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6. Shrew twittering call rate is high in novel environments—a lab-study

Author

von Merten, Sophie and Siemers, Björn M.

Abstract

Shrews use several different call types for communication. In previous studies, two call types have been additionally associated with a possible function for echolocation: ultrasonic click-like emissions and sonic twittering calls. There is anecdotal evidence that the rate of shrew twittering calls is high in unfamiliar environments and lower in familiar ones. Here we quantitatively tested this assumption for the first time. In a simple laboratory experiment, we confronted three different shrew species with environments of different degrees of novelty. We could show that the twittering call rate indeed decreased with increasing familiarity with the environment. In a separate experiment, we tested if shrews would increase twittering call rate after a stressful event, which they did not. The finding of an increased call rate inside a novel environment that is not caused by stress is in line with the hypothesis of a very basic echolocation-like system in shrews, as also bats increase their echolocation call rate in novel environments. However, it is not in full agreement with the hypothesis that twittering in shrews mainly has a function for communication, as in territorial signalling, call rates are usually higher in familiar than in unfamiliar environments. Call rates did not change after a small structural alteration inside the familiar environment, suggesting that shrews use their twittering calls not for a fine-tuned echolocation like bats, but rather a coarse acoustic orientation in their surroundings (‘echo-orientation’). Certainly, echo-orientation and communication might be two parallel, non-mutually exclusive functions of shrew twittering.

Published
2024
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8. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL: A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Author

Grilo, Clara, primary, Afonso, Beatriz C., additional, Afonso, Filipe, additional, Alexandre, Marta, additional, Aliácar, Sara, additional, Almeida, Ana, additional, Alonso, Ivan Prego, additional, Álvares, Francisco, additional, Alves, Paulo, additional, Alves, Paulo Célio, additional, Alves, Pedro, additional, Amado, Anabela, additional, Amendoeira, Vitor, additional, Amorim, Francisco, additional, da Silva Aparício, Guilherme, additional, Araújo, Ricardo, additional, Ascensão, Fernando, additional, Augusto, Margarida, additional, Bandeira, Victor, additional, Barbosa, A. Márcia, additional, Barbosa, Soraia, additional, Barbosa, Sérgio, additional, Barreiro, Silvia, additional, Barros, Paulo, additional, Barros, Tânia, additional, Barros, Filomena, additional, Basto, Mafalda, additional, Bernardino, Joana, additional, Bicho, Sara, additional, Biedma, Luis Eduardo, additional, Borges, Marta, additional, Braz, Luis, additional, Brito, José Carlos, additional, Brito, Tiago, additional, Cabral, João Alexandre, additional, Calzada, Javier, additional, Camarinha, Cláudia, additional, Carapuço, Mafalda, additional, Cardoso, Paulo, additional, Carmo, Mário, additional, Carrapato, Carlos, additional, da Silva Carrilho, Maílis, additional, Carvalho, Diogo Filipe T. C. S., additional, Carvalho, Filipe, additional, Carvalho, João, additional, Castro, Diana, additional, Castro, Guilherme, additional, Castro, Joana, additional, Castro, Luis Roma, additional, Catry, Filipe Xavier, additional, Cerveira, Ana M., additional, Cid, André, additional, Clarke, Rafael, additional, Conde, Conceição, additional, Conde, José, additional, Costa, Jorge, additional, Costa, Mafalda, additional, Costa, Pedro, additional, Costa, Cristina, additional, do Couto, André Pedro, additional, Craveiro, João, additional, Dias, Marta, additional, Dias, Sofia, additional, Duarte, Beatriz, additional, Duro, Virginia, additional, Encarnação, Cláudia, additional, Eufrázio, Sofia, additional, Fael, António, additional, Falé, João Salvador, additional, Faria, Sandra, additional, Fernandes, Carlos, additional, Fernandes, Margarida, additional, da Costa, Gonçalo Ferrão, additional, Ferreira, Clara, additional, Ferreira, Diogo F., additional, Ferreira, Eduardo, additional, Ferreira, Joaquim Pedro, additional, Ferreira, João, additional, Ferreira, Diana, additional, Fonseca, Carlos, additional, Fontes, Inês, additional, Fragoso, Ricardo, additional, Franco, Claudia, additional, Freitas, Tamira, additional, Gabriel, Sofia I., additional, Gibb, Rory, additional, Gil, Patricia, additional, Gomes, Carla Patricia Jorge, additional, Horta, Pedro, additional, Gomes, Pedro, additional, Gomes, Verónica, additional, Grilo, Filipa, additional, Guedes, Américo, additional, Guilherme, Filipa, additional, Gutiérrez, Iván, additional, Harper, Henry, additional, Herrera, José M., additional, Hipólito, Dário, additional, Infante, Samuel, additional, Jesus, José, additional, Jones, Kate E., additional, Laborde, Marina I., additional, de Oliveira, Luís Lamas, additional, Leitão, Inês, additional, Lemos, Rita, additional, Lima, Cátia, additional, Linck, Paloma, additional, Lopes, Hugo, additional, Lopes, Susana, additional, López‐Baucells, Adrià, additional, Loureiro, Armando, additional, Loureiro, Filipa, additional, Lourenço, Rui, additional, Lourenço, Sofia, additional, Lucas, Paula, additional, Magalhães, Ana, additional, Maldonado, Cristina, additional, Marcolin, Fabio, additional, Marques, Sara, additional, Marques, J. Tiago, additional, Marques, Carina, additional, Marques, Paulo, additional, Marrecas, Pedro Caetano, additional, Martins, Frederico, additional, Martins, Raquel, additional, Mascarenhas, Miguel, additional, Mata, Vanessa A., additional, Mateus, Ana Rita, additional, Matos, Milene, additional, Medinas, Denis, additional, Mendes, Tiago, additional, Mendes, Gabriel, additional, Mestre, Frederico, additional, Milhinhas, Catarina, additional, Mira, António, additional, Monarca, Rita I., additional, Monteiro, Norberto, additional, Monteiro, Barbara, additional, Monterroso, Pedro, additional, Nakamura, Mónia, additional, Negrões, Nuno, additional, Nóbrega, Eva K., additional, Nóvoa, Miguel, additional, Nunes, Manuel, additional, Nunes, Nuno Jardim, additional, Oliveira, Flávio, additional, Oliveira, José Miguel, additional, Palmeirim, Jorge M., additional, Pargana, João, additional, Paula, Anabela, additional, Paupério, Joana, additional, Pedroso, Nuno M., additional, Pereira, Guilherme, additional, Pereira, Pedro F., additional, Pereira, José, additional, Pereira, Maria João Ramos, additional, Petrucci‐Fonseca, Francisco, additional, Pimenta, Miguel, additional, Pinto, Sara, additional, Pinto, Nuno, additional, Pires, Rosa, additional, Pita, Ricardo, additional, Pontes, Carlos, additional, Quaresma, Marisa, additional, Queirós, João, additional, Queirós, Luís, additional, Rainho, Ana, additional, da Graça Ramalhinho, Maria, additional, Ramalho, Patrícia, additional, Raposeira, Helena, additional, Rasteiro, Francisco, additional, Rebelo, Hugo, additional, Regala, Frederico Tátá, additional, Reto, Dyana, additional, Ribeiro, Sérgio Bruno, additional, Rio‐Maior, Helena, additional, Rocha, Ricardo, additional, Rocha, Rita Gomes, additional, Rodrigues, Luísa, additional, Román, Jacinto, additional, Roque, Sara, additional, Rosalino, Luís Miguel, additional, do Rosário, Inês T., additional, Rossa, Mariana, additional, Russo, Danilo, additional, Sá, Pedro, additional, Sabino‐Marques, Helena, additional, Salgueiro, Vânia, additional, Santos, Helena, additional, Santos, Joana, additional, Santos, João P. V., additional, Santos, Nuno, additional, Santos, Sara, additional, Santos, Carlos Pedro, additional, Santos‐Reis, Margarida, additional, Serronha, Ana, additional, Sierra, Pablo, additional, Silva, Bruno, additional, Silva, Carla S. G. M., additional, Silva, Clara, additional, Silva, Diogo, additional, da Silva, Luís P., additional, Silva, Ricardo, additional, Silva, Carmen, additional, da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues, additional, Sousa, Pedro, additional, Sousa‐Guedes, Diana, additional, Spadoni, Giulia, additional, Tapisso, Joaquim T., additional, Teixeira, Daniela, additional, Teixeira, Sérgio, additional, Teixeira, Nuno, additional, Torres, Rita T., additional, Travassos, Paulo, additional, Vale‐Gonçalves, Hélia, additional, Cidraes‐Vieira, Nuno, additional, von Merten, Sophie, additional, and da Luz Mathias, Maria, additional

Published
2022
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10. Artificial light affects the foraging behavior in greater white‐toothed shrews (CROCIDURA RUSSULA).

Author

Aparício, Guilherme, Carrilho, Maílis, Oliveira, Flávio, Mathias, Maria da Luz, Tapisso, Joaquim T., and von Merten, Sophie

Subjects
FOOD preferences, FORAGING behavior, SHREWS, LIGHT pollution, RISK perception, FOOD quality
Abstract

Light pollution is one of the forms by which human‐induced alterations are changing natural environments. Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been increasing over the past decades and it is already known that ALAN can have a major influence on the ecology, behavior, and physiology of different taxa. Nocturnal small mammals are particularly vulnerable, as ALAN can increase their predation risk while foraging. The aim of this study was to investigate foraging strategies under different light conditions in a nocturnal small insectivore, the greater white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura russula). Compared with rodents, shrews have a higher metabolic rate and thus present a good model for a foraging study. In three laboratory experiments with wild‐caught shrews we tested (i) food preference under dark conditions as well as the effect of different light conditions on (ii) foraging strategies and (iii) food choice. The results showed that shrews had a clear food preference under dark conditions. They also preferred to forage under dark over light conditions when presented with the same food in both conditions. However, when presented with the choice of foraging their preferred food under illuminated conditions or a lower food quality in the dark, the food preference of shrews overruled their preference for feeding in the dark. It seems that food preference, rather than risk perception, is the main driver determining the foraging strategy of the greater white‐toothed shrews. This study suggests that ALAN does not necessarily prevent high‐metabolic nocturnal insectivores from achieving their energetic needs, which might help explain their persistence in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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21. A Role for Ultrasonic Vocalisation in Social Communication and Divergence of Natural Populations of the House Mouse (Mus musculus domesticus).

Author

von Merten, Sophie, Hoier, Svenja, Pfeifle, Christine, and Tautz, Diethard

Subjects
*COMMUNICATION & society, *SOCIAL interaction, *SIGNALS & signaling, *RODENT behavior, *ANIMAL sexual behavior, *ANIMAL sounds
Abstract

It has long been known that rodents emit signals in the ultrasonic range, but their role in social communication and mating is still under active exploration. While inbred strains of house mice have emerged as a favourite model to study ultrasonic vocalisation (USV) patterns, studies in wild animals and natural situations are still rare. We focus here on two wild derived mouse populations. We recorded them in dyadic encounters for extended periods of time to assess possible roles of USVs and their divergence between allopatric populations. We have analysed song frequency and duration, as well as spectral features of songs and syllables. We show that the populations have indeed diverged in several of these aspects and that USV patterns emitted in a mating context differ from those emitted in same sex encounters. We find that females vocalize not less, in encounters with another female even more than males. This implies that the current focus of USVs being emitted mainly by males within the mating context needs to be reconsidered. Using a statistical syntax analysis we find complex temporal sequencing patterns that could suggest that the syntax conveys meaningful information to the receivers. We conclude that wild mice use USV for complex social interactions and that USV patterns can diverge fast between populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2014
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22. A Role for Ultrasonic Vocalisation in Social Communication and Divergence of Natural Populations of the House Mouse (Mus musculus domesticus).

Author

von Merten, Sophie, Hoier, Svenja, Pfeifle, Christine, and Tautz, Diethard

Subjects
COMMUNICATION & society, SOCIAL interaction, SIGNALS & signaling, RODENT behavior, ANIMAL sexual behavior, ANIMAL sounds
Abstract

It has long been known that rodents emit signals in the ultrasonic range, but their role in social communication and mating is still under active exploration. While inbred strains of house mice have emerged as a favourite model to study ultrasonic vocalisation (USV) patterns, studies in wild animals and natural situations are still rare. We focus here on two wild derived mouse populations. We recorded them in dyadic encounters for extended periods of time to assess possible roles of USVs and their divergence between allopatric populations. We have analysed song frequency and duration, as well as spectral features of songs and syllables. We show that the populations have indeed diverged in several of these aspects and that USV patterns emitted in a mating context differ from those emitted in same sex encounters. We find that females vocalize not less, in encounters with another female even more than males. This implies that the current focus of USVs being emitted mainly by males within the mating context needs to be reconsidered. Using a statistical syntax analysis we find complex temporal sequencing patterns that could suggest that the syntax conveys meaningful information to the receivers. We conclude that wild mice use USV for complex social interactions and that USV patterns can diverge fast between populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2014
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23. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL: A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Author

Clara Grilo, Beatriz C. Afonso, Filipe Afonso, Marta Alexandre, Sara Aliácar, Ana Almeida, Ivan Prego Alonso, Francisco Álvares, Paulo Alves, Paulo Célio Alves, Pedro Alves, Anabela Amado, Vitor Amendoeira, Francisco Amorim, Guilherme Silva Aparício, Ricardo Araújo, Fernando Ascensão, Margarida Augusto, Victor Bandeira, A. Márcia Barbosa, Soraia Barbosa, Sérgio Barbosa, Silvia Barreiro, Paulo Barros, Tânia Barros, Filomena Barros, Mafalda Basto, Joana Bernardino, Sara Bicho, Luis Eduardo Biedma, Marta Borges, Luis Braz, José Carlos Brito, Tiago Brito, João Alexandre Cabral, Javier Calzada, Cláudia Camarinha, Mafalda Carapuço, Paulo Cardoso, Mário Carmo, Carlos Carrapato, Maílis Silva Carrilho, Diogo Filipe T. C. S. Carvalho, Filipe Carvalho, João Carvalho, Diana Castro, Guilherme Castro, Joana Castro, Luis Roma Castro, Filipe Xavier Catry, Ana M. Cerveira, André Cid, Rafael Clarke, Conceição Conde, José Conde, Jorge Costa, Mafalda Costa, Pedro Costa, Cristina Costa, André Pedro Couto, João Craveiro, Marta Dias, Sofia Dias, Beatriz Duarte, Virginia Duro, Cláudia Encarnação, Sofia Eufrázio, António Fael, João Salvador Falé, Sandra Faria, Carlos Fernandes, Margarida Fernandes, Gonçalo Ferrão Costa, Clara Ferreira, Diogo F. Ferreira, Eduardo Ferreira, Joaquim Pedro Ferreira, João Ferreira, Diana Ferreira, Carlos Fonseca, Inês Fontes, Ricardo Fragoso, Claudia Franco, Tamira Freitas, Sofia I. Gabriel, Rory Gibb, Patricia Gil, Carla Patricia Jorge Gomes, Pedro Horta, Pedro Gomes, Verónica Gomes, Filipa Grilo, Américo Guedes, Filipa Guilherme, Iván Gutiérrez, Henry Harper, José M. Herrera, Dário Hipólito, Samuel Infante, José Jesus, Kate E. Jones, Marina I. Laborde, Luís Lamas Oliveira, Inês Leitão, Rita Lemos, Cátia Lima, Paloma Linck, Hugo Lopes, Susana Lopes, Adrià López‐Baucells, Armando Loureiro, Filipa Loureiro, Rui Lourenço, Sofia Lourenço, Paula Lucas, Ana Magalhães, Cristina Maldonado, Fabio Marcolin, Sara Marques, J. Tiago Marques, Carina Marques, Paulo Marques, Pedro Caetano Marrecas, Frederico Martins, Raquel Martins, Miguel Mascarenhas, Vanessa A. Mata, Ana Rita Mateus, Milene Matos, Denis Medinas, Tiago Mendes, Gabriel Mendes, Frederico Mestre, Catarina Milhinhas, António Mira, Rita I. Monarca, Norberto Monteiro, Barbara Monteiro, Pedro Monterroso, Mónia Nakamura, Nuno Negrões, Eva K. Nóbrega, Miguel Nóvoa, Manuel Nunes, Nuno Jardim Nunes, Flávio Oliveira, José Miguel Oliveira, Jorge M. Palmeirim, João Pargana, Anabela Paula, Joana Paupério, Nuno M. Pedroso, Guilherme Pereira, Pedro F. Pereira, José Pereira, Maria João Ramos Pereira, Francisco Petrucci‐Fonseca, Miguel Pimenta, Sara Pinto, Nuno Pinto, Rosa Pires, Ricardo Pita, Carlos Pontes, Marisa Quaresma, João Queirós, Luís Queirós, Ana Rainho, Maria Graça Ramalhinho, Patrícia Ramalho, Helena Raposeira, Francisco Rasteiro, Hugo Rebelo, Frederico Tátá Regala, Dyana Reto, Sérgio Bruno Ribeiro, Helena Rio‐Maior, Ricardo Rocha, Rita Gomes Rocha, Luísa Rodrigues, Jacinto Román, Sara Roque, Luís Miguel Rosalino, Inês T. Rosário, Mariana Rossa, Danilo Russo, Pedro Sá, Helena Sabino‐Marques, Vânia Salgueiro, Helena Santos, Joana Santos, João P. V. Santos, Nuno Santos, Sara Santos, Carlos Pedro Santos, Margarida Santos‐Reis, Ana Serronha, Pablo Sierra, Bruno Silva, Carla S. G. M. Silva, Clara Silva, Diogo Silva, Luís P. Silva, Ricardo Silva, Carmen Silva, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues Silva Júnior, Pedro Sousa, Diana Sousa‐Guedes, Giulia Spadoni, Joaquim T. Tapisso, Daniela Teixeira, Sérgio Teixeira, Nuno Teixeira, Rita T. Torres, Paulo Travassos, Hélia Vale‐Gonçalves, Nuno Cidraes‐Vieira, Sophie Merten, Maria Luz Mathias, Grilo, Clara, Afonso, Beatriz C, Afonso, Filipe, Alexandre, Marta, Aliácar, Sara, Almeida, Ana, Alonso, Ivan Prego, Álvares, Francisco, Alves, Paulo, Alves, Paulo Célio, Alves, Pedro, Amado, Anabela, Amendoeira, Vitor, Amorim, Francisco, da Silva Aparício, Guilherme, Araújo, Ricardo, Ascensão, Fernando, Augusto, Margarida, Bandeira, Victor, Barbosa, A Márcia, Barbosa, Soraia, Barbosa, Sérgio, Barreiro, Silvia, Barros, Paulo, Barros, Tânia, Barros, Filomena, Basto, Mafalda, Bernardino, Joana, Bicho, Sara, Biedma, Luis Eduardo, Borges, Marta, Braz, Lui, Brito, José Carlo, Brito, Tiago, Cabral, João Alexandre, Calzada, Javier, Camarinha, Cláudia, Carapuço, Mafalda, Cardoso, Paulo, Carmo, Mário, Carrapato, Carlo, da Silva Carrilho, Maíli, Carvalho, Diogo Filipe T C S, Carvalho, Filipe, Carvalho, João, Castro, Diana, Castro, Guilherme, Castro, Joana, Castro, Luis Roma, Catry, Filipe Xavier, Cerveira, Ana M, Cid, André, Clarke, Rafael, Conde, Conceição, Conde, José, Costa, Jorge, Costa, Mafalda, Costa, Pedro, Costa, Cristina, do Couto, André Pedro, Craveiro, João, Dias, Marta, Dias, Sofia, Duarte, Beatriz, Duro, Virginia, Encarnação, Cláudia, Eufrázio, Sofia, Fael, António, Falé, João Salvador, Faria, Sandra, Fernandes, Carlo, Fernandes, Margarida, da Costa, Gonçalo Ferrão, Ferreira, Clara, Ferreira, Diogo F, Ferreira, Eduardo, Ferreira, Joaquim Pedro, Ferreira, João, Ferreira, Diana, Fonseca, Carlo, Fontes, Inê, Fragoso, Ricardo, Franco, Claudia, Freitas, Tamira, Gabriel, Sofia I, Gibb, Rory, Gil, Patricia, Gomes, Carla Patricia Jorge, Horta, Pedro, Gomes, Pedro, Gomes, Verónica, Grilo, Filipa, Guedes, Américo, Guilherme, Filipa, Gutiérrez, Iván, Harper, Henry, Herrera, José M, Hipólito, Dário, Infante, Samuel, Jesus, José, Jones, Kate E, Laborde, Marina I, de Oliveira, Luís Lama, Leitão, Inê, Lemos, Rita, Lima, Cátia, Linck, Paloma, Lopes, Hugo, Lopes, Susana, López-Baucells, Adrià, Loureiro, Armando, Loureiro, Filipa, Lourenço, Rui, Lourenço, Sofia, Lucas, Paula, Magalhães, Ana, Maldonado, Cristina, Marcolin, Fabio, Marques, Sara, Marques, J Tiago, Marques, Carina, Marques, Paulo, Marrecas, Pedro Caetano, Martins, Frederico, Martins, Raquel, Mascarenhas, Miguel, Mata, Vanessa A, Mateus, Ana Rita, Matos, Milene, Medinas, Deni, Mendes, Tiago, Mendes, Gabriel, Mestre, Frederico, Milhinhas, Catarina, Mira, António, Monarca, Rita I, Monteiro, Norberto, Monteiro, Barbara, Monterroso, Pedro, Nakamura, Mónia, Negrões, Nuno, Nóbrega, Eva K, Nóvoa, Miguel, Nunes, Manuel, Nunes, Nuno Jardim, Oliveira, Flávio, Oliveira, José Miguel, Palmeirim, Jorge M, Pargana, João, Paula, Anabela, Paupério, Joana, Pedroso, Nuno M, Pereira, Guilherme, Pereira, Pedro F, Pereira, José, Pereira, Maria João Ramo, Petrucci-Fonseca, Francisco, Pimenta, Miguel, Pinto, Sara, Pinto, Nuno, Pires, Rosa, Pita, Ricardo, Pontes, Carlo, Quaresma, Marisa, Queirós, João, Queirós, Luí, Rainho, Ana, da Graça Ramalhinho, Maria, Ramalho, Patrícia, Raposeira, Helena, Rasteiro, Francisco, Rebelo, Hugo, Regala, Frederico Tátá, Reto, Dyana, Ribeiro, Sérgio Bruno, Rio-Maior, Helena, Rocha, Ricardo, Rocha, Rita Gome, Rodrigues, Luísa, Román, Jacinto, Roque, Sara, Rosalino, Luís Miguel, do Rosário, Inês T, Rossa, Mariana, Russo, Danilo, Sá, Pedro, Sabino-Marques, Helena, Salgueiro, Vânia, Santos, Helena, Santos, Joana, Santos, João P V, Santos, Nuno, Santos, Sara, Santos, Carlos Pedro, Santos-Reis, Margarida, Serronha, Ana, Sierra, Pablo, Silva, Bruno, Silva, Carla S G M, Silva, Clara, Silva, Diogo, da Silva, Luís P, Silva, Ricardo, Silva, Carmen, da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigue, Sousa, Pedro, Sousa-Guedes, Diana, Spadoni, Giulia, Tapisso, Joaquim T, Teixeira, Daniela, Teixeira, Sérgio, Teixeira, Nuno, Torres, Rita T, Travassos, Paulo, Vale-Gonçalves, Hélia, Cidraes-Vieira, Nuno, von Merten, Sophie, and da Luz Mathias, Maria

Subjects
1873-2021, Mammals, EuropeIberian Peninsula, Portugal, Animal, Climate Change, Carnivora, Eulipotyphla, Rodentia, Rabbit, Lagomorpha, Mammal, Europe, Rodentiaspecies distribution, Chiroptera, Animals, species distribution, Rabbits, Cetartiodactyla, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecosystem, Iberian Peninsula
Abstract

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n=12,159], Monachus monachus [n=1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications.

Published
2021

24. Visual landmark orientation by flying bats at a large-scale touch and walk screen for bats, birds and rodents.

Author

Winter Y, von Merten S, and Kleindienst HU

Subjects
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Birds, Chiroptera, Choice Behavior, Photic Stimulation methods, Rodentia, Touch, Flight, Animal physiology, Orientation physiology, Visual Perception physiology
Abstract

Orientation depends on multi-modal information about the locally perceptible environment (local view) in many situations. We developed a behavioural paradigm for investigating visual orientation of flying bats based on a large-scale touch screen (1.2 m x 1.8 m). It functions by a grid of rows and columns of infra-red beams just in front of a screen with back-projected visual stimuli. Approaching animals interrupt the beams and thus permit automatic recording of the time and place of an animal's locational choice. We used it as a vertical touch surface. Installed as a horizontal walk surface, it may also serve as a more natural 'firm ground', circular arena analogue to the 'Morris water maze' for investigating orientation behaviour and spatial cognition from rodents to birds while offering automatic real-time recording of paths, times and latencies with enhanced possibilities to score details of motor behaviour and to control stimuli interactively. Bats offer a unique possibility to investigate the use of both echo-acoustic and visual information processing pathways for the process of self-localization and orientation. In our first experiment, a bat was presented with five identical targets, one central and four peripheral and had to choose the central target. After task acquisition, the array was shifted by the distance between targets, so that a formerly peripheral landmark was now in the absolute location of the formerly central target. At small inter-target distances, the bat 'went with' the array, and chose the new central target (at a new absolute location). With 30 cm or more of inter-target distance (60 cm across the landmark configuration), however, the bat went with absolute location, and chose a peripheral target. In experiment 2, the bat was presented with two landmarks 30 cm apart and an unmarked target located at midline beneath them. On tests, the landmarks either maintained training distance or were expanded to 50 cm apart. On such expansion tests, the bat chose most the location at the correct vector from the right landmark. This showed that the bat first identified a single landmark by the configuration and then applied a previously learnt vector (angle and distance) to locate the target. Glossophaga did not orient by pure angular geometry between landmarks and target.

Published
2005
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