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In wild animal populations, there is a differentiation between populations due to natural selection. The direction and pressure of natural selection in the wild sheep are different in the various geographic areas. Linkage disequilibrium studies showed that regions of the genome in whole wild sheep are under natural selection and that natural selection can affect immune or reproductive or metabolic traits. The study aimed to identify genomic regions under natural selection in wild sheep. For this purpose, the genetic information of 24 European wild sheep and 24 Sardinian wild sheep was used. The genotypes were determined using Illumina 50 K SNPChip arrays based on Oar_4.0 version of the sheep genome. After quality control steps, finally, 31,560 SNP markers were analyzed. The value of LD was calculated by calculating the r2 statistic between all pairs of locations through PLINK software. To identify signs of selection based on linkage disequilibrium methods, an extended haplotype homozygosity test of XP-EHH crossing population and iHS intrapopulation was used. The results of iHS studies showed that in European and Sardinian wild sheep, the highest iHS coefficient under natural selection was observed on 3 and 2 chromosome numbers, respectively. Also, the results of XP-EHH studies showed that the largest XP-EHH coefficients under natural selection in European wild sheep compared to Sardinian and vice versa in Sardinian wild sheep compared to European wild sheep were observed on 3 and 16 chromosome numbers, respectively. In addition, the results of gene cycle studies showed that COPB1, SEC24D, ZDHHC17, BBS4, RFX3, SLC26A8, CAMK2D, GRIA1, GRM1, GRID2, PPP2R1A, CPEB4, PLEKHA5 and KIF13A, VPS39, VPS53, DTNBP1, DYNC1I1, FAM91A genes are under natural selection in Sardinian and European wild sheeps, respectively. The direction and selection pressure of natural selection in the two breeds of wild sheep is different due to different geographic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is endemic to Northern Punjab, Pakistan, and is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The urial population has declined by 30% over the last 3 generations. We used non‐invasive fecal samples to identify individuals and estimate population size of Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, Pakistan. We genotyped samples using 12 microsatellite markers to assess genetic variation, population structure, and demographic changes. Microsatellite analysis revealed high levels of genetic variation in urials in terms of expected and observed heterozygosity and allelic diversity. The population structure of the Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, based solely on microsatellite variation using Bayesian clustering, indicated 3 different clusters in the reserve. Results revealed that the urial population may be facing inbreeding pressure because its ancestral effective population size has declined from between 20,000 and 50,000 to ≤1,000 animals today. This reduction has partly occurred because of a bottleneck that occurred about 10,000 years ago. Results also indicate that 1 urial population cluster has the signature of a bottleneck, which may be due to population isolation. The 3 urial clusters are small and broadly dispersed in a large territory, meaning they could be extirpated without any opportunity for natural re‐population through dispersion. The results of our study support a management strategy that encourages maintaining connectivity between urial localities within the Kalabagh Game Reserve, increased diversity so the effective population size may recover from the historical decline, and the use of data generated here as a baseline of urial genetic diversity in the reserve for monitoring diversity over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contagious Ecthyma is an infectious disease of sheep and goats that causes dermatitis primarily on the lips, mouth and muzzle. In this article, we describe a case report of Contagious Ecthyma in a wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) in Fars province of Iran. One wild lamb was found in the border of Bamou National Park near human communities. The lamb died during the transfer to the rehabilitation center. Gross lesions were characterized by multifocal scabs, proliferative and crusty wart-like multiple lesions on the muzzle, nose, between the eyes, ears, neck and coronary band. Skin samples were taken from lesions and sent to the collaborator laboratory of Veterinary Organization for DNA extraction and analysis by PCR tests. Laboratory results confirmed Contagious Ecthyma (Orf) virus in the wild sheep. This is the first documented report of Orf in wild sheep from Bamou National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argali (Ovis ammon), the largest species among all wild sheep, is native to mountainous regions of Central and East Asia, spreading mainly throughout such countries as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Russia and China. Intraspecific taxonomy of argali remains unclear, and currently, most researchers recognize up to nine subspecies. The aim of our work was to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between populations of O. ammon based on genome-wide SNP analysis. Five subspecies, Altai (O. a. ammon) (n = 6), Gobi (O. a. darwini) (n = 5), Pamir (O. a. polii) (n = 12), Tian Shan (O.a. karelini) (n = 15) and Kyzylkum (O. a. severtzovi) (n = 4), were genotyped using Illumina OvineHD BeadChip. In addition, complete mitogenome sequences from 30 of those samples were obtained. After quality control procedures, 65,158 SNPs were selected for the subsequent analyses. Neighbor-Net dendrogram and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the five subspecies could be grouped into four clusters. It was shown that a population from Altai formed a cluster with Gobi subspecies. The highest pairwise FST genetic distance was between O. a. ammon and O. a. severtzovi (0.421) and the lowest were between O. a. polii and O.a. karelini (0.083) and between O. a. ammon and O. a. darwini (0.040) subspecies. Genetic diversity was higher in Central Asian argali as compared to East Asian populations. O. a. severtzovi had an admixed origin and consisted of two genetic components—73.5 ± 0.2% of O. a. polli and 26.5 ± 0.2% of urial (O. vignei). TreeMix analysis revealed a migration event from urial to O. a. severtzovi argali. The analysis of complete mitogenomes supported the results based on whole-genome genotyping. Considering that all the mtDNA sequences of O. a severtzovi belonged to O. ammon and not to O. vignei, we concluded that gene flow in this group was associated with urial males. As this is only the first work on intraspecific taxonomy and genetic diversity of argali based on genome-wide SNP genotyping and the analysis of complete mitogenomes, we suggest that more genetic studies are needed to clarify the status of Gobi and Tian Shan argali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of novel pathogens pose a serious threat to public health and animals around the world. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) has a variety of therapeutic features, one of which is an antibacterial property that can be helpful in preventing infections in wildlife. This property can be found in the extracts of both the stem and the leaf of the plant. In the current investigation, an extract of Mentha piperita (M. piperita) or clocally named as peppermint stem and leaf was produced in methanol at a concentration of 70 percent to test its effectiveness as an antibacterial agent against three Gramnegative bacteria. i.e. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and against one Gram-positive Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Fresh feces and skin swab samples were taken from wild sheep in the Wildlife Park Gatwala, Faisalabad, during February 2022. The isolated strains of bacteria were identified and confirmed microbiologically. Peppermint (stem and leaf) extracts prepared with methanol were examined for their efficacy against the identified pathogens. The extracts demonstrated higher inhibitory zones (leaf: 17.5mm, stem:16mm) against S. aureus. S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. The leaf extract showed zones of inhibition of 16.5, 16, 15.5 and 13mm while stem extract produced zones of inhibition of 15.5, 14, 16.5, 15mm against S. aureus. S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and E. coli, respectively. Furthermore, the broth dilution method revealed that the MIC of peppermint (stem and leaf) was 0.4mg/ml against all tested bacterial strains. Altogether, these findings indicate that peppermint extracts may be useful in combating common bacterial infections of wild sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the controversial origin of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) using large samples of contemporary and ancient domestic individuals and their closest wild relatives: the Asiatic mouflon (Ovis gmelini), the urial (Ovis vignei) and the argali (Ovis ammon). A phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA, including 213 new cytochrome‐b sequences of wild Ovism confirmed that O. gmelini is the maternal ancestor of sheep and precluded mtDNA contributions from O. vignei (and O. gmelini × O. vignei hybrids) to domestic lineages. We also produced 54 new control region sequences showing shared haplogroups (A, B, C and E) between domestic sheep and wild O. gmelini which localized the domestication center in eastern Anatolia and central Zagros, excluding regions further east where exclusively wild haplogroups were found. This overlaps with the geographic distribution of O. gmelini gmelini, further suggesting that the maternal origin of domestic sheep derives from this subspecies. Additionally, we produced 57 new CR sequences of Neolithic sheep remains from a large area covering Anatolia to Europe, showing the early presence of at least three mitochondrial haplogroups (A, B and D) in Western colonization routes. This confirmed that sheep domestication was a large‐scale process that captured diverse maternal lineages (haplogroups). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extensive research has been conducted on a variety of factors that influence wildlife harvest rates, few studies have quantified the impact of weather on harvest success. As global warming continues to contribute to unprecedented changes in local weather regimes, particularly in arctic and alpine ecosystems, understanding how these changes impact human–wildlife interactions will become increasingly important and relevant for wildlife managers. Therefore, we used a long-term dataset (1999–2015) on Dall's sheep Ovis dalli dalli, an alpine species in Alaska, USA, as a case study to explore how changes in local daily weather has affected hunter harvest success. We used generalized linear mixed models to estimate relationships between daily harvest count and weather variables using three separate models; all hunters, resident hunters and non-resident hunters. Weather variables included daily mean relative humidity, precipitation, air temperature and wind speed. For our model including all hunters, which excluded wind, we estimated that a mean increase in relative humidity, precipitation and temperature from one day to the next resulted in an 11.7, 4.3 and 2.9% decrease in daily harvest, respectively. The effect of relative humidity influenced harvest count two to three times more than all other weather variables across models. This study contributes to a limited body of knowledge on quantifying the impact of weather on harvest success and about how changes in weather affect hunter and wildlife behavior. Advancing knowledge on how weather influences variation in harvest may facilitate effective strategies for adapting hunting regulations to meet harvest and population goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extensive research has been conducted on a variety of factors that influence wildlife harvest rates, few studies have quantified the impact of weather on harvest success. As global warming continues to contribute to unprecedented changes in local weather regimes, particularly in arctic and alpine ecosystems, understanding how these changes impact human-wildlife interactions will become increasingly important and relevant for wildlife managers. Therefore, we used a long-term dataset (1999-2015) on Dall's sheep Ovis dalli dalli, an alpine species in Alaska, USA, as a case study to explore how changes in local daily weather has affected hunter harvest success. We used generalized linear mixed models to estimate relationships between daily harvest count and weather variables using three separate models; all hunters, resident hunters and non-resident hunters. Weather variables included daily mean relative humidity, precipitation, air temperature and wind speed. For our model including all hunters, which excluded wind, we estimated that a mean increase in relative humidity, precipitation and temperature from one day to the next resulted in an 11.7, 4.3 and 2.9% decrease in daily harvest, respectively. The effect of relative humidity influenced harvest count two to three times more than all other weather variables across models. This study contributes to a limited body of knowledge on quantifying the impact of weather on harvest success and about how changes in weather affect hunter and wildlife behavior. Advancing knowledge on how weather influences variation in harvest may facilitate effective strategies for adapting hunting regulations to meet harvest and population goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haftad-Gholleh Area has recently encountered many changes. In this study, by using landsat images of the years 1996 and 2016, landuse maps were classified into four classes including: agriculture, rangeland, residential areas, and rocks. Land Change Modeler (LCM) and Habitat and Biodiversity Modeler (HBM) modules in the Idrisi GIS software were used to analyze the land use changes and habitat evaluation for the prediction of the land uses status in 2016, based on the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Markov Chain analysis and logistic regression. The results showed that most of the changes in the landscape of the region between 1996 and 2016 were related, respectively, to attrition, aggregation and creation indicators; between the years 2016 to 2041, they can be related, respectively, to the creation and dissection indicators. The habitat evaluation showed that 4.5% of the habitat was decreased in 2016, as compared to 1996. With the continuation of this trend, 6.5% of the habitat will fall in 2041, as compared to 2016. Receiver Operating Characteridtic (ROC) of the model also specified that the desirability model validity was equal to 0.9558, showing the excellent performance of logistic regression method. In general, this can be an important principle approach preventing from changes in the habitat of wild sheep to other land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although corridors have been the subject of extensive research in the recent years, the probable correlation between structural and functional corridors have not been addressed to date. To fill this scientific gap, we compared structural and functional corridors of wild sheep ( Ovis orientalis ) as a threatened species in a semi-arid area of central Iran. We first used Maximum-Entropy to develop wild sheep habitat suitability map. We then used Morphological-Spatial-Pattern-Analysis (MSPA) and circuit theory to map structural and functional corridors of wild sheep respectively. Bootstrapping techniques then were used to compare structural and functional corridors. We found that structural corridor is a concept which is dependent on the scale of observation. By changing edge-width from 600 to 1200 m, the total area of structural corridors increased by 63%. We also only found very small differences in the functional connectivity role of different MSPA categories (including structural corridors). All MSPA categories together accounted for only 20% of the functional connectivity. Although, in some cases functional corridors had a better performance in showing migration path of wild sheep between reserves, other cases showed that for effective conservation, both structural and functional corridors should be identified and considered in the planning step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouflon population of Cyprus (Ovis orientalis ophion) comprises historically preserved feral descendants of sheep domesticated during the Neolithic. We determined genetic identity of this taxon in order to elucidate its systematic placement and enforce its protection. We used 12 loci of microsatellite DNA to infer genetic relationships between the Cypriot mouflon and either long-time isolated (Corsica, Sardinia) or recently introduced (central Italy) European mouflons (O. o. musimon). We also sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Cytochrome-b gene to infer the origin of the Cypriot mouflon including many National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) entries of European and Near Eastern conspecifics. Microsatellites disclosed net divergence between Western Mediterranean and Cypriot mouflon. The latter was included in the highly heterogeneous Near Eastern O. orientalis mtDNA group, Iran representing the most credited region as the source for its ancient introduction to Cyprus. Both international and national legislation protect the mouflon of Cyprus as a wild taxon (O. o. ophion). However, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and NCBI include the Cypriot mouflon as subspecies of its respective domestic species, the sheep (O. aries). Unfortunately, people charged with crime against protected mouflon may benefit from such taxonomic inconsistency between legislation and databases, as the latter can frustrate molecular DNA forensic outcomes. Until a definitive light can be shed on Near Eastern O. orientalis systematics, we suggest that the Cypriot mouflon should be unvaryingly referred to as O. o. ophion in order not to impair conservation in the country where it resides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT European settlement led to extirpation of native Audubon's bighorn sheep (formerly Ovis canadensis auduboni) from North Dakota during the early 20th century. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department subsequently introduced California bighorn sheep (formerly O. c. californiana) that were indigenous to the Williams Lake region of British Columbia, Canada, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ( O. c. canadensis) that were indigenous to the Sun River region of Montana. Although California bighorn sheep are no longer recognized as a distinct subspecies, they are smaller and adapted to a milder climate than either the native bighorn sheep of North Dakota or introduced bighorn sheep from Montana. Because reintroductions still play a key role in the management of bighorn sheep and because local adaptation may have substantial demographic consequences, we evaluated causes of variation in recruitment of bighorn sheep reintroduced in North Dakota. During 2006-2011, Montana stock recruited 0.54 juveniles/adult female ( n = 113), whereas British Columbia stock recruited 0.24 juveniles/adult female ( n = 562). Our most plausible mixed-effects logistic regression model (53% of model weight) attributed variation in recruitment to differences between source populations (odds ratio = 4.5; 90% CI = 1.5, 15.3). Greater recruitment of Montana stock (fitted mean = 0.56 juveniles/adult female; 90% CI = 0.41, 0.70) contributed to a net gain in abundance ( r = 0.15), whereas abundance of British Columbia stock declined (fitted mean = 0.24 juveniles/adult female; 90% CI = 0.09, 0.41; r = − 0.04). Translocations have been the primary tool used to augment and restore populations of wild sheep but often have failed to achieve objectives. Our results show that ecotypic differences among source stocks may have long-term implications for recruitment and demographic performance of reintroduced populations. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The haematology and biochemistry of wild sheep Ovis orientalis esphahanica in the Fars province of Iran were studied, and the means of various parameters were determined for gender and age groups. Blood sampling was conducted on 12 (five female, seven male) captured; clinically normal wild sheep aged between 10 months and 10 years. For total samples, the mean ± standard error of haematological parameters were: red blood cells (RBCs), 8.2±0.6 (×1012/l); haematocrit [packed cell volume(PCV)], 0.42±0.01 (l/l); haemoglobin (Hb), 143.6±6.5 (g/l); mean corpuscular volume (MCV), 28.2±2.41 (fl); mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), 9.45±0.89 (pg); mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), 382.8±11.2 (g/l); white blood cells (WBCs) 3.2±0.22 (×109/l); neutrophils, 3.2±0.22 (×109/l); lymphocytes, 3.66±0.3 (×109/l); monocytes 0.22±0.02 (×109/l), eosinophils, 0.53±0.15 (×109/l) and platelets, 348.5±62 (×109/l). No gender difference was noted in measured haematological parameters. No significant differences were found between various haematological values in wild sheep over and under 2 years. For total samples of each parameters, the following results were obtained for serum biochemistry: serum glucose 8.33±0.77 mmol/l; total protein 77±1.6 g/l; albumin 32.5±2.9 g/l; uric acid 104.68±10.9 (μmol/l); triglyceride 0.172±0.04 mmol/l; blood urea nitrogen 10.34±1 mmol/l; total bilirubin 1.71±0.51(μmol/l); cholesterol 0.91±0.11 mmol/l; creatinine 177.68±71.52 (μmol/l); aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 163.71±12.12 U/l; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 29.15±3.2 U/l; alkaline phosphatase (AP) 64.6±10.97 U/l; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 1533.8±127.09 U/l; calcium (Ca) 2.22±0.11 mmol/l and phosphorus (P) 2.39±0.2 mmol/l. No significant differences were observed between male and female wild sheep with respect to the measured biochemical indices. Significant difference was seen for glucose between age groups, with a higher mean level in wild sheep less than 2 years ( P=0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low genetic variability not associated with intense inbreeding. • Intense gene flow due mostly to mobile male mouflons. • Evidence for a philopatric behaviour of female mouflons. • High habitat heterogeneity and low human disturbance as main drivers of the spatial structure. • A new Ovis haplogroup including the Cyprus and the Anatolian mouflon as sister taxa. The mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is the largest wild terrestrial mammal of Cyprus. Regarded as the local flagship species, its population range is limited to the mountainous Paphos Forest and adjacent areas including part of Troodos National Forest Park (> 700 Km2). This species, protected by both national and international legislation, is classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with livestock intrusion, poaching and habitat loss as the main threatening factors. We determined the spatial genetic structure by investigating sexes separately and shed further light on the Cyprus mouflon placement among Ovis haplogroups (HGs) to enforce its protection within an adaptive conservation framework. We genotyped 108 samples collected across the entire species' range at both14 loci of the microsatellite DNA and the mitochondrial DNA Control Region (CR). Microsatellite genotyping indicated that the wild population retained low genetic variability, which, however, was not associated with a level of inbreeding raising particular concern (F IS = 0.12). An overall weak spatial genetic structure was disclosed, consistently with the limited extension of the mouflon range, the lack of significant physical barriers to dispersal and the intense gene flow mostly occurring along a northeast-southwest axis across the forest. Nevertheless, evidences of structure were found for females in compliance with their philopatric behaviour. The disclosure of unique features compared to Mediterranean and Near East conspecifics, such as the occurrence of a six-fold 76 bp-long repeated motif in the Cyprus mouflon CR, along with the outcome of a phylogenetic reconstruction (based on a far higher number of Ovis GenBank records and Cyprus haplotypes than in previous studies) inspired the proposal of a new haplogroup (HGC2) which included the Anatolian mouflon (O. g. anatolica , former HGX) as sister taxon. While both high habitat heterogeneity and low human disturbance were the main drivers in determining the overall spatial structure, future conservation efforts to preserve this valuable genetic resource should focus on avoiding possible introgressive hybridisation with co-grazing livestock to the edge of its range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey, along with Middle East and Europe has the richest potential of a variety of wildlife, and genetic resources, therefore being a center for many animal species. It is believed that not only global warming is one of the most significant factors in near future for people, threatening natural habitats but also biodiversity of animals (species and breed) is decreased due to brutal hunting, The origin of today's domesticated sheep is wild type sheep, known as Muflon, Arkar and Argali, resistant to harsh environmental conditions and having high fertility. As a key animal in the history of farming (domestication and breeding), sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture because of having economically important traits and easy management. Unfortunately, some features of sheep (adaptation to the natural environment, species-specific behaviors etc.) has been lost during domestication, making mankind suffers from putting sheep in endanger and reducing animal welfare and rights. For the future generations it is important for sheep to be kept breeding without losing specie specific traits such as fertility and resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions, applying molecular genetics tools and methods to detect statistical relationships among phenotypes, genotypes and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the intraspecific taxonomy of snow sheep (Ovis nivicola) is controversial and needs to be specified using DNA molecular genetic markers. In our previous work using whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, we found that the population inhabiting Kharaulakh Ridge was genetically different from the other populations of Yakut subspecies to which it was usually referred. Here, our study was aimed at the clarification of taxonomic status of Kharaulakh snow sheep using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. A total of 87 specimens from five different geographic locations of Yakut snow sheep as well as 20 specimens of other recognized subspecies were included in this study. We identified 19 haplotypes, two of which belonged to the population from Kharaulakh Ridge. Median-joining network and Bayesian tree analyses revealed that Kharaulakh population clustered separately from all the other Yakut snow sheep. The divergence time between Kharaulakh population and Yakut snow sheep was estimated as 0.48 ± 0.19 MYA. Thus, the study of the mtDNA cytb sequences confirmed the results of genome-wide SNP analysis. Taking into account the high degree of divergence of Kharaulakh snow sheep from other groups, identified by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers, we propose to classify the Kharaulakh population as a separate subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]