations and the elevated cortisol levels probably contributed to stimulated lipolysis and protein catabolism. Moreover, fasting increased the plasma ghrelin concentrations of the sables and down-regulated the thyroid activity.     

Carnivora: the primary structure of the beach marten (Martes foina, Mustelidae) hemoglobin

The primary structures of alpha- and beta-chains from the hemoglobin of the Beach Marten (Martes foina, Carnivora) are presented. The globin chains were separated on CM-cellulose in 8M urea buffer. The amino-acid sequences were established by automatic liquid- and gas-phase Edman degradation of the intact chains and the tryptic peptides from oxidized chains. Comparison of the sequences with human hemoglobin shows 21 exchanges in the alpha- and 12 in the beta-chains. The differences concerning heme and interchain contact sites as well as the substitution alpha 77 (EF6)Pro----Ala are discussed. The latter is observed for the first time in a mammalian hemoglobin. The sequences are compared with those of other Carnivora. The beta-chains of Martes foina and Pteronura brasiliensis (Giant Otter) are found to be identical, but their alpha-chains differ in 7 positions. The surprising small numbers of exchanges between the hemoglobin from Beach marten and that from Lesser and Greater Panda are discussed.     

Genetic individualization of sable (Martes zibellina L. 1758) using microsatellites

Genetic individualization based on non-invasive sampling is crucial for estimating the numbers of individuals in endangered mammalian populations. In sable (Martes zibellina)-poaching cases, identifying the number of animals involved is critical for determining the penalty. In addition, investigating animal numbers for wild sable populations requires genetic individualization when collecting several samples in neighboring regions. Microsatellites have been demonstrated to be reliable markers for individual identification. Thirty-three microsatellite loci derived from Mustelidae were selected to develop a genetic individualization method for sable. Three reference populations containing 54 unrelated sables were used to calculate allele number, allelic frequencies, and the polymorphic information content of each locus. The data were subsequently used to assess the validity of a combination of twelve loci for sable individualization. We defined twelve polymorphic loci that were easy to be amplified and genotyped. Four significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed among the 12?loci in the three populations. The match probability of an individual from the reference populations with a random individual based on the 12?loci was 1.37?×?10^?13. Using the combination of the twelve loci provides sufficient power to individualize sables considering the levels of microsatellite polymorphism observed. These loci were successfully applied to a case of sable poaching and provided valid evidence to determine the penalty. The genetic individualization of sable based on these loci might also be useful to investigate the numbers of animals in wild populations.     

Helminth parasites of fisher Martes pennanti (Erxleben) from Manitoba, Canada

Seven species of helminths were recovered during a survey of 162 fisher (Martes pennanti) from four areas of Manitoba: Baylisascaris devosi in 52 fisher; Taenia sibirica in 25; Physaloptera sp. in nine; Alaria mustelae in two; Metorchis conjunctus in one; Trichinella spiralis in one of 81; Molineus sp. in one. B. devosi was the most prevalent parasite and differences in its geographical distribution were possibly related to population density of fisher. The prevalence of other parasites did not appear to be related to density of fisher.     

Scent marking and social relationships in pine martens (Martes martes)

Scent marking was studied in pine martens (Martes martes) in female-female and male-female pairs. Results show that agonistically dominant individuals generally had higher scent marking frequencies. However, environmental familiarity can modify the social relationship, whatever the previous social experiences, and, consequently, marking activity. Despite important intra-and interindividual variations, the subjects appeared to react to physical and social modifications by an increased marking rate. One factor affecting marking activity in both novel and established pairs was the activity level of the conspecific partner. the data support the hypothesis that pine martens react in the same way to physical and social modifications, but with different response levels. The discussion focuses on possible functions of scent marking. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.