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Miklos Heltai - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Jackal in hide: detection dogs show first success in the quest for golden Jackal (Canis aureus) scats
Mammal Research, 2020Co-Authors: Jennifer Hatlauf, László Szabó, Felix Böcker, Lea Wirk, Sebastian Collet, Laurent Schley, Klaus Hackländer, Miklos HeltaiAbstract:Golden Jackal ( Canis aureus ) monitoring in central Europe generates more interest and becomes increasingly important with the species’ appearance in areas where it was previously unestablished. For genetic monitoring of golden Jackals via scat collection, the distinction of Jackal scats from those of related species such as the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is crucial: if done incorrectly, it can falsify diet studies or inflate costs of DNA analyses. In this study, we tested the potential benefits of using domestic dogs to specifically find Jackal scats. We used trained scat detection dogs to locate and identify golden Jackal scats in an area of dense shrubland, with the species’ presence previously confirmed via bioacoustic monitoring. On a total of 133 km of transects covering at least two golden Jackal groups, two human-dog teams found 34 putative golden Jackal scats. A total of 26 of these were successfully genetically analysed, of which 19 were attributed to 13 individual golden Jackals, an accuracy rate of 73%. Our results show that detection dogs can successfully differentiate golden Jackal scats from other species. This tool can be applied to detect golden Jackal presence and establish more reliable estimates of group number and size than previously determined through bioacoustic stimulation. By combining both methods, questions about family structures and kinship, seasonal differences in habitat use and territory sizes can be answered. The regular use of detection dogs can present an efficient method to monitor golden Jackals on a long-term basis and to learn more about their behaviour and population dynamics.
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Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary
Mammal Research, 2019Co-Authors: Szilvia Kusza, Miklos Heltai, Jozsef Lanszki, Krisztina Nagy, Csaba Szabo, Sylwia D. CzarnomskaAbstract:Demography of the golden Jackal ( Canis aureus ) was affected by various events in the past, but today Jackal populations are increasing throughout Europe. Despite the fact that it is one of the most rapidly spreading mammals in Europe, previous genetic studies detected low genetic diversity among and within populations. The Hungarian landscape is not highly varied; however, it is in the middle of the country’s territory that the Jackal’s number is significantly increasing. Therefore, the main goal of our research was to further investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Hungarian golden Jackal population based on a larger sample size than in previous studies ever, expecting that individuals from genetically differentiated subpopulations might meet in the area studied. Seventy golden Jackals from the most populated area, Western Hungary, were studied with regard to genetic variability, differentiation, and structure as revealed by 385-bp-long mitochondrial control region sequences and 10 nuclear canine microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA CR sequences, and nuclear variability was low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.348 and 0.447, respectively). Furthermore, no obvious genetic structuring was detected in the studied population using GENELAND and PCA analyses. The present regional genetic structure and diversity of the Hungarian golden Jackal is consistent with the previous results; however, it is the first analysis based on a relatively large sample size. We concluded that further molecular genetic studies are needed with a more specific marker set to have more accurate knowledge on rate of hybridization and genetic structure in golden Jackal populations across Hungary and Europe.
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Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary
Mammal Research, 2019Co-Authors: Szilvia Kusza, Miklos Heltai, Jozsef Lanszki, Krisztina Nagy, Csaba Szabo, Sylwia D. CzarnomskaAbstract:Demography of the golden Jackal ( Canis aureus ) was affected by various events in the past, but today Jackal populations are increasing throughout Europe. Despite the fact that it is one of the most rapidly spreading mammals in Europe, previous genetic studies detected low genetic diversity among and within populations. The Hungarian landscape is not highly varied; however, it is in the middle of the country’s territory that the Jackal’s number is significantly increasing. Therefore, the main goal of our research was to further investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Hungarian golden Jackal population based on a larger sample size than in previous studies ever, expecting that individuals from genetically differentiated subpopulations might meet in the area studied. Seventy golden Jackals from the most populated area, Western Hungary, were studied with regard to genetic variability, differentiation, and structure as revealed by 385-bp-long mitochondrial control region sequences and 10 nuclear canine microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA CR sequences, and nuclear variability was low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.348 and 0.447, respectively). Furthermore, no obvious genetic structuring was detected in the studied population using GENELAND and PCA analyses. The present regional genetic structure and diversity of the Hungarian golden Jackal is consistent with the previous results; however, it is the first analysis based on a relatively large sample size. We concluded that further molecular genetic studies are needed with a more specific marker set to have more accurate knowledge on rate of hybridization and genetic structure in golden Jackal populations across Hungary and Europe.
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phenetic similarity of european golden Jackal canis aureus moreoticus populations from southeastern europe based on craniometric data
Biologia, 2017Co-Authors: Georgi Markov, Miklos Heltai, Aleksandra Penezic, Ivan Nikolov, Jozsef Lanszki, Dusko CirovicAbstract:This study describes the craniometrical population pattern of the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus) populations inhabiting the southeastern part of its European range. The craniometric analysis was carried out using 18 linear skull and dental parameters. The analysis included 167 adult individuals (78 males and 89 females), originating from five populations inhabiting Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary. The expected high degree of craniometric sexual dimorphism was confirmed. The multivariate differentiation analyses of linear characters were carried out separately for males and females from the five analyzed populations. The results are suggesting that Multiple Group Discriminant Analysis is able to “build” a model which classifies both males and females to the population from which they originated. The general pattern of craniometrical similarity in both males and females golden Jackals in investigated area is not strongly bounded to the geographic origin of their population. Comparative population analysis of linear skull and dental parameters of golden Jackals in southeastern Europe provided important information for future population differentiation studies across the whole golden Jackal range.
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A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.
PLOS ONE, 2015Co-Authors: Robert Rutkowski, Giorgos Giannatos, Miklos Heltai, László Szabó, Peep Männil, Anatoliy M. Volokh, Miha Krofel, Dusko Cirovic, Jozsef Lanszki, Ovidiu C. BaneaAbstract:In the first continent-wide study of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based and principal components methods were applied to evaluate whether the geographical grouping of samples corresponded with genetic groups. Our analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity, reflecting the unique history of the golden Jackal among Europe’s native carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, with both contributing to the Baltic population, which appeared only recently. The population from the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms a common genetic cluster with samples from south-eastern Europe (ΔK approach in STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although the results based on BAPS and the estimated likelihood in STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian Jackals may represent a distinct population. Moreover, analyses of population structure also suggest either genetic distinctiveness of the island population from Samos near the coast of Asia Minor (BAPS, most STRUCTURE, PCA), or possibly its connection with the Caucasus population (one analysis in STRUCTURE). We speculate from our results that ancient Mediterranean Jackal populations have persisted to the present day, and have merged with Jackals colonising from Asia. These data also suggest that new populations of the golden Jackal may be founded by long-distance dispersal, and thus should not be treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. an organism that is “non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. These insights into the genetic structure and ancestry of Baltic Jackals have important implications for management and conservation of Jackals in Europe. The golden Jackal is listed as an Annex V species in the EU Habitats Directive and as such, considering also the results presented here, should be legally protected in all EU member states.
Jozsef Lanszki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary
Mammal Research, 2019Co-Authors: Szilvia Kusza, Miklos Heltai, Jozsef Lanszki, Krisztina Nagy, Csaba Szabo, Sylwia D. CzarnomskaAbstract:Demography of the golden Jackal ( Canis aureus ) was affected by various events in the past, but today Jackal populations are increasing throughout Europe. Despite the fact that it is one of the most rapidly spreading mammals in Europe, previous genetic studies detected low genetic diversity among and within populations. The Hungarian landscape is not highly varied; however, it is in the middle of the country’s territory that the Jackal’s number is significantly increasing. Therefore, the main goal of our research was to further investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Hungarian golden Jackal population based on a larger sample size than in previous studies ever, expecting that individuals from genetically differentiated subpopulations might meet in the area studied. Seventy golden Jackals from the most populated area, Western Hungary, were studied with regard to genetic variability, differentiation, and structure as revealed by 385-bp-long mitochondrial control region sequences and 10 nuclear canine microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA CR sequences, and nuclear variability was low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.348 and 0.447, respectively). Furthermore, no obvious genetic structuring was detected in the studied population using GENELAND and PCA analyses. The present regional genetic structure and diversity of the Hungarian golden Jackal is consistent with the previous results; however, it is the first analysis based on a relatively large sample size. We concluded that further molecular genetic studies are needed with a more specific marker set to have more accurate knowledge on rate of hybridization and genetic structure in golden Jackal populations across Hungary and Europe.
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Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary
Mammal Research, 2019Co-Authors: Szilvia Kusza, Miklos Heltai, Jozsef Lanszki, Krisztina Nagy, Csaba Szabo, Sylwia D. CzarnomskaAbstract:Demography of the golden Jackal ( Canis aureus ) was affected by various events in the past, but today Jackal populations are increasing throughout Europe. Despite the fact that it is one of the most rapidly spreading mammals in Europe, previous genetic studies detected low genetic diversity among and within populations. The Hungarian landscape is not highly varied; however, it is in the middle of the country’s territory that the Jackal’s number is significantly increasing. Therefore, the main goal of our research was to further investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Hungarian golden Jackal population based on a larger sample size than in previous studies ever, expecting that individuals from genetically differentiated subpopulations might meet in the area studied. Seventy golden Jackals from the most populated area, Western Hungary, were studied with regard to genetic variability, differentiation, and structure as revealed by 385-bp-long mitochondrial control region sequences and 10 nuclear canine microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA CR sequences, and nuclear variability was low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.348 and 0.447, respectively). Furthermore, no obvious genetic structuring was detected in the studied population using GENELAND and PCA analyses. The present regional genetic structure and diversity of the Hungarian golden Jackal is consistent with the previous results; however, it is the first analysis based on a relatively large sample size. We concluded that further molecular genetic studies are needed with a more specific marker set to have more accurate knowledge on rate of hybridization and genetic structure in golden Jackal populations across Hungary and Europe.
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phenetic similarity of european golden Jackal canis aureus moreoticus populations from southeastern europe based on craniometric data
Biologia, 2017Co-Authors: Georgi Markov, Miklos Heltai, Aleksandra Penezic, Ivan Nikolov, Jozsef Lanszki, Dusko CirovicAbstract:This study describes the craniometrical population pattern of the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus) populations inhabiting the southeastern part of its European range. The craniometric analysis was carried out using 18 linear skull and dental parameters. The analysis included 167 adult individuals (78 males and 89 females), originating from five populations inhabiting Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary. The expected high degree of craniometric sexual dimorphism was confirmed. The multivariate differentiation analyses of linear characters were carried out separately for males and females from the five analyzed populations. The results are suggesting that Multiple Group Discriminant Analysis is able to “build” a model which classifies both males and females to the population from which they originated. The general pattern of craniometrical similarity in both males and females golden Jackals in investigated area is not strongly bounded to the geographic origin of their population. Comparative population analysis of linear skull and dental parameters of golden Jackals in southeastern Europe provided important information for future population differentiation studies across the whole golden Jackal range.
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factors affecting the prey preferences of Jackals canidae
Mammalian Biology, 2017Co-Authors: Laura Porter, Jozsef Lanszki, Jan F Kamler, Jacalyn M Beck, Gerald Irwin Kerley, Matt W Hayward, David W. Macdonald, Robert A MontgomeryAbstract:Abstract Prey selection by carnivores can be affected by top-down and bottom-up factors. For example, large carnivores may facilitate food resources for mesocarnivores by providing carcasses to scavenge, however mesocarnivores may hunt large prey themselves, and their diets might be affected by prey size and behaviour. We reviewed Jackal diet studies and determined how the presence of large carnivores and various bottom-up factors affected Jackal prey selection. We found 20 studies of black-backed Jackals ( Canis mesomelas ) from 43 different times or places, and 13 studies of Eurasian golden Jackals ( Canis aureus ) from 23 different times or places reporting on 3900 and 2440 dietary records (i.e. scats or stomach contents), respectively. Black-backed Jackals significantly preferred small ( Sylvicapra grimmia , bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus and springbok Antidorcas marsupialis ), and avoided large (>120 kg) hider species and follower species of any body size. They had a preferred and accessible prey weight range of 14–26 kg, and a predator to ideal prey mass ratio of 1:3.1. Eurasian golden Jackal significantly prefer to prey on brown hare ( Lepus europaeus ; 4 kg), yielding a predator to preferred prey mass ratio of 1:0.6, and a preferred and accessible prey weight range of 0–4 kg and 0–15 kg, respectively. Prey preferences of Jackals differed significantly in the presence of apex predators, but it was not entirely due to carrion availability of larger prey species. Our results show that Jackal diets are affected by both top-down and bottom-up factors, because apex predators as well as prey size and birthing behaviour affected prey preferences of Jackals. A better understanding of the factors affecting Jackal prey preferences, as presented here, could lead to greater acceptance of mesocarnivores and reduced human-wildlife conflict.
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A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.
PLOS ONE, 2015Co-Authors: Robert Rutkowski, Giorgos Giannatos, Miklos Heltai, László Szabó, Peep Männil, Anatoliy M. Volokh, Miha Krofel, Dusko Cirovic, Jozsef Lanszki, Ovidiu C. BaneaAbstract:In the first continent-wide study of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based and principal components methods were applied to evaluate whether the geographical grouping of samples corresponded with genetic groups. Our analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity, reflecting the unique history of the golden Jackal among Europe’s native carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, with both contributing to the Baltic population, which appeared only recently. The population from the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms a common genetic cluster with samples from south-eastern Europe (ΔK approach in STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although the results based on BAPS and the estimated likelihood in STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian Jackals may represent a distinct population. Moreover, analyses of population structure also suggest either genetic distinctiveness of the island population from Samos near the coast of Asia Minor (BAPS, most STRUCTURE, PCA), or possibly its connection with the Caucasus population (one analysis in STRUCTURE). We speculate from our results that ancient Mediterranean Jackal populations have persisted to the present day, and have merged with Jackals colonising from Asia. These data also suggest that new populations of the golden Jackal may be founded by long-distance dispersal, and thus should not be treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. an organism that is “non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. These insights into the genetic structure and ancestry of Baltic Jackals have important implications for management and conservation of Jackals in Europe. The golden Jackal is listed as an Annex V species in the EU Habitats Directive and as such, considering also the results presented here, should be legally protected in all EU member states.
Dusko Cirovic - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phenetic similarity of european golden Jackal canis aureus moreoticus populations from southeastern europe based on craniometric data
Biologia, 2017Co-Authors: Georgi Markov, Miklos Heltai, Aleksandra Penezic, Ivan Nikolov, Jozsef Lanszki, Dusko CirovicAbstract:This study describes the craniometrical population pattern of the European golden Jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus) populations inhabiting the southeastern part of its European range. The craniometric analysis was carried out using 18 linear skull and dental parameters. The analysis included 167 adult individuals (78 males and 89 females), originating from five populations inhabiting Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary. The expected high degree of craniometric sexual dimorphism was confirmed. The multivariate differentiation analyses of linear characters were carried out separately for males and females from the five analyzed populations. The results are suggesting that Multiple Group Discriminant Analysis is able to “build” a model which classifies both males and females to the population from which they originated. The general pattern of craniometrical similarity in both males and females golden Jackals in investigated area is not strongly bounded to the geographic origin of their population. Comparative population analysis of linear skull and dental parameters of golden Jackals in southeastern Europe provided important information for future population differentiation studies across the whole golden Jackal range.
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golden Jackal expansion in europe a case of mesopredator release triggered by continent wide wolf persecution
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, 2017Co-Authors: Miha Krofel, Giorgos Giannatos, Dusko Cirovic, Stoyan Stoyanov, Thomas M NewsomeAbstract:Top-down suppression by apex predators can limit the abundance and spatial distribution of mesopredators. However, this phenomenon has not been studied over long time periods in human-dominated landscapes, where the strength of this process might be limited. Here, we used a multi-scale approach to analyse interactions between two canids in the human-dominated landscapes of Europe. We tested the hypothesis that the range expansion of golden Jackals ( Canis aureus ) was triggered by intensive persecution and resulting decline of the apex predator, the grey wolf ( Canis lupus ). To do so, we (1) reviewed literature to reconstruct the historic changes in the distribution and abundance of the two canid species on the continental scale, (2) analysed hunting data patterns for both species in Bulgaria and Serbia, and (3) surveyed Jackal persistence in eight study areas that became re-colonized by territorial wolves. The observed trends were generally consistent with the predictions of the mesopredator release hypothesis and supported the existence of top-down suppression by wolves on Jackals. We observed inverse patterns of relative abundance and distribution for both canid species at various spatial scales. In most (seven out of eight) cases of wolf re-colonization of Jackal territories, Jackals disappeared or were displaced out or to the periphery of the newly established wolf home-ranges. We suggest that wolf extermination could be the key driver that enabled the expansion of Jackals throughout Europe. Our results also indicate that top-down suppression may be weakened where wolves are intensively persecuted by humans or occur at reduced densities in human-dominated landscapes, which has important management implications and warrants further research. Click here to access supplementary files
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A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.
PLOS ONE, 2015Co-Authors: Robert Rutkowski, Giorgos Giannatos, Miklos Heltai, László Szabó, Peep Männil, Anatoliy M. Volokh, Miha Krofel, Dusko Cirovic, Jozsef Lanszki, Ovidiu C. BaneaAbstract:In the first continent-wide study of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based and principal components methods were applied to evaluate whether the geographical grouping of samples corresponded with genetic groups. Our analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity, reflecting the unique history of the golden Jackal among Europe’s native carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, with both contributing to the Baltic population, which appeared only recently. The population from the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms a common genetic cluster with samples from south-eastern Europe (ΔK approach in STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although the results based on BAPS and the estimated likelihood in STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian Jackals may represent a distinct population. Moreover, analyses of population structure also suggest either genetic distinctiveness of the island population from Samos near the coast of Asia Minor (BAPS, most STRUCTURE, PCA), or possibly its connection with the Caucasus population (one analysis in STRUCTURE). We speculate from our results that ancient Mediterranean Jackal populations have persisted to the present day, and have merged with Jackals colonising from Asia. These data also suggest that new populations of the golden Jackal may be founded by long-distance dispersal, and thus should not be treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. an organism that is “non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. These insights into the genetic structure and ancestry of Baltic Jackals have important implications for management and conservation of Jackals in Europe. The golden Jackal is listed as an Annex V species in the EU Habitats Directive and as such, considering also the results presented here, should be legally protected in all EU member states.
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a large scale study of the trichinella genus in the golden Jackal canis aureus population in serbia
Veterinary Parasitology, 2015Co-Authors: Dusko Cirovic, Dragan Vasilev, Ivana Klun, Nada Cosic, Vlado Teodorović, Mirjana Dimitrijević, Marija Markovic, Olgica DjurkovicdjakovicAbstract:a b s t r a c t Over the last decades the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) has significantly expanded its range throughout Southeast and Central Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula is considered to be a core area of the species distri- bution in this part of the range. Due to its increasing number, ability of long distance movement through a wide range of landscapes and opportunistic feeding habits, the golden Jackal may represent an important reservoir and transmitter of a variety of zoonotic agents, including parasites. The Balkans, Serbia included, remain an endemic area for various zoonotic parasites including Trichinella spp. Trichinella has recently been recorded in Jackals in Serbia, which prompted us to carry out a large-scale survey of its prevalence, distribution and species identification in this host. In cooperation with local hunters, carcasses of a total of 738 legally hunted golden Jackals were collected at 24 localities over an 11-year period (2003-2013). Analysis of tongue base tissue revealed Trichinella larvae in 122, indicating a prevalence of infection of 16.5%. No difference in the prevalence of infection was found between genders (16.2% in males and 16.9% in females (� 2 = 0.05, p = 0.821)), or among the study years (G = 7.22, p = 0.705). Trichinella larvae were found in 13 out of the 24 examined localities. Molecular identification was performed for 90 isolates, and 64 (71.1%) larvae were identified as Trichinella spiralis and 25 (27.9%) as Trichinella britovi. Mixed infection (T. spiralis and T. britovi) was recorded in a single case. Although T. spiralis was more prevalent, T. britovi had a wider distribution, and was the only recorded species in Jackal populations from the mountainous region of eastern Serbia. On the other hand, T. spiralis was dominant in Jackals in the lowlands of central and northern Serbia, where domestic pigs are mostly reared. These results show that the golden Jackal is involved in both the domestic and sylvatic cycle, and that it has emerged as a major host species in the sylvatic cycle of the Trichinella genus. Therefore, continued monitoring of Trichinella infection in golden Jackals in Serbia and the whole of the Balkans is recommended in order to control transmission of this parasite to humans and domestic animals. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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A large-scale study of the Trichinella genus in the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) population in Serbia.
Veterinary parasitology, 2015Co-Authors: Dusko Cirovic, Dragan Vasilev, Nada Ćosić, Ivana Klun, Vlado Teodorović, Mirjana Dimitrijević, Marija Markovic, Olgica Djurković-djakovićAbstract:Over the last decades the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) has significantly expanded its range throughout Southeast and Central Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula is considered to be a core area of the species distribution in this part of the range. Due to its increasing number, ability of long distance movement through a wide range of landscapes and opportunistic feeding habits, the golden Jackal may represent an important reservoir and transmitter of a variety of zoonotic agents, including parasites. The Balkans, Serbia included, remain an endemic area for various zoonotic parasites including Trichinella spp. Trichinella has recently been recorded in Jackals in Serbia, which prompted us to carry out a large-scale survey of its prevalence, distribution and species identification in this host. In cooperation with local hunters, carcasses of a total of 738 legally hunted golden Jackals were collected at 24 localities over an 11-year period (2003-2013). Analysis of tongue base tissue revealed Trichinella larvae in 122, indicating a prevalence of infection of 16.5%. No difference in the prevalence of infection was found between genders [16.2% in males and 16.9% in females (χ(2)=0.05, p=0.821)], or among the study years (G=7.22, p=0.705). Trichinella larvae were found in 13 out of the 24 examined localities. Molecular identification was performed for 90 isolates, and 64 (71.1%) larvae were identified as Trichinella spiralis and 25 (27.9%) as Trichinella britovi. Mixed infection (T. spiralis and T. britovi) was recorded in a single case. Although T. spiralis was more prevalent, T. britovi had a wider distribution, and was the only recorded species in Jackal populations from the mountainous region of eastern Serbia. On the other hand, T. spiralis was dominant in Jackals in the lowlands of central and northern Serbia, where domestic pigs are mostly reared. These results show that the golden Jackal is involved in both the domestic and sylvatic cycle, and that it has emerged as a major host species in the sylvatic cycle of the Trichinella genus. Therefore, continued monitoring of Trichinella infection in golden Jackals in Serbia and the whole of the Balkans is recommended in order to control transmission of this parasite to humans and domestic animals.
Olgica Djurkovicdjakovic - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a large scale study of the trichinella genus in the golden Jackal canis aureus population in serbia
Veterinary Parasitology, 2015Co-Authors: Dusko Cirovic, Dragan Vasilev, Ivana Klun, Nada Cosic, Vlado Teodorović, Mirjana Dimitrijević, Marija Markovic, Olgica DjurkovicdjakovicAbstract:a b s t r a c t Over the last decades the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) has significantly expanded its range throughout Southeast and Central Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula is considered to be a core area of the species distri- bution in this part of the range. Due to its increasing number, ability of long distance movement through a wide range of landscapes and opportunistic feeding habits, the golden Jackal may represent an important reservoir and transmitter of a variety of zoonotic agents, including parasites. The Balkans, Serbia included, remain an endemic area for various zoonotic parasites including Trichinella spp. Trichinella has recently been recorded in Jackals in Serbia, which prompted us to carry out a large-scale survey of its prevalence, distribution and species identification in this host. In cooperation with local hunters, carcasses of a total of 738 legally hunted golden Jackals were collected at 24 localities over an 11-year period (2003-2013). Analysis of tongue base tissue revealed Trichinella larvae in 122, indicating a prevalence of infection of 16.5%. No difference in the prevalence of infection was found between genders (16.2% in males and 16.9% in females (� 2 = 0.05, p = 0.821)), or among the study years (G = 7.22, p = 0.705). Trichinella larvae were found in 13 out of the 24 examined localities. Molecular identification was performed for 90 isolates, and 64 (71.1%) larvae were identified as Trichinella spiralis and 25 (27.9%) as Trichinella britovi. Mixed infection (T. spiralis and T. britovi) was recorded in a single case. Although T. spiralis was more prevalent, T. britovi had a wider distribution, and was the only recorded species in Jackal populations from the mountainous region of eastern Serbia. On the other hand, T. spiralis was dominant in Jackals in the lowlands of central and northern Serbia, where domestic pigs are mostly reared. These results show that the golden Jackal is involved in both the domestic and sylvatic cycle, and that it has emerged as a major host species in the sylvatic cycle of the Trichinella genus. Therefore, continued monitoring of Trichinella infection in golden Jackals in Serbia and the whole of the Balkans is recommended in order to control transmission of this parasite to humans and domestic animals. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Miha Krofel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the golden Jackal canis aureus in bosnia and herzegovina density of territorial groups population trend and distribution range
Mammal Research, 2018Co-Authors: Igor Trbojevic, Tijana Trbojevic, Danijela Malesevic, Miha KrofelAbstract:In this article, we present the results of the first systematic surveys of golden Jackals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The population status and distribution of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in B&H was largely unknown, and the few existing literature records mention their presence at only five localities in the country. We interviewed managers of all the hunting grounds in B&H and reviewed available Jackal hunting records from 2000 to 2016. In total, we collected 212 records of legally harvested Jackals. We observed an increasing trend of harvested Jackals in B&H (on average 35% annual increase) during this same period. Using the acoustic (playback) method, we confirmed the presence of 80 territorial Jackal groups along six transects covering 3081 km2. We estimated density to be a minimum of 0.33 groups/10 km2 in northern B&H and 0.10 groups/10 km2 in central B&H. Jackal groups were located at significantly lower altitudes with respect to available area along the transects. We present a distribution map of confirmed Jackal occurrences in B&H, which indicates that the core area of Jackal distribution in the country is currently located along the Sava River and its tributaries in the northern part of B&H. Jackals are sporadically present in the rest of the country, where gray wolves (Canis lupus) probably limit their presence. In total, Jackal presence has been detected in 19% (109 out of 586) of 10 × 10 km grid cells covering the country. The primary factor driving the expanding population of Jackals in northern B&H appears to be immigration of Jackals from Croatia and Serbia.
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golden Jackal expansion in europe a case of mesopredator release triggered by continent wide wolf persecution
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, 2017Co-Authors: Miha Krofel, Giorgos Giannatos, Dusko Cirovic, Stoyan Stoyanov, Thomas M NewsomeAbstract:Top-down suppression by apex predators can limit the abundance and spatial distribution of mesopredators. However, this phenomenon has not been studied over long time periods in human-dominated landscapes, where the strength of this process might be limited. Here, we used a multi-scale approach to analyse interactions between two canids in the human-dominated landscapes of Europe. We tested the hypothesis that the range expansion of golden Jackals ( Canis aureus ) was triggered by intensive persecution and resulting decline of the apex predator, the grey wolf ( Canis lupus ). To do so, we (1) reviewed literature to reconstruct the historic changes in the distribution and abundance of the two canid species on the continental scale, (2) analysed hunting data patterns for both species in Bulgaria and Serbia, and (3) surveyed Jackal persistence in eight study areas that became re-colonized by territorial wolves. The observed trends were generally consistent with the predictions of the mesopredator release hypothesis and supported the existence of top-down suppression by wolves on Jackals. We observed inverse patterns of relative abundance and distribution for both canid species at various spatial scales. In most (seven out of eight) cases of wolf re-colonization of Jackal territories, Jackals disappeared or were displaced out or to the periphery of the newly established wolf home-ranges. We suggest that wolf extermination could be the key driver that enabled the expansion of Jackals throughout Europe. Our results also indicate that top-down suppression may be weakened where wolves are intensively persecuted by humans or occur at reduced densities in human-dominated landscapes, which has important management implications and warrants further research. Click here to access supplementary files
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A European Concern? Genetic Structure and Expansion of Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) in Europe and the Caucasus.
PLOS ONE, 2015Co-Authors: Robert Rutkowski, Giorgos Giannatos, Miklos Heltai, László Szabó, Peep Männil, Anatoliy M. Volokh, Miha Krofel, Dusko Cirovic, Jozsef Lanszki, Ovidiu C. BaneaAbstract:In the first continent-wide study of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus), we characterised its population genetic structure and attempted to identify the origin of European populations. This provided a unique insight into genetic characteristics of a native carnivore population with rapid large-scale expansion. We analysed 15 microsatellite markers and a 406 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Bayesian-based and principal components methods were applied to evaluate whether the geographical grouping of samples corresponded with genetic groups. Our analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity, reflecting the unique history of the golden Jackal among Europe’s native carnivores. The results suggest ongoing gene flow between south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, with both contributing to the Baltic population, which appeared only recently. The population from the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece forms a common genetic cluster with samples from south-eastern Europe (ΔK approach in STRUCTURE, Principal Components Analysis [PCA]), although the results based on BAPS and the estimated likelihood in STRUCTURE indicate that Peloponnesian Jackals may represent a distinct population. Moreover, analyses of population structure also suggest either genetic distinctiveness of the island population from Samos near the coast of Asia Minor (BAPS, most STRUCTURE, PCA), or possibly its connection with the Caucasus population (one analysis in STRUCTURE). We speculate from our results that ancient Mediterranean Jackal populations have persisted to the present day, and have merged with Jackals colonising from Asia. These data also suggest that new populations of the golden Jackal may be founded by long-distance dispersal, and thus should not be treated as an invasive alien species, i.e. an organism that is “non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. These insights into the genetic structure and ancestry of Baltic Jackals have important implications for management and conservation of Jackals in Europe. The golden Jackal is listed as an Annex V species in the EU Habitats Directive and as such, considering also the results presented here, should be legally protected in all EU member states.
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Population densities and habitat use of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in farmlands across the Balkan Peninsula
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2014Co-Authors: Martin Šálek, Aleksandra Penezic, Jaroslav Červinka, Ovidiu C. Banea, Ivana Selanec, Stanislav Grill, Miha Krofel, Dusko Cirovic, Jan RiegertAbstract:The main objective of this study was to analyze the habitat use and population densities of the golden Jackal in four countries across lowland regions of the Balkan Peninsula, known as the core area of the species' distribution in Europe. Using indirect (acoustic) method for detecting territorial golden Jackals, we surveyed Jackal presence and densities on 331 monitoring sites in four countries, covering area an of 4,296 km^2 in total during April and May 2007–2012. We used GIS to assess landscape and environmental characteristics in a 2-km circular buffer (12.6 km^2) around calling stations. Average population density of golden Jackals in the study areas ranged between 0.6 and 1.1 territorial groups/10 km^2 (mean ± SE, 0.6 ± 0.06 groups/10 km^2), with several high-density areas with up to 4.8 territorial groups/10 km^2. Analysis of habitat use showed that for both Jackal occurrence and number of Jackal groups, the only significant parameter was the interaction between country and intensity of agriculture, indicating that Jackals adapt their habitat selection patterns in relation to the habitat availability. We observed that selection of the more suitable habitats (shrub–herbaceous vegetation/heterogeneous agricultural vegetation) increased with lower proportion of these habitat types in the study area. Our study confirms high habitat plasticity of the golden Jackal and offers explanation for its recent range expansion, which might be connected with the land use changes during the last decades in the Balkan Peninsula.
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Population densities and habitat use of the golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in farmlands across the Balkan Peninsula
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2014Co-Authors: Martin Šálek, Jaroslav Červinka, Ovidiu C. Banea, Ivana Selanec, Stanislav Grill, Miha Krofel, Duško Ćirović, Aleksandra Penezić, Jan RiegertAbstract:The main objective of this study was to analyze the habitat use and population densities of the golden Jackal in four countries across lowland regions of the Balkan Peninsula, known as the core area of the species' distribution in Europe. Using indirect (acoustic) method for detecting territorial golden Jackals, we surveyed Jackal presence and densities on 331 monitoring sites in four countries, covering area an of 4,296 km^2 in total during April and May 2007–2012. We used GIS to assess landscape and environmental characteristics in a 2-km circular buffer (12.6 km^2) around calling stations. Average population density of golden Jackals in the study areas ranged between 0.6 and 1.1 territorial groups/10 km^2 (mean ± SE, 0.6 ± 0.06 groups/10 km^2), with several high-density areas with up to 4.8 territorial groups/10 km^2. Analysis of habitat use showed that for both Jackal occurrence and number of Jackal groups, the only significant parameter was the interaction between country and intensity of agriculture, indicating that Jackals adapt their habitat selection patterns in relation to the habitat availability. We observed that selection of the more suitable habitats (shrub–herbaceous vegetation/heterogeneous agricultural vegetation) increased with lower proportion of these habitat types in the study area. Our study confirms high habitat plasticity of the golden Jackal and offers explanation for its recent range expansion, which might be connected with the land use changes during the last decades in the Balkan Peninsula.