Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Salamanders are relevant components of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, despite the importance of salamanders in many resource–consumer networks, their functional role remains remarkably understudied. Therefore, this volume, entitled The Ecological Role of Salamanders as Prey and Predators, provides an opportunity for researchers to highlight the new research on the ecological role of salamanders and newts in prey–predator systems, their trophic behavior, and the variability of their trophic niche in space and time. Various innovative methods, such as COI metabarcoding and network analysis, are applied in the present study to test both the classical and new hypotheses concerning the trophic ecology of salamanders and their interactions with their prey. The present volume is composed of one review and seven research papers, all of which are published after undergoing a complete and impartial peer-review process.

Research & information: general --- artificial cave --- ecotone --- prey-predator system --- salamanders --- Speleomantes --- subterranean habitat --- amphibia --- energy flow --- habitat coupling --- predator-prey interactions --- top-down control --- trophic cascades --- trophic ecology --- Urodela --- cave biology --- prey --- hypogean --- underground --- stygofauna --- Monolistra --- Sphaeromatidae --- Niphargus --- flatworm --- aqueduct --- seepage --- individual diet specialization --- ecological opportunity --- diet --- plethodontid --- community ecology --- Triturus --- Lissotriton --- coexisting species --- trophic niche --- niche width --- niche variation hypothesis --- amphibians --- feeding ecology --- individual specialization --- resource selection --- Hydromantes --- body condition --- biospeleology --- parental species --- size --- capture-mark-recapture --- COI --- DNA metabarcoding --- artificial cave --- ecotone --- prey-predator system --- salamanders --- Speleomantes --- subterranean habitat --- amphibia --- energy flow --- habitat coupling --- predator-prey interactions --- top-down control --- trophic cascades --- trophic ecology --- Urodela --- cave biology --- prey --- hypogean --- underground --- stygofauna --- Monolistra --- Sphaeromatidae --- Niphargus --- flatworm --- aqueduct --- seepage --- individual diet specialization --- ecological opportunity --- diet --- plethodontid --- community ecology --- Triturus --- Lissotriton --- coexisting species --- trophic niche --- niche width --- niche variation hypothesis --- amphibians --- feeding ecology --- individual specialization --- resource selection --- Hydromantes --- body condition --- biospeleology --- parental species --- size --- capture-mark-recapture --- COI --- DNA metabarcoding

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

From birth to first calving, the replacement heifer undergoes tremendous changes anatomically as well as in feeding and management practices. The calf changes from being a pseudo-monogastric to a full ruminant within a period of two months. During the same period, the calf is fed colostrum, milk, or milk replacer, and starter with or without hay. Notably, the lifetime milk production and health of a dairy cow is highly dependent on early life nutrition and management of the calf and, subsequently, the heifer. Hence, animal scientists continue to investigate critical areas such as colostrum feeding, the level of liquid feeding, gut microbial succession, energy and protein levels, housing, health management, and their interactions with the animal in an effort to help dairy producers raise successful and sustainable dairy enterprises.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- betaine --- dairy cows --- newborn calves --- fat mobilization --- immunity --- calf --- glutamine --- autophagy --- apoptosis --- calf economics --- replacement --- ADG --- cost per kg --- calves --- rumen --- epithelium --- microbiota --- diet --- feed additives --- feeding management --- dairy calf --- involuntary culling --- mortality --- replacement heifer --- survival rate --- amino acid pattern --- Holstein heifers --- lysine --- methionine --- threonine --- heat stress --- yak calf --- early weaning --- caecal microbiota --- 16S rRNA gene sequencing --- growth performance --- heifer --- bull --- Simmental --- fattening --- management --- carcass and meat quality --- weaning age --- Holstein calves --- growth --- milk replacer --- metabolism --- development --- body condition score --- peripartum --- primiparous dairy cow --- pair housing --- individual housing --- behavior --- dairy calf feeding --- health --- welfare --- nutrition --- stakeholder attitudes --- forage --- performance --- rumen fermentation

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Salamanders are relevant components of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, despite the importance of salamanders in many resource–consumer networks, their functional role remains remarkably understudied. Therefore, this volume, entitled The Ecological Role of Salamanders as Prey and Predators, provides an opportunity for researchers to highlight the new research on the ecological role of salamanders and newts in prey–predator systems, their trophic behavior, and the variability of their trophic niche in space and time. Various innovative methods, such as COI metabarcoding and network analysis, are applied in the present study to test both the classical and new hypotheses concerning the trophic ecology of salamanders and their interactions with their prey. The present volume is composed of one review and seven research papers, all of which are published after undergoing a complete and impartial peer-review process.

artificial cave --- ecotone --- prey-predator system --- salamanders --- Speleomantes --- subterranean habitat --- amphibia --- energy flow --- habitat coupling --- predator–prey interactions --- top–down control --- trophic cascades --- trophic ecology --- Urodela --- cave biology --- prey --- hypogean --- underground --- stygofauna --- Monolistra --- Sphaeromatidae --- Niphargus --- flatworm --- aqueduct --- seepage --- individual diet specialization --- ecological opportunity --- diet --- plethodontid --- community ecology --- Triturus --- Lissotriton --- coexisting species --- trophic niche --- niche width --- niche variation hypothesis --- amphibians --- feeding ecology --- individual specialization --- resource selection --- Hydromantes --- body condition --- biospeleology --- parental species --- size --- capture-mark-recapture --- COI --- DNA metabarcoding --- n/a --- predator-prey interactions --- top-down control

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Rabbit livestock is especially important in the Mediterranean area and in the semi-arid zones of Africa, Asia, and America, representing a valuable alternative source of good animal protein of high quality (low fat and low cholesterol). However, rabbit husbandry should adapt to be a competitive and sustainable sector. In addition, it must maintain a balance between rabbit welfare, customer demands, and breeder requirements. Then, improvement in breeding systems is needed and may involve avoiding hormones and antibiotics in rabbit management; enhancing the efficiency of reproductive procedures such as artificial insemination systems and freezing of semen and embryos; extending the productive lifespan of does; improving genetic selection systems; and adjusting nutritional systems to optimize the physiological status of animals and the immune response. This Special Issue concerns all these challenges in increasing rabbit productivity and sustainability.

Oryctolagus cuniculus --- SNPs --- SLAF-seq --- genome-wide association study --- growth trait --- myeloperoxidase --- lysozyme --- rabbits --- viral infection --- rabbit hemorrhagic disease --- goji berries --- rabbit --- insulin resistance --- leptin --- non-esterified fatty acids --- pregnancy --- lactation --- body condition score --- principal component analysis --- gene expression --- endometrium --- oviduct --- spermatozoa --- seminal plasma --- inflammation --- angiogenesis --- corpus luteum --- reproduction --- genomic selection --- imputation --- litter size --- genomic simulation --- artificial insemination --- antibiotics --- antibacterial activity --- semen quality --- reproductive performance --- sperm quality --- cryopreservation --- animal model --- assisted reproductive technology --- CTSS --- granulosa cells --- proliferation --- apoptosis --- hormone secretion --- body composition --- fertility --- kits born alive --- rabbit does --- feed intake --- free tri-iodothyronine --- thyroxine --- insulin --- glucose --- corticosterone --- NEFA --- fetus --- placenta

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Wild animals under human care as well as domesticated farm production animals are often exposed to environmental changes (e.g., capture and transportation). Short-term or acute changes in physiological indices (e.g., heart rate, respiration, body temperatures, immune cells, and stress hormonal biomarkers) provide crucial information regarding the responses of animals to novel environments, and they could provide crucial determining factors for the long-term health and welfare of animals. This Special Issue includes experimental research papers that demonstrate the applications of physiological indices and welfare assessment methods (e.g., morphological and morphometric data, behavioural assessments, thermal profiles, and physiological markers) in any wildlife or production animal (e.g., rescued and rehabilitating animals, pets, competition animals, farm animals, and zoo animals), in response to environmental and management related factors. The goal is to provide examples of new research and techniques that can be used to monitor short- and long-term environmental adaptation of animals under human care.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- Zoology & animal sciences --- non-invasive --- bioindicator --- pollution --- stress --- welfare --- constructed wetland --- glucocorticoid --- urban river --- reindeer --- glucocorticoids --- validation --- rodents --- ecological immunology --- natural antibodies --- haptoglobin --- neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio --- immune strategy --- vector-borne pathogens --- parasitology --- zoonosis --- thermal imaging --- koalas --- body temperature --- heat/cold stress --- thermoregulation --- substrate --- Zoo --- protocol --- veterinary assessment --- Punjab urial --- body condition --- behavior --- Pakistan --- red deer --- hind --- reproduction --- progesterone --- cortisol --- hair --- Asian elephant --- saliva --- immunoglobulin A --- circadian rhythm --- Panthera tigris tigris --- Panthera tigris altaica --- siberian --- tigers --- bengal tigers --- captive --- biochemical parameter --- serum protein electrophoresis --- Cervus elaphus --- plasma --- feces --- hunting --- zoo --- faecal analysis --- glucocorticoid metabolites --- enzyme immunoassay --- roe deer --- blood parameters --- prognostic factors --- blood lactate concentration --- biomarkers --- captivity-induced stress --- fecal glucocorticoid metabolites --- physiological stress in rodents --- oxytocin --- boar --- ejaculation --- wildlife --- environmental stress --- urbanisation --- birds --- non-invasive --- bioindicator --- pollution --- stress --- welfare --- constructed wetland --- glucocorticoid --- urban river --- reindeer --- glucocorticoids --- validation --- rodents --- ecological immunology --- natural antibodies --- haptoglobin --- neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio --- immune strategy --- vector-borne pathogens --- parasitology --- zoonosis --- thermal imaging --- koalas --- body temperature --- heat/cold stress --- thermoregulation --- substrate --- Zoo --- protocol --- veterinary assessment --- Punjab urial --- body condition --- behavior --- Pakistan --- red deer --- hind --- reproduction --- progesterone --- cortisol --- hair --- Asian elephant --- saliva --- immunoglobulin A --- circadian rhythm --- Panthera tigris tigris --- Panthera tigris altaica --- siberian --- tigers --- bengal tigers --- captive --- biochemical parameter --- serum protein electrophoresis --- Cervus elaphus --- plasma --- feces --- hunting --- zoo --- faecal analysis --- glucocorticoid metabolites --- enzyme immunoassay --- roe deer --- blood parameters --- prognostic factors --- blood lactate concentration --- biomarkers --- captivity-induced stress --- fecal glucocorticoid metabolites --- physiological stress in rodents --- oxytocin --- boar --- ejaculation --- wildlife --- environmental stress --- urbanisation --- birds