Genome-wide SNP assessment of contemporary European red deer genetic structure highlights the distinction of peripheral populations and the main admixture zones in Europe.

Genome-wide technologies open up new possibilities to clarify questions on genetic structure and phylogeographic history of taxa previously studied with microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequences. Here, we used 736 individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples genotyped at 35,701 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) to assess the population structure of the species throughout Europe. The results identified 28 populations, with higher degrees of genetic distinction in peripheral compared to mainland populations.

Comparative Analysis of Microsatellite and SNP Markers for Genetic Management of Red Deer.

The analysis of population genetic structure and individual multilocus heterozygosity are crucial for wildlife management and conservation. Microsatellite markers have traditionally been used to assess these genetic parameters. However, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are becoming increasingly popular.

Is the Intrasexual Competition in Male Red Deer Reflected in the Ratio of Stable Isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen in Faeces?

Isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen in faeces is a reliable methodology for studying ecology in wildlife. Here, we tested this technique to detect variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios (δC and δN) in two different intrasexual competition scenarios of male Iberian red deer () using faeces of individuals collected during hunting actions in South-eastern Spain. The carbon isotopic ratio (δC) was not found to be significant, likely due to similar diet composition in all individuals.

Exploring the potential links between gut microbiota composition and natural populations management in wild boar (Sus scrofa).

We surveyed wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations using 16S rRNA gene analysis of the gut microbiota in fresh faeces taken from 88 animals hunted in 16 hunting estates. The wild boar is a very convenient model system to explore how environmental factors including game management, food availability, disease prevalence, and behaviour may affect different biological components of wild individuals with potential implications in management and conservation. We tested the hypotheses that diet (according to stable carbon isotopes analyses), gender (i.

Genetic Diversity of Wild Boar and Deer.

Genetic diversity provides the long-term capacity of species, communities, and the biosphere to persist under change [...

Forage quality of consecutive years interact to affect body condition, reproductive rate and rut phenology in Iberian red deer.

Body condition for reproduction in capital breeders such as the red deer (Cervus elaphus) is mostly determined by their stored energy reserves. Thus, environmental conditions and resource availability may affect reproductive performance and breeding success. In warm Mediterranean regions, current climate change is driving to a hotter and drier scenario that is expected to affect the biology and dynamics of many populations.

Evaluation of candidate reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in blood from red deer developing antlers.

Sexual selection favors male traits that increase their ability to monopolize the breeding access to several females. Deer antlers are cranial appendages that regenerate annually in males. Throughout life, the phenology of antler growth advances and antler mass increases until the stag reaches, between 8 and 10 years old, maximum body mass and highest reproductive success.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values in hair reveal management differences and hidden practices in wild boar populations.

The analysis of stable isotopes in different tissues has been widely used to obtain information on the ecology and nutritional patterns of wildlife. The isotope ratios of the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δC and δN) analysed in different tissues are directly related to the animal's diet and, to some extent, to the environment where the individual has growth. Specifically, this type of analysis in hair samples has become relevant as it provides information on the quality and long-term composition of the diet that produced the isotope accumulation during the tissue growth.

Host Genetic Diversity and Infectious Diseases. Focus on Wild Boar, Red Deer and Tuberculosis.

Host genetic diversity tends to limit disease spread in nature and buffers populations against epidemics. Genetic diversity in wildlife is expected to receive increasing attention in contexts related to disease transmission and human health. Ungulates such as wild boar () and red deer () are important zoonotic hosts that can be precursors to disease emergence and spread in humans.

The dark-ventral-patch of male red deer, a sexual signal that conveys the degree of involvement in rutting behavior.

Background: In polygynous mammals, signalling may play a decisive role in mating behavior, mediating the intensity of male fights and female mate choice. During the rutting season, male red deer may show a visible dark patch in their ventral fur. Recently, this patch has been suggested to act as a flexible sexual signal, due to its relationships with other variables such as age, body size, antler development, volatile compounds, or the competitive environment.

A spatially based quantile regression forest model for mapping rural land values.

Rural land valuation plays an important role in the development of land use policies for agricultural purposes. The advance of computational software and machine learning methods has enhanced mass appraisal methodologies for modeling and predicting economic values. New machine learning methods, like tree-based regression models, have been proposed as an alternative to linear regression to predict economic values from ancillary variables, since these algorithms are able to handle non-normality and non-linearity in the data.

The Multiple Origins of Roe Deer Populations in Western Iberia and Their Relevance for Conservation.

The roe deer () is native and widespread in Europe and its phylogeography has been clarified in the last decades. Southern peninsulas are considered as reservoirs of genetic diversity and the source for the recolonization of Europe after the last glacial maximum. Even though roe deer populations have been genetically characterized, there is a major knowledge gap about the populations at the western edge of its distribution.

An open platform system based on SNP type genetic markers for discrimination between Alectoris rufa and Alectoris chukar.

The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is one of the most emblematic game species in Southern Europe. For the conservation of its natural populations against hybridization with chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) a public and agreed control system able to detect genetic introgression between the two species should be established. As the already available method has not been implemented yet, this paper presents an improvement of the genetic analysis technique by using an open platform system to optimize the diagnostic procedure.

The dark ventral patch: A bimodal flexible trait related to male competition in red deer.

Sexual signals play a central role in male-male competition in polygynous species. In red deer (Cervus elaphus), male's ventral area become dark during the rutting season due to urine spraying behaviour and retains many chemical compounds potentially revealing individual features. Here we investigate the variation in size of this trait, exploring its relationship with age and male competitive features such as antlers or body size, as well as populational level of intrasexual competition for mates.

Testosterone and the dark ventral patch of male red deer: the role of the social environment.

The expression of male sexual traits, which is stimulated by testosterone, entails significant costs for individuals. Consequently, natural selection is expected to favour the modulation of sexual trait development according to the balance between its costs and benefits. The proportion of rivals in a population may affect this balance by increasing or decreasing the reproductive benefits associated with the development of sex traits.

Ungulate management in European national parks: Why a more integrated European policy is needed.

1. Primary objectives of national parks usually include both, the protection of natural processes and species conservation. When these objectives conflict, as occurs because of the cascading effects of large mammals (i.

Immune challenge of mating effort: steroid hormone profile, dark ventral patch and parasite burden in relation to intrasexual competition in male Iberian red deer.

Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits, but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels. However, the evidence for this trade-off in wild populations is scarce. Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions.

The intensity of male-male competition may affect chemical scent constituents in the dark ventral patch of male Iberian red deer.

During the mating season, Iberian red deer males (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) present a large visible dark ventral area in their abdomen. This characteristic dark-haired area is formed by the impregnation of the hair with sprayed urine and gland secretions and contains volatile compounds that can be used in intraspecific communication. Here, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to describe the lipophilic chemicals from the dark ventral patch of males from different populations with different levels of intrasexual competition.

Grass greenness flush can influence breeding phenology and fertility in equatorial thoroughbred mares in the absence of photoperiod variation.

Reproductive phenology is an important trait subjected to natural selection. Current horses in America belong to the Palearctic original populations after being introduced by European colonizers. Photoperiod variation is the main environmental factor for the adjustment of reproductive timing in horses, but is absent in equatorial areas.

Reproductive phenology of Creole horses in Ecuador in the absence of photoperiod variation: The effects of forage availability and flooding affecting body condition of mares.

Horse reproduction tends to be seasonal. The main adjusting factor in their original temperate ranges is photoperiod variation, although it is absent in equatorial areas where horses were introduced by European colonizers. Hence, dates of reproduction in these areas may be influenced by factors affecting mares' conditions and the success of foaling.

Iberian red deer: paraphyletic nature at mtDNA but nuclear markers support its genetic identity.

Red deer populations in the Iberian glacial refugium were the main source for postglacial recolonization and subspecific radiation in north-western Europe. However, the phylogenetic history of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and its relationships with northern European populations remain uncertain. Here, we study DNA sequences at the mitochondrial control region along with STR markers for over 680 specimens from all the main red deer populations in Spain and other west European areas.