Biology subjects

Rozhnov, V. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Rozhnov, V. V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Cautious explorers: comparing movement patterns of wild and rewilded solitary predators

Many rewilding projects emphasize recovering trophic networks through species translocation. Understanding the behaviour and movement patterns of rewilded animals is central to evaluating the success of rewilding efforts. In this study, we compared the behaviour of rewilded Persian leopards (Panthera pardus tulliana) in Russia with their wild counterparts in Iran to assess how they compare in terms of exploratory and cautious movement in new environments. We used Behavioural Change Point Analysis with selection procedures to identify points where individuals switched between movement modes. We analysed intrinsic movement metrics (speed, persistence velocity, turning velocity) and spatiotemporal attributes (duration, net squared displacement, distance travelled). Time spent in each behavioural mode differed between wild and rewilded leopards: on average, rewilded leopards spent more time in the "Ranging" mode and less time "Encamped" compared to wild leopards. Rewilded leopards were also slower than wild leopards, particularly in the "Encamped" state while wild leopards exhibited similar speeds across modes. Importantly, rewilded leopards had larger displacement and spent longer in the "Ranging" mode, a pattern not seen in wild leopards. These findings highlight distinct spatial behaviour patterns between wild and rewilded leopards. Accordingly, rewilded leopards adopted both exploratory and cautious behavioural strategies, reflecting their tendency to range more widely over extended periods, plausibly to gather information from large parts of their environments, albeit at lower speed, arguably to avoid potential risks, suggesting that they are in the process of adapting to new environments. These differences are likely to reflect different ecological circumstances, but even more so the previous experiences and thus different social circumstances of the two samples of Persian leopards. OPEN RESEARCH STATEMENTAll locational data from Iran are publicly available on Movebank: https://www.movebank.org/panel_embedded_movebank_webapp. Project: Persian leopard Tandoureh Iran (accession number 270329098). All the data are available for download as .csv file.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2024

Elucidating the sustainability of 700 years of Inuvialuit beluga whale hunting in the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

Beluga whales play a critical role in the subsistence economies and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities across the Arctic, yet the effects of Indigenous hunting on beluga whales remains unknown. Here, we integrate paleogenomics and stable{delta} 13C and{delta} 15N isotope analysis to investigate 700 years of beluga subsistence hunting in the Mackenzie Delta area of northwestern Canada. Genetic identification of the zooarchaeological remains, which based on radiocarbon dating span three time periods (1290-1440 CE; 1450-1650 CE; 1800-1870 CE), indicate shifts across time in the sex ratio of the harvested belugas. The equal number of females and males harvested in 1450-1650 CE versus more males harvested in the two other time periods may reflect changes in hunting practices or temporal shifts in beluga availability. We find temporal shifts and sex-based differences in {delta}13C of the harvested belugas across time, suggesting historical adaptability in the foraging ecology of the whales. Although we uncovered novel mitochondrial diversity in the Mackenzie Delta belugas, we found no changes in nuclear genomic diversity nor any substructuring across time. Our findings indicate the genomic stability and continuity of the Mackenzie Delta beluga population across the 700 years surveyed, indicating the impact of Inuvialuit subsistence harvests on the genetic diversity of contemporary beluga individuals has been negligible. Significance StatementSince colonizing the Mackenzie Delta in northwestern Canada [~]1200 CE, Inuvialuit have been heavily reliant on belugas for their livelihoods and cultural heritage. However, little is known of the impact of centuries of sustained Inuvialuit subsistence hunting on the beluga population inhabiting the Mackenzie Delta. Using palaeogenomic and stable isotope analysis of zooarchaeological remains, and comparing the findings with contemporary data, we investigate temporal changes in beluga diversity, structuring, and foraging ecology. We show Inuvialuit harvests had a negligible impact on the genetic diversity of contemporary Mackenzie belugas, and highlight the applicability of combining genomic sexing and isotope analysis of zooarchaeological remains for advancing our understanding of past hunting practices and faunal ecologies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

Extreme in Every Way: Exceedingly Low Genetic Diversity in Snow Leopards Due to Persistently Small Population Size

Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) serve as an umbrella species whose conservation benefits their high-elevation Asian habitat. Their numbers are believed to be in decline due to numerous Anthropogenic threats; however, their conservation is hindered by numerous knowledge gaps. They are the least studied genetically of all big cat species with more to learn regarding their population structure, historical population size, and current levels of genetic diversity. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing data for 41 snow leopards (37 newly sequenced) to offer new insights into these unresolved questions. Among our samples, we find evidence of a primary genetic divide between the northern and southern part of the range around the Dzungarian Basin, as previously identified, and a secondary divide south of Kyrgyzstan around the Taklamakan Desert. Most noteworthy, we find that snow leopards have the lowest genetic diversity of any big cat species, due to a persistently small population size (relative to other big cat species) throughout their evolutionary history rather than recent inbreeding. Without a large population size or ample standing genetic variation to help buffer them from any forthcoming Anthropogenic challenges, snow leopard persistence may be more tenuous than currently appreciated.

evolutionary biology↗