International Journal of Zoology

Animal behavior is a useful way to evaluate the environment and can be a predictive tool to assess not only the effects of treatments in a laboratory setting, but also the status of ecological habitats. As invasive species of crayfish encroach on territories of native species, the social behaviors and interactions can be informative for ecological studies. For a wider and more impactful effect, training community scientists using a scoring system to record the social interactions of crayfish that includes both the level of aggression and intensity would provide useable data to monitor the environment. Amateur scientists with little training were fairly reliable in their average scoring of the crayfish and the maximum behavior score with an expert as well as among themselves. However, the number of interactions was not as a reliable metric to compare with the expert or just among the amateurs.

Over the last 100 years, the range of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) in Kazakhstan has greatly diminished; it has entirely disappeared in its former eastern and northern ranges, while the number of nesting sites has decreased in the remaining part of its habitat. The most recent specialized studies on the distribution of the White Stork here were conducted in the 1980s. Subsequently, ornithologists were only aware of isolated nests, and in the last 15 years, up until recently, in Kazakhstan, there was only one known active nest in the Zhambyl region. To clarify the current distribution of the White Stork in Kazakhstan, we conducted field research during the breeding season in places of its former distribution in the Zhambyl and Turkestan Regions. Nest surveys were conducted by visual observations using binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens. During the expedition, 43 inhabited nests of the White Stork were found; information about another 4 nests was obtained from data survey and social networks. Analysis of satellite images allowed us to identify 12 nests located on power line pylons in the southern regions of the republic, specifically in the Keles, Zhetisay, and Maktaaral districts. In total, 59 White Stork nests were found in Kazakhstan. In addition, satellite images revealed more than 120 power line pylons with White Stork nests in the territory of Uzbekistan in close proximity to the Kazakhstan border. All literary and electronic sources available to the authors have been meticulously reviewed. By synthesizing these data, two maps were created: one delineating all recorded White Stork nesting sites across Kazakhstan and its neighboring territories, and the other illustrating the known contemporary and historical ranges of the White Stork in Kazakhstan. A cadastral survey accompanies new nest discoveries of the White Stork. Based on the newly acquired data, we conclude that the White Stork population in Kazakhstan is currently on the rise.

Altitude is one of the determinant factors that influence the spatial distribution of birds and their species richness. However, few investigations studied its influence on African bird communities over a wide gradient in North Africa. Considering this knowledge gap, 194 sampling points were carried out along altitudinal gradient (773 to 2595 m) in two adjacent mountainous valleys in the Central High Atlas of Beni Mellal in Morocco, Aït Bouguemmaz (AB), and Ahançal (OA). Each valley was divided into three altitudinal intervals (low, medium, and high zones). For each spatial subdivision, we studied the phenological cycle, in the sense that each valley underwent a four-season monitoring, during 2018 and 2019. The results showed 131 species in the study area in 43 families; both valleys had similar community richness, but they differed by the phenological status of their species. Indeed, the increase in altitude led to a decrease in bird species richness, while it does not show any correlation with abundance. In addition, richness and abundance increased during the high-productivity seasons (i.e., spring and summer). Although these results were expected, they provide an opportunity to compare these results with higher latitude communities in Europe and to better focus future large-scale investigations on the combined influence of latitude and altitude on birds.

In Thailand, native chickens have a deep-rooted history of cultivation driven by diverse purposes, including food production, aesthetic appeal, exhibition, and cockfighting. Their remarkable adaptability, robustness, and resistance to diseases play pivotal roles in the evolution of chicken breeds. The study of morphological characteristics in native chicken breeds assumes significance for biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and cultural preservation. These traits not only unveil genetic diversity but also provide insights into adaptation that is crucial for the survival of native chicken populations in varied environmental conditions. The primary aim of this extensive research, conducted from June 2020 to May 2023, is to elucidate the morphological traits of six indigenous chicken breeds in Thailand’s Uttaradit province. The research methodology involved the purposive selection of a research group from chicken farms with a minimum of 5 individuals, followed by a random selection of 20 names meeting specific criteria. The resulting group comprised 134 individuals from Khiew Phalee, Thao Thong, Lueng Hang Khao, Chee, Pra Dhu Hang Dam, and Jae species. The study’s findings highlighted significant differences in eight qualitative morphological characteristics among the distinct chicken breeds, including comb type, beak color, neck plumage color, back plumage color, wing plumage color, long curved tail color, back tail color, and shank color . Moreover, a correlation between body size and sex-specific structures across breeds was discovered, with male chickens exhibiting significantly greater body weight, size, wing length, upper and lower shank length, and toe length than females . Notably, the majority of native chickens displayed the walnut (Hin) beak type, except for Jae chickens, which exhibited the single (Jak) type. Beak colors ranged from blackish-green to ivory, while each breed showcased unique plumage, tail, and shank colors, coupled with varying body sizes. This comprehensive study, covering both qualitative and quantitative parameters, emphasizes the morphological diversities among the six native chicken breeds. The derived data serve as a valuable resource for refining or developing chicken breeds in alignment with the Standard of Perfection for Thai Native Chickens, catering to the evolving needs of the market.

Large parts of biodiversity in protected areas (PAs) and their ecosystem services have been deteriorated due to land cover change over time. To reverse these effects, analysis of land cover change is essential. One of the protected areas, Hallaydeghe Asebot Proposed National Park (HAPNP), was assumed its land cover change and was undergone from one habitat type to others during the last three decades. As a result, wildlife species particularly Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) in HAPNP are facing conservation challenges. Here, we aimed to examine the land cover changes of HAPNP for the period of 1990–2021 and assess Grevy’s zebra conservation challenges so as to improve the protection of the park and conservation of the species. Landsat images for the years 1990, 2006, and 2021 were generated to analyze land cover change of the study area. In addition, ground control points and information from elder and knowledgeable informants were collected to substantiate the result. Household survey, key informant interviews, and field observation checklist were utilized to collect data on conservation challenges. To generate land cover change maps, the satellite image for each period was classified using supervised classification. Content analysis was used to analyze conservation challenges of the species. The findings of this study revealed that 12.2% of grassland cover lost from 1990 to 2021 (i.e., an estimated annual average loss 0.4%). The remaining grassland cover in the HAPNP was aggregated in a small land area. On the other hand, the size of bushland increased by 26.4% during the same year (i.e., an estimated annual average gain 0.9%). These findings have implications for conservation and management of grazers. Major drivers for conservation challenges of Grevy’s zebra were habitat degradation, unintegrated development, and poor law enforcement practices. Grassland restoration program and species conservation challenges’ intervention strategy should be designed and implemented to safeguard the natural habitat and the species that occur in the HAPNP.

Plane-form enamel hypoplasia (PFEH) is a severe dental defect in which large areas of the crown are devoid of enamel. This condition is rare in humans and even rarer in wild primates. The etiology of PFEH has been linked to exposure to severe disease, malnutrition, and environmental toxins and associated with systemic conditions. In this study, we examined the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia in several populations of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) with the aim of providing context for severe defects observed in macaques from Yakushima Island. We found that 10 of 21 individuals (48%) from Yakushima Island displayed uniform and significant PFEH; all 10 specimens were from two adjacent locations in the south of the island. In contrast, macaques from other islands and from mainland Japan have a low prevalence of the more common types of enamel hypoplasia and none exhibit PFEH. In Yakushima macaques, every tooth type was affected to varying degrees except for first molars and primary teeth, and the mineral content of the remaining enamel in teeth with PFEH was normal (i.e., no hypo- or hypermineralization). The aetiology of PFEH might be linked to extreme weather events or high rates of environmental fluoride-causing enamel breakdown. However, given that the affected individuals underwent dental development during a period of substantial human-related habitat change, an anthropogenic-related etiology seems most likely. Further research on living primate populations is needed to better understand the causes of PFEH in wild primates.