Les Cervidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) du Pléistocène supérieur-Holocène ancien de la région du Parc National Serra da Capivara (Piauí, Brésil)

The Upper Pleistocene/Lower Holocene fossil-bearing sites of the Serra da Capivara National Park Region have yielded three cervid species: Mazama gouazoubira, M. americana and Blastocerus dichotomus, all currently living in South America, the two first in the region. A grand total of more than one hundred remains demonstrates the presence of Mazama gouazoubira in seven sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas, the Toca do Serrote do Artur, the Toca da Cima dos Pilão. This small species shows, since the Upper Pleistocene, a conspicuous tendency to reduce the average dimensions of its teeth and long bones. From the taller M. americana, only a dozen of remains were found in four sites, mainly the Sitio do Meio. In all of these it is sympatric with M. gouazoubira. It differs from this last one by its cheek teeth and its limb bones size and proportions. The oldest site where the species is known is Tarija (Bolivia, Middle Pleistocene) and it does not show any significant changes in size and proportions between recent and fossil samples. Sixteen remains of the large B. dichotomus were found in five sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas and the Toca da Barra do Antonião. The species is a rare fossil, but is frequently figured in the rock art painting of the region, where it is presently unknown.     

Are Brazilian cervids at risk of prion diseases?

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative fatal disorders that affect human and non-human mammals. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a prion disease of cervids regarded as a public health problem in North America, and polymorphisms at specific codons in the PRNP gene are associated with this disease. To assess the potential CWD susceptibility of South American free-ranging deer, the presence of these polymorphisms was examined in Mazama gouazoubira, Ozotoceros bezoarticus and Blastocerus dichotomus. Despite the lack of CWD reports in Brazil, the examined codons (95, 96, 116, 132, 225, and 226) of the PRNP gene showed potential CWD susceptibility in Brazilian deer. Low abundancy of deer in Brazil possibly difficult both CWD proliferation and detection, however, CWD surveillance may not be neglected.     

Influence of digestive morphology on resource partitioning in Amazonian ungulates

Summary Resource partitioning of diet and habitat use was studied in the entire Amazonian ungulate community of Northeastern Peru, which comprises the red brocket deer (Mazama americana), grey brocket deer (M. gouazoubira), collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), white-lipped peccary (T. pecari), and lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Each ungulate species partitioned at least one type of resource from every other species. Digestive morphology had a greater influence on resource partitioning of diet than body size. Neither digestive morphology nor body size were related to segregation of habitats. However, species with similar diets partitioned habitats, whereas species with different diets often used the same type of forest. Increases in habitat breadth of ungulates were positively correlated with increases in dietary breadth.     

Chromosomal evolution of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the hypothesis that the 2n=46 karyotype of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) could have evolved through 12 tandem fusions from a 2n=70 hypothetical ancestral karyotype, which is still retained in Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and brown-brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). Combining fluorescence-activated chromosomal sorting and degenerate oligonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction, we generated chromosome-specific DNA paint probes for 13 M. gouazoubira chromosomes and most of the M. reevesi chromosomes with the exception of 18, 19 and X. These paint probes were used for fluorescence in situ hybridisation to chromosomal preparations of M. reevesi, H. inermis and M. gouazoubira. Chromosome-specific paint probes from M. reevesi chromosomes 1–5 and 11 each delineated more than one homologous pair (18 pairs in total) on the metaphases of H. inermis and M. gouazoubira. All the other probes from M. reevesi and probes from M. gouazoubira each hybridised to one pair of homologous chromosomes or regions. The C5 probe, derived from centromeric satellite sequences of M. reevesi, hybridised to the centromeric regions of all chromosomes of these three species. Most interestingly, several non-random interstitial signals, which are apparently localised to the putative fusion points, were found on chromosomes 1–5 and 11 of M. reevesi. Both the reciprocal painting patterns and localisation of the C5 probe demonstrate that M. reevesi chromosomes 1–5 and 11 could have evolved from 18 different ancestral chromosomes through 12 tandem fusions, thus providing direct molecular cytogenetic support for the tandem fusion hypothesis of karyotype evolution in M. reevesi. Received: 10 October 1996; in revised form: 18 December 1996 / Accepted: 27 December 1996     

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae)

Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is one of the most exposed large mammals in South America. To aid in the conservation management of the species, nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and tested on up to 50 animals, showing 3–12 alleles and expected heterozygosity values varying from 0.69 to 0.89. These markers should be of considerable utility in future population and ecological genetics studies of this species. The marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the biggest South American species of deer. Originally distributed across a large part of South America, stretching from the south bank of the Amazon river to northern Argentina, significant wild populations are now restricted to the Pantanal, swamp-lands that cover about 40% of southwest Brazil. The marsh deer is listed as Vulnerable on the Red List of the IUCN. Three populations of the species from three areas in the Paraná River basin (between the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul) were recently studied by observing protein polymorphism at 17 loci (Oliveira et al. 2005). Now we are presenting data about isolation of microsatellite markers to improve the results regarding population structure.     

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome and a set of polymorphic microsatellite markers through next-generation sequencing for the brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira

The complete mitochondrial genome of the brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira and a set of polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified by 454-pyrosequencing. De novo genome assembly recovered 98% of the mitochondrial genome with a mean coverage of 9-fold. The mitogenome consisted of 16,356 base pairs that included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs and the control region, as found in other deer. The genetic divergence between the mitogenome described here and a previously published report was ∼0.5%, with the control region and ND5 gene showing the highest intraspecific variation. Seven polymorphic loci were characterized using 15 unrelated individuals; there was moderate genetic variation across most loci (mean of 5.6 alleles/locus, mean expected heterozygosity = 0.70), with only one locus deviating significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, probably because of null alleles. Marker independence was confirmed with tests for linkage disequilibrium. The genetic variation of the mitogenome and characterization of microsatellite markers will provide useful tools for assessing the phylogeography and population genetic patterns in M. gouazoubira, particularly in the context of habitat fragmentation in South America.     

A cranial morphometric study of deer (Mammalia, Cervidae) from Argentina using three-dimensional landmarks

This study examines morphological variation in the crania (n = 70) of eight cervid species from Argentina. Forty 3-dimensional landmarks were acquired on each adult cervid cranium. The data were analysed using Morphologika software. The co-ordinates were registered and scaled to remove size differences by Procrustes analysis, and then principal components analysis was applied to examine shape variation. Shape variation associated with each principal component can be visualised in the program. The first principal component correlates strongly with the centroid size of the crania and also with the body mass and height of each species. The larger species were distinguished by relatively longer snouts and relatively smaller brains. The smallerMazama andPudu species cluster closely on the first as well as the other principal components. Among the larger species, the twoHippocamelus species, which live at higher altitudes, were clearly distinguished from the lowland species,Ozotoceros bezoarticus andBlastocerus dichotomus, on the basis of cranial flexion and the orientation of the occipital region. FinallyO. bezoarticus andB. dichotomus were compared directly and small differences were noted in the orbital region. The shape data was used to produce a distance matrix and a phenogram, which we relate to some of currently accepted phylogenetic relationships of this group of cervids.     

Comparative lime requirements of tropical and temperate legumes

Summary In a field trial using a continuous function design, calcium carbonate was applied to a nitrogen deficient Hawaiian Oxisol at rates which increased along the plant row from 0 to 22 tons/ha, producing a gradient in soil pH from 4.7 to 7.1. Inoculated legumes representing 18 species were grown.Lime response curves showed no distinct general difference between tropical and temperate legumes. Within each group, individual species varied. Responsiveness rankings of species varied depending on criterion of response.The species ranked as follows according to the amount of lime needed for 90% of the maximum attained yield: Coronilla varia (16 tons/ha) > Leucaena leucocephala (11) > Phaseolus vulgaris, Medicago sativa (9–10) > Glycine max var. Kanrich (7) > Glycine wightii var. Cooper, Lotus corniculatus (6) > Glycine wightii var. Tinaroo, Trifolium repens, Trifolium subterraneum (5) > Desmodium canum, Dolichos axillaris, Glycine max var. Kahala (4) > Arachis hypogea, Desmodium intortum, Vigna sinensis (1–2) > Stylosanthes fruticosa, Stylosanthes guyanensis (0.1).The species ranked as follows according to the magnitude of yield increase due to lime: C. varia (20-fold increase) > T. repens (9-fold) > L. leucocephala, D. axillaris, M. sativa (6-fold) > G. wightii var. Tinaroo (5-fold) > P. vulgaris (4-fold) > G. wightii var. Cooper, L. corniculatus (3-fold) > D. canum, D. intortum, T. subterraneum (2-fold) > A. hypogea, G. max, S. fruticosa, S. guyanensis, V. sinensis (30–50%).Improved calcium availability could account for plant responses to lime rates over 3 to 4 tons/ha. Only 4 tons CaCO₃ sufficed to raise soil pH to 6 and depress solution aluminum and manganese to low concentrations, but 6 tons were needed to raise soluble calcium to 1 meq/l and 20 tons to raise it to 3 meq/l.Journal series No. 1953 of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station.Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Davis.Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.     

Site‐specific profiles of biochemical properties in the larval digestive tract of Japanese rhinoceros beetle,Trypoxylus dichotomus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The larvae of Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, feed on dead plant material in forest soils that are derived from fallen leaves broken down by basidiomycete fungi. Our previous work provided an understanding of the degradation of polysaccharides in dead plant material by T. dichotomus larvae and reported the complexity of the physicochemical and biochemical environment of the larval gut. Here, we examined ten divisions of the digestive tract of T. dichotomus larvae for physicochemical and biochemical conditions to elucidate site‐specifically functional properties along the tract. The distribution of potassium ions, pH, and acetic acid differed markedly along the length of the digestive tract with the potassium ion concentration profile closely reflecting that of pH along the length of the digestive tract. Distinct physicochemical environments were maintained in the digestive tract along with site‐specific polysaccharide degradation. Based on these findings, we suggest that there are metabolic relationships between the activities of the enzymes involved in polysaccharide degradation, the presence of intermediate metabolites and location along the digestive tract. Furthermore, we revealed that the anterior region of the gut plays an important role in the degradation of polysaccharides in the digestive tract of T. dichotomus larvae.     

A histological study of cutaneous glands in the brown brocket deer

We examined the histological structure of 8 skin areas thought to contain cutaneous glands of potential importance in scent communication in 16 brown brocket deerMazama gouazoubira Fisher, 1814, using standard histological techniques. Frontal areas and preorbital sacs had scant glandular development. Sebaceous gland development was prominent in vestibular nasal glands and prepucial glands. Apocrine sudoriferous glands and sebaceous glands were well developed in tarsal glands, the caudal skin area and the interdigital glands of front and hind feet. The tail had a unique arrangement of apocrine sudoriferous glands. Anal glands had moderate glandular development, and metatarsal glands were absent. Several of these glandular areas may be important in the chemical communication among brocket deer.     

Transferability of microsatellite loci from Cervidae species to the endangered Brazilian marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus

Blastocerus dichotomus, the marsh deer, is the largest Brazilian Cervidae species. The species is endangered because of hunting and loss of its natural habitat, i.e., flood plain areas, because of hydroelectric power station construction and agricultural land expansion. In the present study, we tested 38 microsatellite loci from four Cervidae species: Odocoileus virginianus (7), Rangifer tarandus (17), Capreolus capreolus (7), and Mazama bororo (7). Eleven loci showed clear amplification, opening a new perspective for the generation of fundamental population genetic data for devising conservation strategies for B. dichotomus.     

The petrosal bone and bony labyrinth of early to middle Miocene European deer (Mammalia,Cervidae) reveal their phylogeny

Deer (Cervidae) have a long evolutionary history dating back to the Early Miocene, around 19 million years ago. The best known fossils to document this history belong to European taxa, which all bear cranial appendages more or less similar to today's deer antlers. Despite the good fossil record, relationships of the earliest stem deer and earliest crown deer are much debated. This hampers precise calibration against the independent evidence of the fossil record in molecular clock analyses. While much has been written on the Early and Middle Miocene deer, only two phylogenetic analyses have been performed on these taxa to date mostly based on cranial appendage characters. Because the petrosal bone and bony labyrinth have been shown to be relevant for phylogeny in ruminants, we describe for the first time these elements for four iconic early cervids from Europe (Procervulus dichotomus, Heteroprox larteti, Dicrocerus elegans and Euprox furcatus) and include them in a phylogenetic analysis based on the ear region exclusively. The analysis recovered E. furcatus in a sister position to the living red deer (Cervus elaphus). Further, it placed D. elegans in a sister position to Euprox + Cervus and a clade Procervulinae that includes P. dichotomus and H. larteti, in sister position to all other deer. The inclusion of E. furcatus in crown Cervidae, which was previously suggested based on antler morphology, cannot be ruled out here but needs a more comprehensive comparison to other crown deer to be confirmed. J. Morphol. 277:1329–1338, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Comparison of three protocols for superovulation of brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

This study aims to evaluate the ovulation rate and the presence of functional corpora lutea after treatment by three different protocols designed to cause superovulation in brown brocket deer. Six female received an intravaginal device containing 0.33 g of progesterone (CIDR®) for 8 days, followed by 0.5 mg injection of estradiol benzoate at the time of insertion and 265 µg of cloprostenol at the time of removal. Afterwards, the hinds were divided into three groups (n = 2): Treatment A received injection of 600 IU eCG on Day 4 after CIDR® insertion; Treatment B received injection of 300 IU eCG at the same time; and Treatment C received injection of 250 IU FSH dissolved in PVP, also on Day 4 post‐insertion. The treatments were crossed over with 44–48 day intervals after CIDR® removal, such that all the deer were submitted to all three treatments. The mean ovulation rate (Treatment A = 3.40 ± 0.68, Treatment B = 1.40 ± 0.24, Treatment C = 0.80 ± 0.49), total ovarian stimulation (Treatment A = 4.80 ± 1.02, Treatment B = 1.80 ± 0.37, Treatment C = 1.40 ± 0.60), and mean CL diameter (Treatment A = 7.33 ± 0.76 mm, Treatment B = 3.94 ± 0.19 mm, Treatment C = 2.18 ± 0.49 mm) in Treatment A were significantly higher than the mean ovulation rates, total ovarian stimulation, and mean CL diameter in Treatments B and C. The mean fecal progesterone metabolites at the luteal phase in Treatment A (6,277.94±2,232.47 ng/g feces) was significantly different from Treatment C (1,374.82±401.77 ng/g feces). Thus, although fertility was not evaluated directly, Treatment A proved capable of induce superovulation in the species Mazama gouazoubira, presenting the greatest mean ovulation rates, with the formation of functional corpora lutea. lutea. Zoo Biol 31:642‐655, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

中国甘蔗亚族几个容易混淆物种的订正

通过标本研究和野外考察发现:被鉴定为二色金茅和滇南金茅的国产标本实际均为四脉金茅,且二色金茅和滇南金茅在国内无分布,国内各植物志中该名称下的类群应归入四脉金茅。另发表一新组合E. quadrinervis var. latifolia(Rendle)Y. C. Liu & H. Peng.; 国内各植物志和各大标本馆在描述和鉴定Microstegium ciliatum时,常与M. fasciculatum混淆,并在各种场合错误引证; 在此澄清二者真正的区别。     

Cryptosporidium parvum in brown brocket (Mazama gouazoubira) from Brazil: First report of the subtype IIaA16G3R1 in cervids

This research had as objective to evaluate the occurrence and to characterize genetically the infections by Cryptosporidium in Mazama gouazoubira. By a non-invasive harvest methodology using trained sniffer dogs to locate fecal samples of cervids, 642 fecal samples were obtained from six Brazilian localities. The cervids species responsible for the excretion of each fecal sample were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), using the mitochondrial cytochrome b target gene (cyst b) and the restriction enzymes Sspl, AflIII and BstN. From this identification, 437 fecal samples of M. gouazoubira were selected for research of Cryptosporidium spp. performed through negative staining with malachite green and polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), with the subunit of 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing the amplified products. In the samples that were diagnosed the presence of parasite species with zoonotic potential, genotyping was also performed using nPCR with the subunit of GP60 gene. Statistical analysis consisted of the Fisher exact test to verify the association of the presence of the enteroparasite in relation to the presence of cattle in each locality, and the McNemar tests and Kappa correlation coefficient used to compare the results obtained between the two diagnostic techniques. In the fecal samples of M. gouazoubira the occurrences of Cryptosporidium were diagnosed in 1.6% (7/437) and 1.1% (5/437), respectively, through nPCR and microscopy. Cryptosporidium. parvum was diagnosed in 100% (7/7) of the samples submitted to sequencing (18S gene). The IIaA16G3R1 subtype was diagnosed in five of the C. parvum samples submitted to genotyping (GP60 gene). This is the first world report of C. parvum in M. gouazoubira and subtype IIaA16G3R1 in cervids.     

Combining citizen science and recreational hunters to monitor exotic ungulates and native wildlife in a protected area of northeastern Argentina

Monitoring wildlife population trends is essential for resource management and invasive species control, but monitoring data are hard to acquire. Citizen science projects may monitor species occurrence patterns in time and space in a cost-effective way. A systematic management program of exotic wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis) in a protected area of northeastern Argentina (El Palmar National Park) provided a framework for implementing a wildlife monitoring system based on park-affiliated hunters. We assessed the level of agreement between three indices of relative abundance: hunter sightings and camera trapping for wild boar, axis deer, capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), brown brocket deer (Mazama guazoubira), and crab-eating and pampas foxes combined (Cerdocyon thous and (Lycalopex gymnocercus), and catch per unit effort (CPUE) for both exotic ungulates only. Most (74%) hunting parties participated in the monitoring program and contributed to its sustainability. Bland-Altman plots displayed large levels of agreement between methods across species, with larger systematic differences between sighting and camera-trapping indices for native species. Restricting camera-trapping to the same time window as hunter sightings substantially increased the agreement between methods across species. Sighting and CPUE indices revealed similar temporal trends and large variations in spatial patterns between species. Comparison of the number of sighted and killed exotic ungulates indicated that, on average, 17% of wild boar and 75% of axis deer escaped hunters. The three indices were appropriate metrics for management purposes and corroborated the sustained, high-level abundance of axis deer and low numbers of wild boar in recent years.

     

Variability,morphometrics, and co-variation of the os lacrimale in Cervidae

In Ruminantia, the lacrimal bone forms a considerable part of the facial skeleton, and the morphology of its facial facet is highly variable when compared to other mammals. In this study, we quantify the species-specific variability in size and shape of the lacrimal facial facet in species of Cervidae (deer) and relate it to systematics and various aspects of their ecology and behavior. We sampled 143 skull specimens from 10 genera; 12 Moschus and 3 Tragulus specimens were used as outgroups. We find that size and shape of the lacrimal facial facet allow differentiating most species analyzed here, except for Mazama gouazoubira and Capreolus capreolus. Size and shape of the lacrimal facial facet vary widely across Cervidae regardless of their systematic relationships, ecology or behavior. Thus, we could not detect a unique signature of adaptational criteria in lacrimal morphology. Our data indicate that the lacrimal facial facet scales allometrically with skull size, in particular, the lacrimojugal length scales positively and the lacrimomaxillar length scales negatively. However, correlation analyses did not reveal any differences in the integration of the lacrimal bone with any specific skull module in any of the species compared. Lastly, we could not ascertain any correlation between the size and position of the preorbital depression with the size and shape of the lacrimal facial facet. We conclude that the lacrimal facial facet is highly flexible and may rapidly adjust to its surrounding bones. Its allometric growth appears to be an example of exaptation: changes in size and shape in the context of the increase of the skull length provide lacrimal contacts, in particular, a lacrimojugal one, which may serve to reduce mechanical loads resulting from increasingly larger antlers in large cervids.     

Control of plant parasitic nematodes with active saponins and biomass from Medicago sativa

Medicago sativa L., alfalfa, is the most known plant species within the Medicago genus. The plant has been extensively studied for its content of saponins, mainly consisting of triterpene glycosides of medicagenic acid, possessing several biological properties including a biocidal activity on different soil microorganisms. Phytoparasitic nematodes are responsible for heavy economic damages to numerous agricultural crops and, due to their large distribution, they are among the most difficult crop pests to control. Attention on environmental safety and human and animal health has led to the progressive dismission of many synthetic formulations for the control of those pests and to the search of alternative strategies, including the use of natural metabolites from plants. Saponins from M. sativa may be good candidates for natural nematicide formulations, as in our in vitro studies the saponin mixtures from M. sativa tissues have been found effective in vitro against the virus-vector nematode Xiphinema index, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the potato cyst parasite, Globodera rostochiensis. A structure–activity relationship among saponins and related prosapogenins and sapogenin, respectively, has also been analyzed. The nematicidal efficacy differed among the three assayed nematode species, G. rostochiensis being the most susceptible to the active compounds from alfalfa. The in vitro results were also confirmed by experiments in potting mixes infested by M. incognita or G. rostochiensis and amended with dry top and root material from M. sativa, and in field trials on M. incognita and carrot cyst nematode Heterodera carotae with M. sativa pelleted meal. All amendments reduced root and soil population densities of target nematode species compared to non-treated and chemical controls, with a general improvement of plant growth and yield performances.     

Habitat Preferences of Ungulates in Hunted and Nonhunted Areas in the Calakmul Forest, Campeche, Mexico1

We investigated habitat preference in the community of ungulates in the Calakmul Forest of Southern Mexico through systematically counting the tracks of six species in randomly placed transects. Tracks were associated with one of four major forest types according to Pennington and Sarukhan (1998) . Forest type availability was estimated through 393 independent points on the same transects. We surveyed 90 transects in three hunted areas and one large nonhunted area, with a total of 206 km walked. A total of 1672 tracks of the six species were found. Brocket deer (Mazama americana and Mazama pandora) preferred low‐dry forest in the nonhunted area and low‐flooded forest in the hunted areas. Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) was a generalist species in the nonhunted area, whereas in the hunted areas, it preferred the subperennial forest. White‐lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) was found only in subperennial forest in the nonhunted area and favored low‐flooded forest in the hunted areas. White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) preferred low‐flooded forest in the hunted areas, while it was a generalist in the nonhunted area. Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) preferred low‐flooded forest in the hunted areas. The most evident habitat difference among hunted and nonhunted areas was a major use of low‐flooded forest in the hunted areas for the species. Conservation of ungulate species in the Calakmul region requires protection of all major habitat types in hunted and nonhunted areas.