SUMMARYCestodes of the genus Taenia are parasites of mammals, with mainly carnivores as definitive and herbivores as intermediate hosts. Various medium-sized cats, Lynx spp., are involved in the life cycles of several species of Taenia.... more
SUMMARYCestodes of the genus Taenia are parasites of mammals, with mainly carnivores as definitive and herbivores as intermediate hosts. Various medium-sized cats, Lynx spp., are involved in the life cycles of several species of Taenia. The aim of the present study was to identify Taenia tapeworms in the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from Finland. In total, 135 tapeworms from 72 lynx were subjected to molecular identification based on sequences of 2 mtDNA regions, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 genes. Available morphological characters of the rostellar hooks and strobila were compared. Two species of Taenia were found: T. laticollis (127 samples) and an unknown Taenia sp. (5 samples). The latter could not be identified to species based on mtDNA, and the rostellar hooks were short relative to those described among other Taenia spp. recorded in felids from the Holarctic region. In the phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences, T. laticollis was plac...
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Liitteet: Liite 1. Tutkimusosapuolet ja yhteistyo (s. 26-27) Liite 2. HAVINA -hankkeeseen liittyvat julkaisut ja esitelmat (s. 28-31) Liite 3. HAVINA – Vieraslajiportaali 4 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201702011419 (Luonnontieteellinen keskusmuseo –... more
Liitteet: Liite 1. Tutkimusosapuolet ja yhteistyo (s. 26-27) Liite 2. HAVINA -hankkeeseen liittyvat julkaisut ja esitelmat (s. 28-31) Liite 3. HAVINA – Vieraslajiportaali 4 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201702011419 (Luonnontieteellinen keskusmuseo – Luomus). Liite 4. Sisallontuotto-ohje vieraslajiportaaliin. 10 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201702011418 (Luomus) Liite 5. Haitallisten vieraiden kala-, rapu- ja nisakaslajien leviaminen, tietoisuuden lisaaminen ja hallinta (HAVINA osaraportti) 76 s. URN:ISBN:978-952-303-111-1 (RKTL) Liite 6. Sisavesien vieraslajit – vesikasvit. 15 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201701311402 (SYKE vesikeskus) Liite 7. Selvitys meriteitse Suomeen kulkeutuvien vieraslajien saapumisreiteista. 11 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201701311401 (SYKE merikeskus) Liite 8. Ruohovartisten koristekasvien leviamiskartoitus ja -ennuste olemassa olevien havaintojen perusteella. 16 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201701311399 . (MTT, Kasvintuotannon tutkimus, Piikkio & Jokioinen) Liite 9. Vieraslajien torjunta Lounais-Suomessa –hyvat kaytannot. 43 s. URN:ISBN:978-952-257-811-2 (Varsinais-Suomen Elykeskus) Liite 10. Kasvintuhoojien leviamisvaylat ja kasvintuhoojien uhkaaman tuotannon arvo 76 s. ( rinnakkaistallenne ) (EVIRA & MTT, taloustutkimus) Liite 11. Ohjeistus vieraslajien torjunnan taloudelliseen arviointiin 33 s. URN:ISBN:978-952-487-528-8 (MTT, taloustutkimus & IEEP) Liite 12. Instruments for financing action on invasive alien species (IAS). 45 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201701311400 . (IEEP & MTT, taloustutkimus) Liite 13. Suomen luonnonsuojeluliiton tehtavat HAVINA-hankkeessa. 5 s. URN:NBN:fi-fe201702011420
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Large terrestrial carnivores can sometimes display strong family bonds affecting the spatial distribution of related individuals. We studied the spatial genetic relatedness and family structure of female Eurasian lynx, continuously... more
Large terrestrial carnivores can sometimes display strong family bonds affecting the spatial distribution of related individuals. We studied the spatial genetic relatedness and family structure of female Eurasian lynx, continuously distributed in southern Finland. We hypothesized that closely related females form matrilineal assemblages, clustering together with relatives living in the neighboring areas. We evaluated this hypothesis using tissue samples of 133 legally harvested female lynx (from year 2007 to 2015), genotyped with 23 microsatellite markers, and tested for possible spatial genetic family structure using a combination of Bayesian clustering, spatial autocorrelation, and forensic genetic parentage analysis. The study population had three potential family genetic clusters, with a high degree of admixture and geographic overlap, and showed a weak but significant negative relationship between pairwise genetic and geographic distance. Moreover, parentage analysis indicated ...
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In Finland, free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population has grown from 30 to 40 individuals to 2800 individuals since the species became partly protected in 1962. Changes in host population size are known to have an impact on... more
In Finland, free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population has grown from 30 to 40 individuals to 2800 individuals since the species became partly protected in 1962. Changes in host population size are known to have an impact on host-parasite dynamics, and the Eurasian lynx population in Finland provides a unique opportunity for studying the potential effects of dramatic population increase and expansion of a solitary apex predator on their parasite prevalence and abundance. Toxocara cati is a zoonotic gastrointestinal parasite infecting domestic cats and wild felids worldwide. We studied T. cati infection prevalence and worm burden in 2756 Eurasian lynx individuals from Finland, covering the years 1999–2015. Toxocara cati worms that had been collected from intestinal contents were identified based on morphology. We performed regression analyses to investigate possible associations of age, sex, and host population density with T. cati infection. We found T. cati from 2324 (84.3%, 95% confidence interval 82.9–86.0) of the examined lynx. Each year, the infection prevalence was higher than 75% and not density dependent. The parasites were strongly aggregated, with older individuals harboring fewer T. cati than younger ones did. Old females aged 9–15 years had higher T. cati abundance than males of the same age group. Our results indicate that T. cati was a common and abundant parasite of Eurasian lynx throughout the study period, regardless of the changing population size and density.
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Poster abstract P2201
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Shape files of current and historical distribution maps of large carnivore species in Europ
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The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and... more
The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third of mainland Europe hosts at least one large carnivore species, with stable or increasing abundance in most cases in 21st-century records. The reasons for this overall conservation success include protective legislation, supportive public opinion, and a variety of practices making coexistence between large carnivores and people possible. The European situation reveals that large carnivores and people can share the same landscape
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The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and... more
The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third of mainland Europe hosts at least one large carnivore species, with stable or increasing abundance in most cases in 21st-century records. The reasons for this overall conservation success include protective legislation, supportive public opinion, and a variety of practices making coexistence between large carnivores and people possible. The European situation reveals that large carnivores and people can share the same landscape.
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Tama julkaisu on toteutettu osana valtioneuvoston vuoden 2016 selvitys- ja tutkimussuunnitelman toimeenpanoa ( tietokayttoon.fi ). Julkaisun sisallosta vastaavat tiedon tuottajat, eika tekstisisalto valttamatta edusta valtioneuvoston... more
Tama julkaisu on toteutettu osana valtioneuvoston vuoden 2016 selvitys- ja tutkimussuunnitelman toimeenpanoa ( tietokayttoon.fi ). Julkaisun sisallosta vastaavat tiedon tuottajat, eika tekstisisalto valttamatta edusta valtioneuvoston nakemysta.
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Spatial and temporal interaction between medium-sized carnivores (raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, red fox Vulpes vulpes, European badger Meles meles and domestic cat Felis silvestris catus) was studied in southeast Finland using... more
Spatial and temporal interaction between medium-sized carnivores (raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, red fox Vulpes vulpes, European badger Meles meles and domestic cat Felis silvestris catus) was studied in southeast Finland using radio-telemetry to estimate the risk of contact and contact rate (number of contacts) between individuals. There was a high level of overlap between home ranges both within and between species and individuals had frequent contact. The risk of contact was high for members of raccoon dog pairs, individual cats and badgers, but also for raccoon dogs and badgers and for raccoon dogs and cats. The lowest risk of contact was for neighbouring raccoon dogs and for male foxes. In this carnivore community the transmission of disease, such as rabies, both within and between species is likely. The role of the badger as a vector of rabies is probably much greater than previously assumed.
Research Interests: Biology, Risk, Telemetry, Red Fox, Home Range, and 3 moreVectors, Vulpes vulpes, and Radio Telemetry
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium‐sized felid, with a tendency to hunt for prey larger than itself. We studied the lynx hindlimb musculoskeletal anatomy in order to determine possible anatomical adaptations to hunting large prey.... more
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium‐sized felid, with a tendency to hunt for prey larger than itself. We studied the lynx hindlimb musculoskeletal anatomy in order to determine possible anatomical adaptations to hunting large prey. In our previous work, we had found characters of both large and small felids in the lynx forelimb. The crouched limbs, typical of all felids, increase the energy demands for the antigravity muscles during locomotion. As a powerful pounce is required for the smaller felid to bring down large prey, strong hindquarters may be needed. We hypothesized that the muscle attachments are more mechanically advantageous and muscles heavier in the lynx as compared to other felids to compensate for the energy requirements. In support of this, we found unique patterns in the hindlimb musculature of the lynx. Insertion of the m. gluteus medius was large with a short moment arm around the hip joint, providing mechanical disadvantage, but rapid movement. The musculus...