Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Colares, Ioni Gonçalves; Oliveira, Raquel N. V.; Liveira, Rafael M.; Colares, Elton Pinto

doi:10.1590/s0001-37652010000300015

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In some cases, the morphology of the coprolite can indicate the producer, as, for example, spiral coprolites are often attributed to non-teleost fishes (Williams, 1972;Jain, 1983;McAllister, 1985;Souto, 2008;Dentzien-Dias et al, 2012;Niedźwiedzki et al, 2016). However, feces from different groups of animals can be similar in appearance, and variations can occur within the morphology of feces among a single producer, mainly due to different food and water availability and diseases (McAllister, 1985;Thulborn, 1991;Chin, 2002Chin, , 2007Chin, , 2008Chame, 2003;Bisceglia et al, 2007;Colares et al, 2010;Milàn, 2012;Lucas et al, 2012). Although, in some cases, the morphology is not enough to determine the animal source (Francischini et al, 2017), coprolite shape, together with inclusions, makes it possible to determine the producer.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

Dentzien‐Dias

Carrillo-Briceño

Francischini

et al. 2018

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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Coprolites (fossil feces) provide important paleoecological information, such as diet of the producer, parasite infestation and gut microbiota, which cannot be accessed through body remains. The Late Miocene Urumaco Formation, in western Venezuela, has a diverse vertebrate fauna composed of ground sloths, rodents, reptiles, fishes and amphibians, as well as coprolites. Here we describe 106 coprolites produced by a range of carnivorous and herbivorous vertebrates, classified into five different morphotypes based on their size and shape, suggesting different producers. Herbivorous morphotypes (M1, M2 and M5) are the most abundant (59%). The most common inclusions in these coprolites are Poacea remains, although Eudicotyledoneae fragments, bacteria and cyanobacteria filaments were also found. The M1 morphotype is a bullet shape with longitudinal grooves; the M2 morphotype is round to oval, with at least one distinctive tapered end; and the M5 morphotype is a short cylinder with a rough surface, and rounded ends. In contrast, the morphotypes M3 and M4 are attributed by us to carnivores and have different inclusions. While M3 is a large cylinder with rounded ends and contains bacteria, nematode eggs and phytoliths, M4 is sausage-shaped and has muscle cells preserved inside. Based on the co-occurring fauna and the morphology of the coprolites, the probable producers were inferred as the following: M1, a rodent; M2, a notoungulate; M3, a crocodilian; M4, an indeterminate carnivore; and M5, a sirenian. The preservation of herbivorous and carnivorous coprolites with bacterial, parasitological and muscle remains in the same formation and even the same outcrop is rare in the geological record. This unique association and preservation suggests early lithification promoted by rapid burial, although the presence of the boring trace Gastrochaenolites in a single specimen indicates some degree of time-averaging.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

Dentzien‐Dias

Carrillo-Briceño

Francischini

et al. 2018

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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“…Considering the number of browsed marks, damage by coypus was moderate in the first season but significant over the two next seasons (Figure 7). Several authors have noted that the coypu diet varies with the year and season (Guichón et al, 2003;Prigioni et al, 2005;Colares et al, 2010). Abbas (Abbas, 1991) observed that coypus only consumed terrestrial plants when aquatic vegetation was scarce.…”

Section: Coypu Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Restoration Under Pressure From Invasive Animal Species: Use of Salicaceae Cuttings in a River Bank Overrun by Coypu

Breton¹,

Forestier

Guindon³

et al. 2013

River Res. Applic.

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Numerous studies have established the fundamental ecological role of riparian zones as well as the main threats they face, for example, by invasive species. Our study concerns a section of a gently sloping river in the western part of France where the coypu, an invasive aquatic rodent, damages streambanks and prevents the regeneration of natural vegetation. The aim was to assess the efficacy of different species used in bioengineering projects for streambank protection and for the restoration of woody habitats. A field experiment was established close to the river bank with cuttings of several woody species belonging to the Salicaceae family. The test consisted in comparing the following: (i) different species (six willows and one poplar); (ii) different cutting sizes; and (iii) the presence or absence of fencing (to protect against coypus). The experiment was conducted over three growing seasons (2009–2011). The measured response variables were the survivorship and the growth expressed firstly by the length and the number of shoots, and secondly by the height of plants. The results showed the following: (i) high growth and survivorship rates for all tested species, notwithstanding some significant differences between species; and (ii) positive effects of both the fencing and the planting of longer cuttings. After three growing seasons, Salix viminalis showed the highest growth in exclosures with a mean cumulative shoot length of 7.1 m, whereas outside exclosures S. purpurea had the highest growth with a mean cumulative shoot length of 3.9 m. Populus nigra and S. purpurea showed the lowest number of stems browsed by the coypu. The different methods were also compared for cost and time‐to‐establishment: the long cuttings of certain species afford a positive effect as significant as fencing (which is more expensive). Such analyses are useful when it is necessary to strike a balance between cost and efficiency, particularly in the context of invasiveness. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…The coypu a large herbivore of semi-aquatic, nocturnal and gregarious habits (Kinler et al, 1987;Palomares et al, 1994;Guichón et al, 2003a;2003b) usually found along the shore of freshwater marshes, ponds, and slow-flowing rivers and streams where it builds nests and burrows used as shelter for resting and reproduction (Courtalon et al, 1993;Merler et al, 1994;D'Adamo et al, 2000). Its distribution ranges from middle Bolivia and southern Brazil to southern Argentina (Woods et al, 1992;Bó et al, 2006;Colares et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive ecology of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) in the Middle Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina

et al. 2015

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The objective of this study was to estimate and compare some important reproductive parameters of Myocastor coypus over time (June 2006-May 2008, in wetlands of the Middle Delta of the Paraná River (MD) Entre Ríos province, R. Argentina. Within the original coypu distribution range, the MD is among the areas of highest habitat suitability for the species. Coypus were captured and the following reproductive parameters were estimated on a monthly, seasonal and annual basis: pregnancy rate (PR), litter size (LS), gross productivity (GP) and annual production (AP). Statistical non-parametric tests were used for comparisons. Additionally, the expected birth date of each embryo and fetus was estimated by assigning it to a developmental stage category and considering the gestation period of the species. All the parameters showed high values and PR and LS differed significantly between the dry (2006) and humid years (2007). Two peaks of birth were detected, one in spring and another one in mid-autumn. The implications of these results for ensuring the sustainable management of this rodent are discussed.Keywords: Myocastor coypus, Paraná River, peaks of birth, reproductive parameters, wetlands. Ecología reproductiva do coipo (Myocastor coypus) no Delta Meio do RíoParaná (Entre Ríos. Argentina) ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho é a descripção e comparação ao longo do tempo (junho 2006 -maio 2008), de diversos parámetros da ecologia reprodutiva de Myocastor coypus nas terras úmidas do Delta Meio do Río Paraná (DM), una das zonas de maior aptidão de hábitat para a espécie dentro da sua área de distribuição original. Com base em capturas de exemplares estimaram-se en forma mensal, sazonal y anual, a taxa de prenhez (TP); o tamanho da camada (TC), a produtividade bruta (PB) e a produção anual (PA) e foram realizadas as comparações correspondentes mediante provas estatísticas não paramétricas. Alem disso, com base no estádio de desenvolvimento dos fetos y embriões observados, levando em consideração a duração do período de gestação, estimou-se quais teriam sido as datas de nascimento mais prováveis. Observaram-se valores relativamente altos para todos os parámetros e diferenças significativas entre as TP y os TC de anos secos (2006) e anos úmidos (2007). Também foram detectados dois picos de parição, um em plena primavera e o outro a meados do outono. Discutem-se as implicâncias destes resultados para assegurar o manejo sustentável do coipo, o principal recurso de fauna silvestre argentina.Palavras-chave: Myocastor coypus, Río Paraná, picos de parição, parámetros reprodutivos, terras úmidas.

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Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Cited by 18 publications

References 13 publications

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

Ecological Restoration Under Pressure From Invasive Animal Species: Use of Salicaceae Cuttings in a River Bank Overrun by Coypu

Reproductive ecology of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) in the Middle Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina

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