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The wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus is common in woodlands and open areas of Western Palearctic. Despite extensive research, little is known about its population ecology in fields in the Mediterranean area, where climate involves great seasonal changes in environmental features. Here, we investigated wood mice seasonal fluctuations in abundance and population structure by sampling long-fallow fields and two woodland types, i.e. oak forest and conifer plantation, in a heterogeneous landscape of central Italy. Mice were live-trapped in three sites per habitat type, every other month for three years (23.814 trap-days). Population abundance, age structure, mice body weight and proportion of residents and breeding individuals were analysed. Sampling effort resulted in 350 captures of 245 individuals. Mice dynamics changed across seasons and habitats. In fields, we recorded more captures, more reproductive individuals, and fewer immature and resident individuals in warmer than in colder months; mice were heavier in warmer months. These results suggest that fields may better suit the species ecological requirements (i.e. food and cover resources) in spring-summer, representing a seasonally suboptimal habitat for mice. Population abundance in fields was lower than in woodlands during the cold season, when immatures were more frequent in fields than in resource-rich woodlands. Conversely, breeding and non-resident mice were more abundant in fields than in woodlands in warmer months. Overall, the seasonal demographic variations we recorded evidence that fields can represent a suboptimal habitat in Mediterranean heterogeneous landscapes and can nonetheless act as a source of resources, mates and space for mice in spring-summer.

Strong mutual relationships exist between rodents and ecosystems. By modifying the structure and functioning of ecosystems, human activity can affect rodent behaviour and ecology. The yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis is widespread in Europe, and its spatial ecology has been studied in various habitats, but studies are lacking for Mediterranean forests often altered by forest management practices. We investigated the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in a sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forest of central Italy subject to forest management. We radio-tracked 27 individuals in two different coppice stands, i.e. a recently cut area and a high forest, differing in terms of species-specific habitat quality and rodent population density. We analysed the size of home ranges in relation to habitat type and sex. Our results revealed that home range and core area size did not differ between habitat types or sexes. The spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis thus did not appear to be influenced by population density and habitat quality. The lack of sex-related differences confirms the current knowledge on the species’ spatial ecology. Our findings provide the first useful information on the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forests, whose ecological processes may be markedly influenced by this key species at several trophic levels.

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is the most important stabilizer of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). Its injury is the main cause for ulnar sided pain after wrist trauma. In recent years, advancements of wrist arthroscopy improved the diagnostics and treatment of the TFCC tears. The purpose of this article is to describe a variant of radial tears (1D according to Palmer), in which the radio-ulnar ligaments were ruptured in the midsubstance just before (Pre) their insertion on the sigmoid notch and illustrate the arthroscopic surgical technique used for its treatment. We name this variant of the Palmer 1D lesion, the pre-1D TFCC lesion.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the technique of arthroscopic resection of the scaphoid head and evaluate both the clinical and radiographic results of scapho-trapezium-trapezoid osteoarthritis cases. Methods: Seventeen cases (13 men and 4 women) with a mean age of 57 years (24-74 years) were operated on from 2002 to 2015. Inclusion criteria were nontraumatic radial-sided wrist pain without improvement after 4 months of conservative treatment and positive radiographic images demonstrating the presence of osteoarthritis. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using visual analog scale, wrist range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and patient’s work status (Mayo Wrist Score). Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) questionnaires were also administered. The technique consisted of performing a 3- to 4-mm round-shaped scaphoid head resection via arthroscopy while preserving the scaphotrapezial and scaphocapitate ligament insertions. Results: At an average follow-up of 24 months, all the patients were satisfied. The results showed statistically significant improvement in pain at rest ( P = .001), under maximal load ( P = .0001), and in Mayo Wrist Score (MWS) ( P = .0001). Wrist ROM, grip strength, DASH, and PRWHE showed an improvement without reaching statistical significance. The mean preoperative radiolunate (RL) X-ray measurement angle was 17° (–10° to 35°). The postoperative mean value was 25° (0°-45°). In the preoperative radiographic evaluation, 11 cases exceeded the “critical” 15° RL angle. At follow-up, the RL angle increased in 10 cases and remained unchanged in 7 cases. None of these cases became symptomatic. Transitory neurapraxia of the dorsal superficial branch of the radial nerve was observed in 1 case. Damage of the dorsal branch of the radial artery was immediately fixed. Conclusions: Arthroscopic resection of the distal portion of the scaphoid due to scapho-trapezium-trapezoid osteoarthritis demonstrated an effective and safe technique with less complications than open surgery.

International audience; It was long assumed that only humans can distinguish the living from the dead. Renewed interest in this question over the last decade has led several authors to assert that non-human primates are also aware of death. We investigate this issue by comparing the behaviours of monkeys and great apes toward helpless conspecifics, basing our analysis on published reports. We first examine the behaviours of mothers towards the body of their dead offspring. They may carry the corpse for days or more before abandoning it. They groom, inspect and protect it, sometimes allowing group members to explore it, and rare cases of cannibalism have been reported. No significant difference is observed in the way that monkeys and great apes treat the bodies of infants. We then examine responses to collapsed (still able to move and react) and inanimate (unresponsive or dead) conspecifics. Monkeys and great apes guard, care for and inspect their helpless partners, and also manipulate and mobilise them. Through these actions, individuals may inform themselves about the state of their partners, test their responsiveness and/or attempt to rouse them. It appears that only chimpanzees and gorillas show violent action such as display behaviours and the rough treatment of bodies. They can also make distress calls, and periods of "stunned silence" sometimes occur in chimpanzees, indicating that they are experiencing intense emotion. Finally, we argue that while both monkeys and great apes detect body dysfunction through the victims' inability to wake up and move, only great apes can understand that something serious has happened. The signs of emotional disturbance reported in them indicate that they may believe that inanimate conspecifics have entered a state of "dormancy", meaning that they are unlikely to regain wakefulness. However, there is no evidence that any non-human primates are aware of mortality.

Stimuli perceived as stressful by animals increase glucocorticoid secretion over basal levels. This is an adaptive response that by altering energy metabolism and animal behavior facilitates survival during acute stress. Secretion of corticosterone increases in adult insectivorous bird species after a short period of adverse weather conditions, which may determine a decreased availability of insect prey as well as thermoregulatory stress. Hormone response to stress in altricial nestlings is not yet clear. In some species (e.g. northern mockingbird, white-crowned sparrow) early age nestlings show a reduced or null response to stress stimulation, and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis seems to be fully active only at an age close to independence. In other species (e.g. barn swallow, canaries) the HPA axis seems to be active even in young nestlings. However, most of the data refer to experimentally induced stress while the physiological response to natural environmental perturbations has been scarcely investigated. The main aim of our study was to evaluate corticosterone secretion response to short periods of adverse weather conditions in two different age groups of barn swallow nestlings (7–14 days old and 15–21 days old). Furthermore, stress responses were compared between medium aged nestlings, late aged nestlings and adults, to understand whether HPA axis activity changed with age. A fecal non-invasive hormone assessment method was used.Our results showed that during adverse weather conditions, insect abundance decreased and corticosterone metabolites levels increased significantly and to a similar extent in droppings of medium and late aged barn swallow nestlings as well as in adults. Our data support previous findings, that the HPA axis is already fully functional in 7–14 days old nestlings. Further studies are required to verify the existence of a hyporesponsive period in younger barn swallow nestlings.

Fracture of the base of the thumb metacarpal (M1) is a common finding in hand trauma. Closed reduction and K-wire fixation and open reduction–internal fixation are traditional treatments of choice. The arthroscopic assisted technique has been introduced to improve intra-articular fragment reduction and to preserve fragment vascularization and capsular and ligamentous integrity along with joint stability. Indications for arthroscopic assistance are all types of intra-articular fractures or pending malunions involving the base of M1 and/or the trapezium. The aim of this article is to describe the surgical technique used in managing articular fractures of the base of M1, with arthroscopic assistance. Our experience with this technique confirms the advantages of a minimally invasive method that provides articular reduction under direct vision, with limited soft-tissue damage, and allows early rehabilitation (from day 1 after surgery). This technique is extremely valuable for high-demand patients such as manual workers or athletes. The relative disadvantage of the technique is its technical difficulty, which requires experience with small-joint arthroscopy., Technique Video Video 1 In the second part of the video, a delayed Rolando fracture is presented" with "In the second part of the video, a delayed Rolando fracture of the left wrist is presented.

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered the most appropriate examination for wrist ligament injuries diagnosis, but it frequently fails to assess the intrinsic ligament lesion. Therefore, wrist arthroscopy is required to enhance and define the diagnosis. Purpose We compare the MRI imaging with wrist arthroscopy for intrinsic wrist ligaments (scapholunate [SL] and lunotriquetral [LT]) and triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries detection. Patients and Methods From 2007 to 2014, 532 patients affected by suspected SL, LT, and TFCC posttraumatic ligament injury have been investigated by 1.5-Tesla MRI and wrist arthroscopy. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted. Only for SL ligament injury, the arthroscopic findings of complete (stage IV) and partial (stages I–III) SL ligament injury were compared with MRI findings. Statistical analysis, including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and the diagnostic odds ratio, was used to compare MRI with arthroscopic findings. Results A total of 146 patients were accepted in the study. In 68 cases of arthroscopic SL ligament lesion, MRI confirmed the diagnosis only in 50% of the cases. In partial SL lesions, MRI was positive in 24.3% and in complete SL lesions, MRI was positive in 80.6% of the cases. In 10 cases of arthroscopic LT ligament lesion, MRI was positive in 30.0% of the cases. In 33 patients with arthroscopic TFCC lesion, MRI was positive in 66.7% of the cases. Conclusion 1.5-T MRI demonstrated to fail in confirming the lesion of SL, LP, and TFCC ligaments respectively in 50, 70, and 33.3% of the cases positive at arthroscopy. In complete SL ligament lesion, MRI reaches a higher sensitivity than in partial lesion. Arthroscopy remains the best method to demonstrate the ligament lesion and obtain more information regarding the extent and quality of the ligament damage. Level of Evidence This is a Level II, retrospective comparative study.

Knowledge of animals’ hormonal status is important for conservation studies in wild or semi-free-ranging conditions as well as for behavioural and clinical experiments conducted in laboratory research, mostly performed on rats and mice. Faecal sampling is a useful non-invasive method to obtain steroid hormone assessments. Nevertheless, in laboratory studies, unlike other contexts, faecal sampling is less utilised. One of the issues raised is the necessity to collect samples belonging to different animals, separately. Usually, researchers using faecal sampling solve this problem through the isolation of animals or taking the cage rather than single animal as unit of study. These solutions though, could lead to unreliable measurements, and cannot be applied in many studies. Our aim was to show the biological reliability of individual faecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) assessments in socially housed male and female Wistar rats. We analytically validated the enzyme immunoassay kit used for FCM assessments. Then, we exposed the animals to two different stress stimuli that are known to activate the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and the following release of corticosterone to biologically validate the EIA kit: environmental enrichment and predator odour. Individual faecal sampling from social animals was collected through short-time handling. The results demonstrated that both the stimuli increased FCM levels in male and female rats showing the reliability of EIA kit assessment and the applicability of our sampling method. We also found a diurnal rhythm in FCM levels. These results could help to increase the use of faecal hormone metabolite determinations in studies conducted on rats.

Studies at small spatial scale are often fundamental to highlight the behavioural plasticity of a species and thus have important implications for conservation planning, in particular for species usually considered as habitat specialists. We investigated second-order habitat selection of the European pine marten in an area dominated by deciduous oak forest and open fields in central Italy, by radio-tracking 16 pine martens (eight males, eight females). Pine martens placed home ranges in areas with more open field than in the study area, whereas woodland (oak and conifer forests) comprised a smaller portion of the home range than predominant forest character of the studied area. Although the presence of the species in the open habitats has been documented, to our knowledge, our results provide the first evidence of home range establishment in this cover type by pine marten at population level. The combination of low predation risk and high availability of resources could allow pine martens to occupy open fields in our study area. We highlighted different individual strategies of habitat selection, with some individuals placing home ranges in areas with high forest coverage while others occupying open areas. We found no effects of sex and body condition on habitat selection, and this could indicate that in the study area, both forested and non-forested cover types, such as open fields, shrub and anthropic areas, can provide adequate food, overhead cover and resting sites for all individuals. Pine marten ability to occupy open fields seems thus more related to the behavioural flexibility of the species, rather than to the need to supplement dens and forage from complementary lower quality habitat. The high quality of the Mediterranean continental area studied could also explain the selection of open areas by the pine marten. Our results offer useful information on pine marten ecology and may be helpful for conservation management of this species in southern Europe.

This paper is a review of the various surgical techniques used in repair or reconstruction of the scapholunate ligament according to the clinical stages and anatomic-pathologic findings. Arthroscopy permits a direct evaluation of the scapholunate injury and the status of the articular surfaces. Specific indications for each type of scapholunate ligament tear are proposed, from the different types of dorsal capsulodesis to bone-ligament-bone techniques and tenodesis procedures. The authors' preferred techniques and literature review of the expected outcomes are presented.

Few researches have been carried out on wild populations of small carnivores involving animals live trapping. Problems in field data collection make spatial and reproductive dynamics of these species still not understood. This research used data about only 14 live trapped individuals, because of the quoted problems, nevertheless results showed important and preliminary considerations on this topic. In the study, genetic microsatellite methodology applied to natural weasel population produced data on kinship and dispersal patterns. All the 11 microsatellite analyzed loci were found polymorphic, with an average number of alleles per locus of 5.36 ; estimated expected heterozygosity He (0.62) is at the highest end of the range of other Mustela species. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found (p≥ 0.05). The analysis of genetic kinship showed no full siblings and only one parent-offspring pair : so only 1.09% of the total possible pair wise comparisons (91) showed close genetic kinship. The proportion of related animals from the sampled population was 14,2%., Magrini Caterina, Cento Michele, Manzo Emiliano, Pierpaoli Massimo, Zapponi Livia, Cozzolino Roberto. Pilot study of genetic relatedness in a solitary small carnivore, the weasel: implications for kinship and dispersal. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 38 n°2, 2012. pp. 23-27.

International audience; Abstract Sexual competition is potentially disruptive for the cohesion of social groups because stress and conflicts can extend to other group members. The displays and interactions of sexual partners are liable to influence the behavior of groupmates, which may need to observe them to anticipate possible consequences. We studied 2 captive groups of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) to test whether group-mates pay more attention to consort partners, modify their activities and social interactions, and exhibit signs of stress during periods of sexual consortships. We found that group-mates approached the top-ranking male more frequently and were more frequently oriented toward the consort pair at the time of consortship than at other times. Group-mates spent less time sleeping, and devoted less time to manipulating the environment and more time to monitoring during consortship. This indicates that consortships may incur costs in individuals not involved in sexual competition. However, Tonkean macaques did not exhibit any signs of increased stress during consortship periods, as their rates of scratching and yawning did not differ between consortship and nonconsortship periods. This study shows that not only direct competitors but also other individuals monitor the behavior of sexual partners. It is likely that group-mates obtain information this way about ongoing action, and take decisions accordingly.

International audience; Aggression is potentially disruptive for social groups. Although individuals witnessing a conflict are not directly threatened by aggressive interactions, the aftermath of aggression appears to be a period of social instability.We expected bystanders to respond to conflicts by affiliating with other group members and so reducing social tension. To test this hypothesis we collected data on two captive groups of Tonkean macaques, Macaca tonkeana. After an agonistic interaction, the behaviours of focal individuals uninvolved in the conflict were recorded over 5 min postconflict periods, for comparison with baseline periods. The results showed that bystanders were more likely to show affiliation during postconflict periods than in baselines. We found that affiliation occurred more frequently between individuals linked by friendship, whereas no significant effect of kinship appeared, which may be related to the open social relationships reported in Tonkean macaques. Females initiated affiliation sooner than males and conflicts involving physical contact were more quickly followed by affiliation between bystanders. Rates of scratching tended to decrease after the first affiliative interaction. None the less, few signs of anxiety were observed in bystanders. Our results reflect the high propensity of Tonkean macaques to appease others and stop aggression. This study demonstrates that postconflict affiliation occurs between bystanders in a species characterized by tolerant social relationships. It could be a pervasive means of social cohesion among primates.

The beneficial effects of Environmental Enrichment (EE) applied immediately after weaning or even in adulthood have been widely demonstrated. Less is known about the possible changes in behaviour and brain development of the progeny following the exposure of dams to EE. In order to further investigate this matter, female rats were reared in EE for 12 weeks, from weaning until delivery. After having confirmed the presence of relevant behavioural effects of EE, both control and EE females underwent mating. Maternal behaviour was observed and male and female offspring were then administered a battery of behavioural test at different ages. EE mothers showed a decreased frequency of total nursing and, during the first 2 days of lactation, an increase in licking/grooming behaviour. Maternal exposure to EE affected offspring behaviour in a sex-specific manner: social play behaviour and anxiety-like behaviour were increased in males but not in females and learning ability was improved only in females. As a general trend, maternal EE had a marked influence on motility in male and female offspring in both locomotor activity and swimming speed. Overall, this study highlights the importance of environmental stimulation, not only in the animals directly experiencing EE, but for their progeny too, opening the way to new hypothesis on the heritability mechanisms of behavioural traits.

The analysis of 26 longevity curves of different populations of inbred (Fischer 344) and outbred (Sprague-Dawley) rats highlighted a remarkable between-populations variability in survival parameters. This variability is independent of the breeding characteristics of the strain. The two strains differed in the slope of the survival curves, with Fischer 344 rats showing a higher survival over the second year of life as well as a lower interindividual variability. A model-free approach based on principal component analysis allowed us to quantify these differences and to highlight some limitations of the classical Gompertzian approach.

Celebrations and bursts of communal joy can occur spontaneously in human communities based on mechanisms of emotional contagion. Some examples of similar collective excitement have been reported in animals when they reunite or anticipate rewards, but little is known about the processes and meaning of these multiple interactions. We experimen- tally studied such collective arousals in two captive groups of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) within the context of reunions following the temporary separa- tion of two subgroups. We compared the behaviors of individuals after separation periods of 2 and 48 h with a control period with no separation. This study showed that it is possible to reproducibly induce bursts of friendly interactions in which groupmates run around over a period of several minutes, embracing and grasp- ing one another while displaying numerous affiliative vocalizations and facial expressions. The longer the pe- riod of separation, the higher and longer-lasting the rates of affiliative interactions were. Individuals affili- ated more frequently with groupmates from a previously separated subgroup than with those having stayed in their own subgroup. Collective arousal was followed by a quieter period characterized by high rates of contact-sit- ting and social grooming. These results point at the role of collective arousals in social cohesion; they could resolve social tension and renew social relationships. We propose that the emotional state experienced by Tonkean macaques during such events represents a disposition similar to that giving rise to what we humans call ''shared joy.'' Am J Phys Anthropol 146:457-464, 2011. V C 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A set of 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized from a genomic library enriched for dinucleotide repeats in the European pine marten Martes martes. Microsatellite loci amplification was tested on a panel of 12 tissue samples and 9 distinct hair samples collected from either road-killed or trapped animals in Tuscany, Italy. Allelic diversity was 6 and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 10. Mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.610 (range: 0.238–0.905) and 0.698 (range: 0.400–0.856), respectively. This novel set of microsatellite loci will be particularly useful for non-invasive genetic studies to assess population distribution and patterns of population structure and dispersal of M. martes in woodlands and fragmented habitats.

A descriptive index (CI) based on the U statistic is presented. The CI permits to quantify the differences between experimental samples taking into account both the location and variability features of the data without any distributional assumption. This index can be useful to build activity scales for series of compounds.