Major hurricanes affect body condition of American crocodile Crocodylus acutus inhabiting Mexican Caribbean islands

2020 ◽  
Vol 651 ◽  
pp. 145-162
Author(s):  
D Labarre ◽  
P Charruau ◽  
WFJ Parsons ◽  
S Larocque-Desroches ◽  
JA Gallardo-Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Crocodylus Acutus ◽  
Major Hurricane ◽  
Reproductive Events

Recent models suggest that anthropogenic global warming will lead to an increase in the number of major hurricanes, which have strong effects on ecosystems and may modify animal population characteristics. The goal of this study was to assess the body condition of American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus of Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro islands, Mexico, and use it as a tool to better understand short- and long-term effects of hurricanes on crocodilian populations. Changes in body condition (Fulton’s K) of 392 crocodiles, captured between 2003 and 2015, were assessed and analyzed in response to a major hurricane through different environmental factors. Differences among populations and size classes, and between sexes, together with seasonal variation, were also evaluated. The body condition of crocodiles was generally good, with better condition for Banco Chinchorro, suggesting that these populations and the ecosystems they inhabit are healthy. Body condition for hatchlings and adults was higher than for other classes, with adults exhibiting the best condition. Body condition of Banco Chinchorro individuals varied seasonally, responding to reproductive events and environmental parameter fluctuations. We also found that C. acutus body condition is sensitive to the passage of tropical cyclones, most likely through their effects on salinity, temperature, and prey availability. Tropical cyclones have a 2fold effect on populations. In the short-term, crocodile health is negatively affected by disturbance, while the species seems to maintain and improve its body condition over the longer term. An increase in strong tropical cyclone frequency could impede the recovery of populations, while causing a continual decrease in crocodile body condition.

scholarly journals Survival of the fattest: linking body condition to prey availability and survivorship of killer whales

Ecosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Stewart ◽  
John W. Durban ◽  
Holly Fearnbach ◽  
Lance G. Barrett‐Lennard ◽  
Paige K. Casler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Killer Whales

scholarly journals Relation of Automated Body Condition Scoring System and Inline Biomarkers (Milk Yield, β-Hydroxybutyrate, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Progesterone in Milk) with Cow’s Pregnancy Success

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Ramūnas Antanaitis ◽  
Vida Juozaitienė ◽  
Dovilė Malašauskienė ◽  
Mindaugas Televičius ◽  
Mingaudas Urbutis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Analyzer ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation of automatically determined body condition score (BCS) and inline biomarkers such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), milk yield (MY), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and progesterone (mP4) with the pregnancy success of cows. The cows (n = 281) had 2.1 ± 0.1. lactations on average, were 151.6 ± 0.06 days postpartum, and were once tested with “Easy scan” ultrasound (IMV imaging, Scotland) at 30–35 d post-insemination. According to their reproductive status, cows were grouped into two groups: non-pregnant (n = 194 or 69.0% of cows) and pregnant (n = 87 or 31.0% of cows). Data concerning their BCS, mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected each day from the day of insemination for 7 days. The BCS was collected with body condition score camera (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden); mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected with the fully automated real-time analyzer Herd Navigator™ (Lattec I/S, Hillerød, Denmark) in combination with a DeLaval milking robot (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden). Of all the biomarkers, three differences between groups were significant. The body condition score (BCS) of the pregnant cows was higher (+0.49 score), the milk yield (MY) was lower (−4.36 kg), and milk progesterone in pregnant cows was (+6.11 ng/mL) higher compared to the group of non-pregnant cows (p < 0.001). The pregnancy status of the cows was associated with their BCS assessment (p < 0.001). We estimated that cows with BCS > 3.2 were 22 times more likely to have reproductive success than cows with BCS ≤ 3.2.

scholarly journals Ecological and Physiological Factors Affecting Brood Patch Area and Prolactin Levels in Arctic-Nesting Geese

The Auk ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jón Einar Jónsson ◽  
Alan D. Afton ◽  
Ray T. Alisauskas ◽  
Cynthia K. Bluhm ◽  
Mohamed E. El Halawani
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Patch Area ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Chen Caerulescens ◽  
Brood Patch ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Ross's Geese

AbstractWe investigated effects of ecological and physiological factors on brood patch area and prolactin levels in free-ranging Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens; hereafter “Snow Geese”) and Ross's Geese (C. rossii). On the basis of the body-size hypothesis, we predicted that the relationships between prolactin levels, brood patch area, and body condition would be stronger in Ross's Geese than in the larger Snow Geese. We found that brood patch area was positively related to clutch volume and inversely related to prolactin levels in Ross's Geese, but not in Snow Geese. Nest size, nest habitat, and first egg date did not affect brood patch area in either species. Prolactin levels increased as incubation progressed in female Snow Geese, but this relationship was not significant in Ross's Geese. Prolactin levels and body condition (as indexed by size-adjusted body mass) were inversely related in Ross's Geese, but not in Snow Geese. Our findings are consistent with the prediction that relationships between prolactin levels, brood patch area, and body condition are relatively stronger in Ross's Geese, because they mobilize endogenous reserves at faster rates than Snow Geese.Factores Ecológicos y Fisiológicos que Afectan el Área del Parche de Incubación y los Niveles de Prolactina en Gansos Nidificantes del Ártico

Morphometric discrimination of pelagic fish stocks challenged by variation in body condition

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 711-718
Author(s):  
George Geladakis ◽  
Nikolaos Nikolioudakis ◽  
George Koumoundouros ◽  
Stylianos Somarakis
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Shape Variation ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Morphometric Characters ◽  
Mesozooplankton Biomass ◽  
Stock Discrimination ◽  
Principal Coordinates

Abstract Morphometric characters have traditionally been used to describe the population structure of fishes. Body shape variation, which is often environmentally induced, may provide a good record of short-term population structuring. However, factors unrelated to environmental or genetic influences on body morphology may complicate sampling and the use of morphometric features for stock discrimination. In the present study, we used geometric morphometric variables to compare the European sardine Sardina pilchardus putative stocks of the Aegean and Ionian Seas (eastern Mediterranean). Landmark data of fish collected at seven different sites were subjected to canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). The average body condition of sardines from these sites was strongly and linearly related to corresponding scores along CAP1, the axis exhibiting the highest correlation with the morphometric data cloud. The average scores along CAP2 and CAP3 appeared to be linked to morphological differentiation related to temperature effects and prey availability (mesozooplankton biomass). Despite the primary and confounding effect of body condition, discrimination of different morphotypes corresponding to the Aegean and the Ionian Sea stocks was highly significant with 81% correct reallocations for the respective CAP model.

Implications of body condition and seasonality on morphological and functional parameters of testes of Myotis nigricans (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029
Author(s):  
Marcelo Ferreira ◽  
Aline Soldati ◽  
Sirlene S. S. Rodrigues ◽  
Laércio dos Anjos Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
The Mean

The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including Brazil, and has a reproductive biology that is affected by climate and food availability. To evaluate the reproductive capacity of this species, morphofunctional parameters of the testes were correlated with environmental variables and the body condition of individuals captured. After bats had been killed, their testes were removed, fixed in Karnovsky’s fluid for 24 h and embedded in resin for evaluation by light microscopy. The mean annual tubulosomatic index (0.58%) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules in the testes (88.96%) were the highest ever recorded for the Order Chiroptera. The percentage of Leydig cells and volume of the cytoplasm of Leydig cells were higher in the rainy than dry season (80.62 ± 3.19% and 573.57 ± 166.95 μm, respectively; mean ± s.d.). Conversely, the percentage of nuclei of the Leydig cells in the dry season (26.17 ± 3.70%; mean ± s.d.) and the total number of Leydig cells (6.38 ± 1.84 × 109; mean ± s.d.) were higher in the dry season. The results of the present study could help in future conservation of these bats because they provide a better understanding of the bats’ reproductive strategies and how the species can adapt to changes.

Do researchers impact their study populations? Assessing the effect of field procedures in a long term population monitoring of sea kraits

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 365-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Fauvel ◽  
François Brischoux ◽  
Marine Jeanne Briand ◽  
Xavier Bonnet
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Head Morphology

Long term population monitoring is essential to ecological studies; however, field procedures may disturb individuals. Assessing this topic is important in worldwide declining taxa such as reptiles. Previous studies focussed on animal welfare issues and examined short-term effects (e.g. increase of stress hormones due to handling). Long-term effects with possible consequences at the population level remain poorly investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of widely used field procedures (e.g. handling, marking, forced regurgitation) both on short-term (hormonal stress response) and on long-term (changes in body condition, survival) scales in two intensively monitored populations of sea kraits (Laticauda spp.) in New Caledonia. Focusing on the most intensively monitored sites, from 2002 to 2012, we gathered approximately 11 200 captures/recaptures on 4500 individuals. Each snake was individually marked (scale clipping + branding) and subjected to various measurements (e.g. body size, head morphology, palpation). In addition, a subsample of more than 500 snakes was forced to regurgitate their prey for dietary analyses. Handling caused a significant stress hormonal response, however we found no detrimental long-term effect on body condition. Forced regurgitation did not cause any significant effect on both body condition one year later and survival. These results suggest that the strong short-term stress provoked by field procedures did not translate into negative effects on the population. Although similar analyses are required to test the validity of our conclusions in other species, our results suggest distinguishing welfare and population issues to evaluate the potential impact of population surveys.

scholarly journals Decline in body condition in the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in the Southern Ocean during the 1990s

Polar Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-273
Author(s):  
Céline Cunen ◽  
Lars Walløe ◽  
Kenji Konishi ◽  
Nils Lid Hjort
Keyword(s):  
Model Selection ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
The Body ◽  
Antarctic Minke Whale ◽  
Minke Whales ◽  
Balaenoptera Bonaerensis ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractChanges in the body condition of Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) have been investigated in a number of studies, but remain contested. Here we provide a new analysis of body condition measurements, with particularly careful attention to the statistical model building and to model selection issues. We analyse body condition data for a large number (4704) of minke whales caught between 1987 and 2005. The data consist of five different variables related to body condition (fat weight, blubber thickness and girth) and a number of temporal, spatial and biological covariates. The body condition variables are analysed using linear mixed-effects models, for which we provide sound biological motivation. Further, we conduct model selection with the focused information criterion (FIC), reflecting the fact that we have a clearly specified research question, which leads us to a clear focus parameter of particular interest. We find that there has been a substantial decline in body condition over the study period (the net declines are estimated to 10% for fat weight, 7% for blubber thickness and 3% for the girth). Interestingly, there seems to be some differences in body condition trends between males and females and in different regions of the Antarctic. The decline in body condition could indicate major changes in the Antarctic ecosystem, in particular, increased competition from some larger krill-eating whale species.

scholarly journals Reproductive strategies of two Curimatidae species in a Mogi Guaçu impoundment, upper Paraná River basin, São Paulo, Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 847-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Peressin ◽  
Cristina da Silva Gonçalves ◽  
Francisco Manoel de Souza Braga
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
The Body ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Upper Paraná River ◽  
Upper Paraná River Basin ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Considering that reproduction studies are fundamental to understand the life cycle of organisms, this study aimed to investigate the reproductive strategies of saguirus Cyphocharax nagelii and Steindachnerina insculpta in a dam of Mogi Guaçu River, (SP). Specimens were collected between August 2005 and July 2006 using gillnets with mesh sizes ranging from 1.5 to 5.0 cm between adjacent knots. Reproductive dynamics, body condition, reproductive period, spawning type and fecundity were analyzed in both species. The body condition reflected the reproductive dynamics, and differed significantly between the wet and dry seasons. During the dry season, the feeding activity and the accumulation of fat in the visceral cavity were higher. The reproductive period of both species covered the months between August and February, with peaks in October and December, and the distribution of the diameters of oocytes allowed to classify them as total spawners. The fecundity increased with weight and length, reaching 28,800 and 27,906 oocytes per female for C. nagelii and S. insculpta, respectively, whereas the amplitude of oocyte diameters varied between 50-1025 µm for the former and 75-975 µm for the later species. Taking into account that species with different reproductive strategies also respond differently to environmental impacts, our findings provide important information to subsidize management plans for these curimatid species.

scholarly journals Rodent helminths in fragmented Atlantic Forest areas in the western region of the state of Paraná

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danise Benatti ◽  
Luis Felipe Andrietti ◽  
José Flávio Cândido Júnior ◽  
Alexandre Vogliotti ◽  
Marcela Figueirêdo Duarte Moraes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
New Host ◽  
The Western Region

Abstract Rodents are small mammals that can be parasitized by various helminths. This study aimed to identify and describe the ecological indicators of infection in rodents captured in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. Sixty-eight specimens of five rodent species were collected, necropsied, and inspected in search of helminths. The parasites were stored in 70% ethanol, morphologically identified, and counted for calculation of infection indicators. Fourteen species of helminths and one species of Crustacea were recorded: ten in Akodon montensis, four in Mus musculus, two in Thaptomys nigrita, two in Oligoryzomys nigripes, and one in Euryoryzomys russatus. The registered species of parasites were: Rodentolepis akodontis, Angiostrongylus sp., Protospirura numidica criceticola, Trichuris navonae, Syphacia alata, Syphacia criceti, Syphacia evaginata, Trichofreitasia lenti, Stilestrongylus aculeata, Stilestrongylus eta, Stilestrongylus gracielae, Stilestrongylus franciscanus, Stilestrongylus moreli, Stilestrongylus sp., and Pentastomida gen. sp. A positive correlation between the intensity of infection of T. navonae and T. lenti was observed with the body condition index of the host A. montensis. For all species, this study represents a new register of locality, and for eight of them a new host.

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