S. V. Naidenko

Application of satellite collars to the study of home range and activity of the Amur tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica )

The possibility of application of satellite collars to the study of home range and activity of Amur tigers has been analyzed. The possibility of obtaining information about the size and structure of a home range, discerning the home range core areas, seasonal changes in the use of space by tigers, and collecting detailed data on animals’ activity and characteristics of the use of different elements of landscape and terrain has been demonstrated. In contrast to VHF transmitters, satellite collars allow tigers to be tracked even in the cases of very long travels.

Spatially explicit capture-recapture method (SECR, SPACECAP): A new approach to determination of the Amur tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica ) population density by means of camera-traps

365 The development of methods of censuring and monitoring of rare animal species is one of the key areas in the development of measures for their mainte nance. Determination of their population density is a priority task for calculation of the number of animals [1]. Implementation of this task without their direct capture and labeling became possible with the appear ance of methods of automated animal photo record ing and individual identification of the recorded indi viduals [2]. As in the case of capturing, a classical method using the principle of capture recapture is applied for determination of the animal population density in this case [3]; however, a number of limita tions is inherent in it. First, the capture season should be quite short in order to satisfy the assumption that the population does not undergo considerable changes during the analysis. Second, the sample size is a criti cal factor for the efficiency of this method. In addi tion, this method does not take into account the spa tial aspect of individual recording distribution, and interpretation of the results obtained is complicated due to the absence of clear determination of the effi cient capture region. The suggested variants of solu tion of these problems using average value of the dis tance between two recaptures (MMDM) or its half (1/2MMDM) [4] are conditional. All these limita tions make this method inaccurate when it is used for the species with a low population density and large regions of habitat (which include large predatory mammals). We tested the method of density determination in the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) population using the capture recapture principle, which takes into account spatial relationships between animal record ings (space capture–recapture, SECR) using the SPACECAP software [5]. The SPACECAP software was specially developed to detect densities by means of closed models of the recapture in camera trap matrixes. Spatially explicit capture recapture models (implemented in SPACECAP) detect directly the ani mal population density based on the history of cap tures and information about spatial placement of cam era traps. All these data are treated using Bayesian models [5]. The main assumption of the method is that each animal has its center of activity with a fixed loca tion. It is assumed that the probability of animal detec tion is inversely proportional to the distance to this center of activity, and each capture is an independent event [6].

Activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis in the Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica ) in captivity and in the wild, and its dynamics throughout the year

A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Siberian tiger was verified. Comparison of the activity level of HPA in Siberian tigers in the wild and in captivity, and their alterations over the year was carried out. Significant seasonal differences between activity levels of HPA in tigers in captivity were not found. In the wild, this level was significantly higher, reaching the maximum from November to January, which can be related with an unfavorable influence on tigers in low temperatures and deep snow cover.

Home range structure and space use of a female Amur leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis (Carnivora, Felidae)

Based on the locations reported over 15 months from the satellite GPS-collar of Amur leopard female, we estimated the size of its home range, the time of parturition, the location of dens, and hunting sites for large prey. The successive changes in the size and location of the home range and the core area during 30-day periods were traced. The home range remains stable, when the female moves without cubs outside the estrus period. During estrus and pregnancy, the size of the home range and the core area increases, and the core area is displaced. After the birth, the sizes of the home range and core area are sharply reduced. After the weaning of the Amur leopard female leaves the den and begins to move across the home range, the sizes of the range and the core area start to increase.

[Seasonal changes of steroid levels in blood plasma of three Phodopus species (Mammalia, Cricetinae)].

Seasonal change of the base plasma level of testosterone and cortisol in males and progesterone, estradiol, and cortisol levels in females were analyzed in three Phodopus species: Ph. campbelli (Campbell’s hamster), Ph. sungorus (Djungarian hamster), and Ph. roborovskii (Roborovskii dwarf hamster). Our results showed a significant difference in the seasonal plasma level of testosterone and cortisol in males and cortisol in females of all Phodopus species, though the rhythms of breeding activity were similar. The results are discussed in the context of adaptive differences between hormonal patterns of more evolutionarily modern species (Campbell’s hamster and Djungarian hamster) and the more evolutionarily old Roborovskii dwarf hamster, the phylogenic position of which is currently under discussion.

Vocal activity of the red deer and the acoustic structure of its rutting calls in the Russian Far East.

144 The red deer Cervus elaphus has established as a species in Central Asia, in the Tarim Basin, approxi mately two million years ago and spread from this basin in two branches. The western branch went through the Caucasus and Carpathian Mountains to Western Europe, and the eastern branch passed the Tien Shan, Altai, and Siberia to eventually reach North America [1–3]. Within the current distribution range covering the overall Holarctic, this species has many subspecies, which differ from each other not only in their size and morphology, but also in the stag rutting calls [1, 2]. The stags of the European subspe cies—Scottish C. e. scoticus [4], Corsican C. e. corsi canus [5], and Spanish C. e. hispanicus [6, 7]—have low frequency rutting calls. However, characteristic of the stags of Siberian and North American subspe cies—Altai wapiti C. e. sibiricus [1, 8], Canadian wapiti C. e. canadensis [9], and Roosevelt elk C. e. roosevelti [10]—are high frequency rutting calls, referred to as bugles.

Ecological and physiological characteristics of seasonal biology of the mongolian hamster, Allocricetulus curtatus allan 1940 (Cricetinae, Rodentia)

Analysis of the seasonal dynamics of body weight and steroid hormones (cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone), the pattern of hypothermia, and basic reproductive parameters has been performed in the Mongolian hamster (Allocricetulus curtatus), a poorly studied rodent species inhabiting areas with a sharply continental climate. The results show that torpor bouts take place in wintering animals. Changes in body weight during the autumn-winter season are insignificant. The pattern of fluctuations in the levels of sex steroids and cortisol is similar to that in dwarf hamsters of the genus Phodopus. Seasonal features in the dynamics of basal cortisol level differentiate A. curtatus from the closely related Eversmann’s hamster (A. eversmanni), which may be due to differences in the social structure of these species.

Hormonal Response to Conspecific Chemical Signals As an Indicator of Seasonal Reproduction Dynamics in the Desert Hamster, Phodopus roborovskii

Changes in male blood plasma testosterone and cortisol in response to exposure to scent marks (urine and midventral gland secretion, MVGS) of conspecific males and diestrous females in different seasons have been studied in the desert hamster (Phodopus roborovskii), a species whose ecological features are poorly known. The results show that a significant increase in the plasma testosterone level is observed in winter (only to female MVGS), spring (to female MVGS and urine), and summer (to female urine), but not in autumn. The level of plasma cortisol significantly increases only in response to female urine in spring and male MVGS in summer.

Seropositivity for different pathogens in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Barents Sea Islands

Analysis of serum prevalence of antibodies to six pathogens was performed in 26 polar bears from the Barents Sea population. Animals seropositive for the viruses of pseudorabies, canine distemper, and influenza A, Dirofilaria sp., Trichinella spiralis, and Toxoplasma gondii were revealed, with prevalence of antibodies to T. spiralis being the highest. Most of them were adult bears, while cubs (under 1 year of age) proved to be seronegative for all pathogens.

Prevalence of seropositivity to pathogens in small carnivores in adjacent areas of Lazovskii Reserve

The prevalence of infectious diseases in wild and feral carnivores is poorly known in Primorsky Krai, where rare species such as the Amur tiger and the Far East leopard roam. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of seropositivity in feral (cats, dogs) and wild (raccoon dog, badger, American mink, Far Eastern wild cat) carnivores to various pathogens: distemper virus, parvovirus, feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus, feline coronavirus, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycoplasma sp., and Chlamydia sp. It was shown that seropositivity occurred significantly more frequent in feral animals than in wild ones. The highest percentage of seropositive animals was observed in feral dogs. It is these diseases that can be dangerous for the Amur tiger and the Far East leopard, thus affecting their populations.