Grant's gazelles (Nanger granti) are classified as of least concern by the IUCN, although their number is declining due to several factors. A few research studies have been conducted on Grant's gazelle in Ethiopia. Thus, the present study was carried out to determine the population size and habitat association of Grant gazelle in the Ene Forest of western Ethiopia, comprising the dry and wet seasons. The study area was stratified into four habitats: woodland, mixed woodland, riverine forest, and grassland habitats. The data were collected using the direct observation technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square (χ) test. The average estimated Grant gazelle population was 136 ± 23 individuals, with a density of 9/km. The adult male-to-adult female sex ratio was 1:1.40 and 1:1.26 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The largest herd size (N = 6) was observed during the wet season, and the smallest (N = 4) was observed during the dry season. The highest numbers of Grant gazelles were observed in the grassland habitat during the wet season and in the woodland during the dry season. More Gazelles (N = 65) were observed in the woodland habitat compared to the other habitat types. The continued existence of the Grant's gazelle population in the area and the suitability of the environment depend significantly on ongoing assessments of habitat change and management intervention.

Kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) is a commercially important crustacean and a valuable global food source. This study employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to explore the morphology and morphometric features of the Marsupenaeus japonicus cephalothoracic structures, including antennules, antennas, scaphocerite, rostrums, and eye stalks. The primary focus was on understanding the role of each part, especially through the examination of setae, which are crucial for chemoreception and defense. Additionally, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis was utilized to identify the elemental composition of these structures.

The tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), a member of the Lepisosteidae family, is native to regions extending from southeastern Mexico to southern Costa Rica. This species serves as a unique bridge between tetrapods and teleosts due to its phylogenetic position, slow evolutionary rate, dense genetic map, gene similarities with humans, and ease of laboratory cultivation. As a taxonomic sister group to teleosts like the zebrafish (Danio rerio), known for its high regenerative capacity, it remains unclear whether the tropical gar shares a similar ability for regeneration.

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is critically endangered and has suffered from extensive habitat loss and fragmentation. Knowledge of its habitat preference could assist the conservation of the species and associated ecosystem. In the present study, spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of habitat use of a Yangtze finless porpoise population were studied in a 30-km section of the Yangtze mainstream. Seasonal variation in porpoise occurrences was observed based on visual surveys conducted from 2022 to 2023, with five surveys during the dry season and seven surveys during the wet season. Biological and environmental factors were synchronously sampled in both seasons. The maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was applied to get the effects of biological and environmental variables on porpoise habitat preference.

Artificial reservoirs are alternative habitats for bird diversity, and knowledge of the diversity and abundance of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the species diversity and abundance of birds in Mai-Nigus reservoir and its surrounding semi-forest from July 2022 to March 2023. Point count method with a total of fifteen count stations at an interval of 50 m radius was used to study the diversity and abundance of bird species in the semi-forest habitat while total count employed on the reservoir.

Rodents are mammals of the order Rodentia, which are found in all continents except Antarctica. They are the most diverse groups of mammals representing 41% of all mammals and they are known with 33 families, 481 genera, and about 2277 species. The present study was conducted from December 2018 to August 2019 both during the dry and wet seasons using Sherman traps and live traps. Four trap sites namely forest, bushland, grassland, and sugarcane plantation were selected for data collection. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') was used to compute rodent species diversity, Simpson's index (D) to assess the number and abundance of rodents in the different habitats, and one-way ANOVA and independent samples t-test were used for data analysis.

Our research is the first to explore the ultrastructural features of the lingual papillary system of Arab Zebu cattle, highlighting their Chadian environmental adaptations.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is any interaction between humans and wildlife that arises when wildlife necessities encroach on those of the human population. It affects all areas where animal and peoples cohabit regardless of geography or climatic circumstances; but the burden is great in developing nations. De Brazza's monkey (DM) (Cercopithecus neglectus) is one of the most unusual species in the group of Old-World monkeys commonly known as guenons. The De Brazza's monkey is distributed in different parts of African forests from Guinea to Ethiopia. This study was conducted in Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Kafa Zone, South West Ethiopia, to assess the causes of human wildlife conflict in the area. The methods used were, household questionnaire, focus group discussion and direct field observation from June 2022 to May 2023.

Determining the density of mammalian wildlife in an ecosystem is very important for the ecosystem conservation. The aim of this study is to reveal mammalian wildlife density and compare the effect human footprint index (HFI) on the Mediterranean ecosystems. The mammalian wildlife surveys were conducted between August 2013 and December 2013, using 21 camera traps with 2175 camera trap days in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem in İzmir, Türkiye. We used random encounter model (REM) method to estimate densities.

The diaphragm, the main muscle involved in respiration and one of those responsible for maintaining life, is still little explored in terms of its morphology in wild animals. There are few studies on the anatomy of Eira barbara, a carnivorous mustelid that is a victim of the urbanization process. In order to contribute to the conservation of the species, we described the topography and morphology of the diaphragm, which may be involved in injuries caused by the impacts of human activities.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic additive monomer, is among the most highly produced chemicals worldwide, and is broadly used in many industries, such as food and beverage containers, milk bottles, and paper products. Previous studies demonstrated that BPA has potential toxicity to aquatic organisms, causing endocrine disturbance and behavioural disorders. The current work aimed to determine the toxic impacts of BPA on the edible marine clam Ruditapes decussatus considering a multi-biomarker approach (mortality, biochemical studies, DNA strand breaks using comet assay, and histopathological examinations with semi-quantitative and quantitative histopathological analyses). The clams were exposed under laboratory conditions to three concentrations of BPA (0 "control", 1, and 5 µg/L) for a period of 21 days. After the exposure period, BPA impacts were assessed in the digestive gland as a versatile and environmentally relevant organ for ecotoxicological studies.

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) was extinct in Sweden when a few animals established in the 1970s. Over the past 35 years, the species has made a substantial comeback. In this paper, we analyse wild boar population growth using three indices of population size. We also map the legislative decisions and research prompted by the expanding population. We discuss to what extent, in the eyes of the state, the view of wild boar and the management focus has shifted over time, from a perceived pest (eradication) to scarce (conservation), overabundant (reduction/control) or somewhere in between (sustainable management).

Terrestrial organisms are likely to face hypoxic stress during natural disasters such as floods or landslides, which can lead to inevitable hypoxic conditions for those commonly residing within soil. Pardosa pseudoannulata often inhabits soil crevices and has been extensively studied, yet research on its response to hypoxic stress remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the adaptive strategies of Pardosa pseudoannulata under hypoxic stress using metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches. The results indicated that under hypoxic stress, metabolites related to energy and antioxidants such as ATP, D-glucose 6-phosphate, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and reduced L-glutathione were significantly differentially expressed. Pathways such as the citric acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation were significantly enriched. Transcriptome analysis and related assessments also revealed a significant enrichment of pathways associated with energy metabolism, suggesting that Pardosa pseudoannulata primarily copes with hypoxic environments by modulating energy metabolism and antioxidant-related substances.

Knowledge about home range size is vital to understand social systems and population dynamics of small mammals, as well as dispersal and a species' landscape use. Home ranges have been mapped for some species of voles (subfamily Microtinae) but remain virtually unknown for many species, including the grey-sided vole Craseomys rufocanus.

Hair characterization is critical for determining animal individuality throughout life. This study aimed to assess the morphological features of dromedary camel hair in relation to age.

This study investigates the diversity, distribution, and relative abundance of medium and large-sized mammals in the biodiverse Chukala Mountain Forest of East Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, during March to August 2020. Three distinct habitat types-Montane forest with grassland (Panthera pardus, Papio anubis), woodland (Lepus fagani), and riverine forest (Procavia capensis)-were surveyed using line transects. Over four months, surveys were conducted bi-monthly, focusing on parameters such as species richness, and population distribution. Analysis revealed twelve mammal species spanning five orders and eight families, with olive baboons (Papio anubis) prevailing as the most abundant species, while leopards (Panthera pardus), bush hares (Lepus fagani), and rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) were less frequently encountered. Woodland habitats exhibited the highest species richness (H = 1.700), followed by montane forest with grassland (H = 1.156) and riverine forest (H = 1.070). Notably, montane forest with grassland and riverine forest habitats shared similar species compositions across seasons (SI = 1). In conclusion, these findings provide valuable insights into the mammalian diversity and ecology of the Chukala Mountain Forest, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in the region. Based on the findings, it is recommended to implement conservation measures focusing on preserving and enhancing the habitats of less common species such as the leopard, bush hare, and rock hyrax. Continual monitoring and research are recommended to track population dynamics and guide conservation initiatives for long-term ecosystem preservation. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of proactive conservation measures in maintaining the ecological integrity of this vital ecosystem.

Propranolol (PRO) is a beta-blocker drug used for the treatment of anxiety, chest pain, migraine and tremors. The present study investigated whether sublethal concentrations of PRO have effects on the body condition, biochemistry, and hematology of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. The 96-h median lethal concentration (LC) of the drug, which was established through an acute toxicity study, was 9.48 mg/L. Based on these values, the fish were exposed for 21 days to the control and sublethal concentrations of 1.90, 0.95, and 0.63 mg/L, which are equivalent to the 1/5th, 1/10th, and 1/20th of the LC of PRO, respectively. After 21 days of exposure, the fish were removed from the toxicant and kept in toxicant-free water for 7 days to recover. The standard length and body weight of each fish were measured after each exposure period. The condition factor (CF) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were not significantly affected by the drug. The red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) count and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased from day 7 to 21 at the tested concentrations, while the white blood cell (WBC) count significantly increased. There were alterations in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in the exposed groups compared to those in the control group. When neutrophil counts increased, the lymphocyte counts decreased, but the monocyte, basophil cell and eosinophil cell counts were not affected. Among the liver enzymes, only aspartate aminotransferase was significantly stimulated in the groups that were exposed to the drug. The protein and glucose levels of fish exposed to the drug decreased. Most of the studied parameters returned to their original values after the 7-day recovery period. The information provided in the current study will be helpful in the monitoring of PRO contamination in aquatic environments.

Many animals appear to preferentially renest in proximity to a site they previously occupied. Evidence of nest fidelity is often inferred from a right skewed distribution of distances between the nests of individuals that breed in two consecutive reproduction episodes, where many individuals nest some arbitrarily close distance to their prior nest and others, in the extended right tail of the distribution, nest far from the nest they previously occupied. Because right skewed distributions of inter-nest distances can arise even when individuals choose nest locations randomly, however, such inferences are prone to error. The importance of null models-used to generate patterns of individual inter-nest distances by processes that do not involve site attachment-for inferences about site fidelity has been known for decades but is still often unappreciated or ignored.

The Middle Eastern endemic genus Asaccus comprises Southwest Asian leaf-toed geckos. To date, this genus includes 19 species of leaf-toed geckos (seven in Arabia and 12 in the Zagros Mountains). Despite a recent study on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Asaccus species in Iran, controversies still remain surrounding the phylogeny and phylogeography of the genus. Here, we used an integrative approach to determine the phylogeny and phylogeography of Asaccus species using two mitochondrial genes (12 S and Cyt b), and one nuclear gene (c-mos). Our results uncovered 22 distinct lineages, demonstrating a significant cryptic diversity that challenges the current morphological classifications of these species. Phylogenetic analyses reinforce the monophyly of the Asaccus group, positioning A. montanus as a basal lineage, which supports a deep evolutionary divergence dating back to the Late Oligocene, approximately 27.94 million years ago. This genetic diversity also highlights the impact of historical climatic and geographical changes on species diversification. The findings advocate for an integrative approach combining both molecular and morphological data to resolve species identities accurately, thereby enhancing conservation strategies to protect these genetically distinct lineages.

Birds perform significant ecosystem services in the environment. Nevertheless, they have been facing threats to their survival globally. This special collection assembles diverse articles on various aspects of birds' life, their interactions with the environment, their adaptations, and threats they have been facing along with conservation measures.

Mammalian skeletons are largely formed before birth. Heterochronic changes in skeletal formation can be investigated by comparing the order of ossification for different elements of the skeleton. Due to the challenge of collecting prenatal specimens in viviparous taxa, opportunistically collected museum specimens provide the best material for studying prenatal skeletal development across many mammalian species. Previous studies have investigated ossification sequence in a range of mammalian species, but little is known about the pattern of bone formation in Carnivora. Carnivorans have diverse ecologies, diets, and biomechanical specializations and are well-suited for investigating questions in evolutionary biology. Currently, developmental data on carnivorans is largely limited to domesticated species. To expand available data on carnivoran skeletal development, we used micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to non-invasively evaluate the degree of ossification in all prenatal carnivoran specimens housed in the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. By coding the presence or absence of bones in each specimen, we constructed ossification sequences for each species. Parsimov-based genetic inference (PGi) was then used to identify heterochronic shifts between carnivoran lineages and reconstruct the ancestral ossification sequence of Carnivora.