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"SHREW TALK" - Vol. 1, No. 29 - 23 December
1997
SHREW TALK - 23 December 1997 - Vol. 1, No. 29
Number of Recipients: >289
.
Contents of this Issue
.
o Editorial
o Research
1. Re: Shrew ultrasonic sounds
2. Re: Number of mammae in shrews
3. Query: Natal dispersal in Maine shrews
4. Shrews in fire-dependent, forested/shrubby wetland
5. Shrew captures in discarded bottles
o Miscellaneous
1. Re: Shrew caravans to be filmed for National Geographic: Offers
# 4 & 5
2. E. Gould is looking for David Stone
o Shrew Bibliography: New Papers / Books
1. G. Reiter & N. Winding (1997): Distribution and ecology of alpine
small mammals...
2. New papers by R. Hutterer et al. (1996-1997)
3. Genoways, H.H., J.R. Choate (1997): Natural history of Blarina carolinensis
4. New ectoparasite papers by M. Stanko et al. (1995-1997)
o What's New on the Shrew (ist's) Site
1. New Shrewists on e-mail
o Shrew Talk Instructions
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o EDITORIAL
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Dear Shrew-Fessionals and Shrew-Mateurs,
1997 proved that the newsletter and the website are likely to become
even more widely used fora. Despite a few communication barriers at the
beginning, the latest issues included a variety of discussions and contributions
by our rapidly growing number of subscribers and members, a group that
is constituted of 'shrew people' ranging from amateur naturalists to students,
academics and 'shrew popes', not to mention the professional wildlife photographers,
rehabbers and other interested participients. I thank you all for keeping
the 'thing' going and for your obvious mental support reflected in your
numerous letters. My special thanks go out to all those who have provided
substantial support by purchasing the bibliography and to the person (please
note the singular), who remembered to compensate me for looking up the
necessary references.
The recent interdisciplinary journeys of the Shrew Site (folklore &
superstition / fish as predators / shrews & frogs) have been quite
successful. The results will soon be summarized on the website. The fate
of the 'Shrew Conference Hall', hitherto available as a chatroom, requires
further consideration. It could possibly be used to discuss future web-posters
at a fixed time, the project of hosting a small conference in the form
of a virtual poster demonstration being an interesting task to think about
for 1998. Another issue to think about will be whether to keep the email
addresses online or to make them accessible for members only in order to
avoid abuse. I hope that those of you who are taking an active interest
in this topic have been satisfied with Shrew Talk and that many of the
'accidental' surfers have found useful bits of information. I would appreciate
any comments or ideas for the future. I plan to make parts of the bibliography
available to a wider 'audience' by having special copies made of excerpts
for a modest price. This would also take some load off my back (i.e. providing
the references to specific queries, that constitute a large part of ST).
But don't worry, I am not yet thinking about a membership fee. However,
if anybody is aware of an institution that can provide funding for a project
like this, or has any other suggestions, I would love to hear about it.
Leaving you with these thoughts, I send my shrewest seasonal greetings
and 'may the next year be endurable and rewarding'. 'See' you all in 1998,
putting together ST Volume 2.
A shrewy X-Mas and a metabolically exhausting New Year,
Werner Haberl
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o RESEARCH
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1) Re: Shrew ultrasonic sounds A reply to Frank Dirrigl ( ST 1/28)
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 07:53:37>
To: shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at
From: Paul Meek <panres@ozemail.com.au>
Cc: fdirrigl@sprynet.com
.
Dear Werner and Frank, In our shrew survey on Christmas Island we have
been using ultrasonic detector equipment, normally used to survey bats
in Australia. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in detecting any
signals. Although this does not mean it will not work because we are still
unsure if our shrew is extant. Werner's reference list is comprehensive
and I recall Peter Vogel writing to me about a biologist who detected a
signal in a laboratory shrew, although the detector needed to be placed
close to the shrew. I would like to hear about your efforts using the device
and if we are successful this season I will let you know.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Paul
_______________________________________________________________________
2) Re: Number of mammae in shrews
A reply to A. Martinoli ( ST 1/27)
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 13:14:35 +0100
From: "Dr. Rainer Hutterer" <R.Hutterer.ZFMK@Uni-Bonn.De>
Subject: Number of mammae in shrews
.
Adriano: Sorex, Crocidura and Suncus have 3 pairs of inguineal teats,
however, in Neomys there are 5, 6 or more pairs. See Niethammer and Krapp,
eds.,1990, Handbook of European Mammals, vol. 3/1 Insectivores, page 167.
Regards, Rainer Hutterer
Dr. Rainer Hutterer Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander
Koenig Section of Mammals Adenauerallee 160 D-53113 Bonn Tel: (228) 9122
261 Fax: (228) 216979
_______________________________________________________________________
3) Query: Natal dispersal in Maine shrews
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 15:36:42 -0500
From: Dustin Perkins <dperkins@forwild.umass.edu>
Subject: Shrew Talk
.
I am working on a manuscript dealing with DDT levels in small mammals
from Maine. One of the issues raised by reviewers has been the distance
of dispersal, particularly natal dispersal, and how this would affect the
study. After a considerable amount of literature research I have found
no papers dealing with dispersal for Sorex cinerues, S. hoyi, S. fumeus,
a and Blarina brevicauda. I have found information on S. araneus, but as
wondering if there was any information on dispersal distance for these
other species.
Thanks for your time. Dustin Perkins
_______________________________________________________________________
4) Shrews in fire-dependent, forested/shrubby wetland
.
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 09:43:07 -0500
From: SANDRA ERDLE <SYE@dcr.state.va.us>
.
Dear Werner and esteemed shrewologists, I am looking for papers or
notes on shrews in fire-dependent, forested/shrubby wetland (pocosin) habitats.
I'm interested in mortality estimates, escape behavior and survival means
before, during and after fires. There is a multitude of information on
shrews/small mammals in prairie and sandhill habitats with regard to fire,
but I've had a difficult time finding similar information for animals in
pocosins and forested wetlands. Thanks so much for any help that you may
be able to offer. Best wishes! Sandra Erdle
_______________________________________________________________________
5) Re: Shrew captures in discarded bottles
.
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:01:43 -0500 (EST)
From: VctrMan@aol.com
Subject: Re: Re: Shrew Talk: Live-trapping
.
Dear Werner, Regarding the shrews in bottles, I heard from George Feldhamer
re a paper of his. I've since received a reprint from him and there are
several references to trapping shrews in bottles. And you asked how to
get shrews out of bottle - the angle of the bottle for entering and maintaining
them is critical, so you can almost just dump them out. The references
from and including Feldhamer's paper are as follows: Gerard, AS and GA
Feldhamer. 1990. A comparison of two survey methods for shrews: pitfalls
and discarded bottles. Am Midl Nat, 124(1):191-194. Clegg, TM. 1966. The
abundance of shrews, as indicated by trapping and remains in discarded
bottles. Naturalist (Hull), 899:122. Morris, PA and JF Harper. 1965. The
occurrence of small mammals in discarded bottles. Proc Zool Soc Lond, 145:148-153.
Pagels, JF and TW French. 1987. Discarded bottles as a source of small
mammal distribution data. Am Midl Nat, 118:217-219.
Hope this helps. Dick Davis
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o MISCELLANEOUS
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1) Re: Shrew caravans to be filmed for National Geographic: Offers
# 4 & 5
Replies to John Rubin (ST 1/28)
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 21:54:04 +0900 (JST)
From: Keiichiro Tsuji <tsuji@riem.nagoya-u.ac.jp>
Subject: Re: shrew caravans for National Geographic
.
Werner, Thank you for your email letter. I read it with pleasure. I
was pleased with the plan of filming the caravanning behaviour of the house
musk shrew by National Geographic, and I am happy to cooperate with them
to film the caravaning behaviour at our laboratory. As you know, I have
some films which we made, and I am happy to show some behavioural pattens
of caravan formation on which my colleagues and I reported in "Behaviour"
and the related papers. Our films which were taken by NHK (Japan Broadcasting
Corporation) are helpful, I think.
Keiichiro Tsuji Department of Psychology School of Letters Nagoya University
Fax: +81-52-789-2272 Email: tsuji@riem.nagoya-u.ac.jp
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 12:04:57 +0900
From: oda@nuagr1.agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp (Sen-ichi Oda)
Subject: Re: SHREW TALK: Vol. 1, No. 28 - 18 December 1997
.
Dear shrew-friends in the world: We breed and maintain several strains
(300 shrews) of Suncus murinus originated from the wild populations of
Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (also some mutant strains),
and we also maintain 1 strain of Crocidura dzinezumi. We can easily observe
their caravaning behavior in the laboratory. I believe Suncus (laboratory
name) is a good animal if we watch the caravaning behavior. I have a 16
mm film (30 minutes) and video film about the introduction (also caravaning
behavior) and the story of Suncus murinus' s migration to Japan.
ODA Sen-ichi, PhD Laboratory of Animal Management, School of Agricultural
Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
_______________________________________________________________________
2) E. Gould is looking for David Stone
.
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 10:44:21 -0800
From: EDWIN GOULD <edgould@erols.com>
Subject: david stone
.
I am searching for an address for R. David Stone co-author of the Natural
History of Moles and published on the desman. Can you help me.
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o SHREW BIBLIOGRAPHY: New Papers
***********************************************************************
ÒThe Shrew BibliographyÓ is a collection of more than 6000 references
to research on the biology of the Soricidae (Insectivora, Mammalia) and
small mammal ecology. More info: http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewbib.html
To announce your new research papers/books, please follow the instructions
(separate fields with the character "#"): Author(s)#Year#Title#Journal&Page
No.#Abstract#Keywords#Address *I* would appreciate receiving a reprint
of your paper and/or a list of your publications to add to the bibliography.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) G. Reiter & N. Winding (1997): Distribution and ecology of alpine
small mammals...
.
Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen aus dem Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Bd.
3 (1997): 97-135. Verbreitung und Ökologie alpiner Kleinsäuger
(Insectivora, Rodentia) an der Südseite der Hohen Tauern, Österreich
Distribution and ecology of alpine small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia)
on the southern slopes of the Hohe Tauern massif, Austria
.
The small mainmal fauna of the southern slopes of the Hohe Tauern massif
in the Großglockner area (Austrian Central Alps) was investigated
in the summer of 1995. 46 study plots were situated between the tree line
at about 1980 meters and the upper limit of the closed vegetation cover
at about 2700 meters above sea level. The objective of this study was to
investigate the species asseinblage and the altitudinal distribution, habitat
preferences, phenology, reproduction and Population structure of the different
species. A total of' 350 individuals were captured comprising the following
9 species: snow vole Microt s iiivalis), common vole (Mi(-rotus (irvali.@),
common pine vole Microtus s bterraneus), field vole (Microt s agre,.@tis),
bank vole (Clethrionom ' v.Y glareolti.@), coinmon shrew (Sorex araneus),
pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), alpine shrew (Sorcx alpin s) and yellow-necked
inouse (Apode us,flavi(-ollis). For nearly all species the highest altitudinal
records for Carinthia could be fc)und and for some species gaps in the
knowledge of their distribution in the Austrian Central Alps could be closed.
In addition, the habitat preferences of most species (macroand inicrohabitat:
substrate cover, surface roughness, availability of holes, soil hardness,
vertical vegetation structure) are described in detail as well as Population
dynamics of the snow vole and the common vole during the vegetation period.
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2) New papers by R. Hutterer et al. (1996-1997)
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 16:12:22 +0100
From: "Dr. Rainer Hutterer" <R.Hutterer.ZFMK@Uni-Bonn.De>
Subject: Shrew Talk: NEW PAPERS
.
Ray, J.C. and R. Hutterer.#1996.#Structure of a shrew community in
the Central African Republic based on the analysis of carnivore scats,
with the description of a new Sylvisorex (Mammalia: Soricidae).#Ecotropica
1: 85-97.# Small carnivore scats collected over a two-year period in the
southwestern Central African Republic revealed an unusually high occurrence
of shrews (23.3%). Analysis of skull fragments yielded 311 individuals
of 16 species. Shrew occurrence varied significantly with season (highest
in the dry season), but not with proximity to water. The unusually high
diversity of the shrew community in comparison to others in west-central
Africa is attributed to a thorough and efficient sampling effort, and to
a wide variety of available microhabitats maintained through disturbance
factors such as a high density of elephants and selective logging activities.
In addition to the scat remains, four shrew species were collected live;
one is new to science and is described here as Sylvisorex konganensis.
The species belongs to a group in which a basal portion of the tail is
covered by long bristles. It is most similar to a yet unnamed species of
Sylvisorex from Cameroon, with which it apparently occurs in sympatry.
Both share critical characters with S. howelli and S. usambarensis, species
endemic to the Uluguru and Usambara Mts. respectively.#
Hutterer, R. and D.A. Schlitter.#1996.#Shrew of Korup National Park,
Cameroon, with the description of a new Sylvisorex (Mammalia: Soricidae).#
Pp. 57-66, in Genoways, H.H. and R.J. Baker, eds., Contributions in Mammalogy:
A Memorial Volume Honoring Dr. J. Knox Jones, Jr. Museum of Texas tech
University, il+315 pp.# During a recent survey of the small mammals of
the tropical lowland forest of Korup National Park, southwestern Cameroon,
three genera and nine species of shrews were collected. Crocidura crenata,
C. cf. grandiceps, and C. lamottei are recorded for the first time from
Cameroon, and a new species of the genus Sylvisorex is described. This
new species is of particular interest because it combines characters of
some other species hitherto regarded as members of different species groups,
and thus unifies the known morphological diversity within Sylvisorex. The
zoogeographical implications of the new records are discussed; they provide
evidence that Korup National Park belongs to the westernmost part of the
Zaire Basin.#
Lasso, C., R. Hutterer, and A. Rial.#1996.#Records of shrews (Soricidae)
from Equatorial Guinea, especially from Monte Alen National Park.#Mammalia
60: 69-76.# Eight species of shrews of the genera Crocidura (5 sp.), Paracrocidura
(1 sp.) and Sylvisorex (2 sp.) are recorded from Equatorial Guinea, four
of which are new for the country. Crocidura grassei has been found for
the first time since its description in 1965. Crocidura goliath occurs
in the same general region as C. olivieri with which it often has been
merged and thus is regarded as a separate species. Results of a trapping
study using pitfalls in the Monte Alen National Park show that shrew abundance
is related to seasonal rainfall. Sylvisorex johnstoni is the dominant species
(60% of all captures) in the primary forest of Monte Alen while most other
species are uncommon or rare.
Stanley, W.T., S.M. Goodman, and R. Hutterer.#1996.#Notes on the insectivores
and elephant shrews of the Chome Forest, South Pare Mountains, Tanzania
(Mammalia: Insectivora et Macroscelidea).#Zool. Abhandl. Staatl. Mus. Tierkunde
Dresden 49: 131-148.# Surveys of insectivores and elephant shrews were
conducted at 1100 and 2000 m in the Chome Forest, South Pare Mountains,
Tanzania. Four species of Crocidura (C. hildegardeae, C. hirta, C. olivieri,
and C. usambarae) and two elephant shrews (Petrodromus tetradactylus and
Rhynchocyon petersi) were collected. With the exception of C. usambarae,
which may be an endemic species to the Eastern Arc Mountains, all documented
species have relatively broad distributions, at least in eastern Africa.
In the Chome Forest, Crocidura species richness and density is apparently
higher at 1100 m than at 2000 m. Crocidura hildegardeae are sexually dimorphic,
with the males being larger in body and skull measurements. Ecological
and natural history notes are presented for all psecies collected.#
Decher,J., D.A. Schlitter, and R. Hutterer.#1997.#Noteworthy records
of small mammals from Ghana with special emphasis on the Accra Plains.#Annals
of Carnegie Museums 66: 209-227.# In this paper we describe new or additional
records of four species of shrews (Soricidae), nine species of bats (Hipposideridae,
Vespertilionidae, Molossidae), and one species of rodent (Muridae) from
Ghana. These records add to our knowledge of the distribution of small
mammals in Ghana especially those occurring on the Accra Plains. A zoogeographic
explanation for these distributional data is sought in the context of the
Dahomey Gap phenomenon.#
.
Reprints available from Rainer Hutterer (r.hutterer.zfmk@uni-bonn.de)
Dr. Rainer Hutterer Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander
Koenig Section of Mammals Adenauerallee 160 D-53113 Bonn
Tel: (228) 9122 261 Fax: (228) 216979
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3) Genoways, H.H., J.R. Choate (1997) Natural history of Blarina carolinensis.
.
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 12:21:19 -0600
From: bijc@fhsu.edu
Subject: Re: SHREW TALK: Vol. 1, No. 28 - 18 December 1997
Cc: hgenoway@unlinfo.unl.edu,jkfrey@unm.edu
.
Your readers might be interested in the following paper, which is scheduled
for publication around the first of the year. It can be obtained from the
Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque,
NM 87131, USA.
.
Genoways, H.H., and J.R. Choate. 1997. Natural history of the southern
short-tailed shrew, Blarina carolinensis. Occasional Papers, The Museum
of Southwestern Biology, 8:1-43.
.
--Jerry
J. R. Choate, Director Sternberg Museum of Natural History Fort Hays
State University Hays, KS 67601-4099 USA e-mail bijc@fhsu.edu voice 785-628-5664
fax 785-628-4518 http://www.fhsu.edu/biology
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4) New ectoparasite papers by M. Stanko et al. (1995-1997)
.
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 12:22:45 +0100 (MET)
From: Michal Stanko <stankom@ns.saske.sk>
.
Kosice, December,19th, 1997
I wish you and to all of shrew site members a Merry Christmas and happy
New Year 1978.
Supplement: Information about own rest publication (and connected with
shrews):
.
Stanko, M., 1995: Present stage of knowledge on fauna of ectoparasites
(Siphonaptera, Anoplura, Ixodida, Mesostigmata) of small mammals of the
area of Biosphere Reserve East Carpathians. Natura Carpatica, 36: 61-70.
(in Slovak with English summary).
Stanko, M., 1995: Synusia of small ground mammals (Insectivora, Rodenia)
of the Bioshpere Reserve East Carpathians. Natura Carpatica, 36: 119-126.
(in Slovak with English summary).
Stanko, M., Fricova, J., 1996: Contribution to the knowledge of small
mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) and their ectoparasites in surroundings
of the Natural memory Plavecske strkoviska gravel. Ochrana Prirody, 14:
143-151. (in Slovak with English summary).
Stanko, M., 1996: Ectoparasites of small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia)
in the area of the Ondava downstream (Eastern Slovakian Lowlands). 3. Ticks
(Ixodida). Natura carpatica, 37: 151-160. (in Slovak with English summary).
Stanko, M., Mosansky, L., 1996: Outline of small mammal fauna (Insectivora,
Rodentia) and their ectoparasites of the National nature reserve Sivec
area (Cierna hora mountains). Natura carpatica, 37: 151-160. (in Slovak
with English summary). > Stanko, M., 1997: Fleas (Siphonaptera) of small
mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) in the south part of the Kosicka kotlina
basin. Natura carpatica, 38: 77-84. (in Slovak with English summary).
Stanko, M., 1997: Ectoparasites of small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia)
in the area of the Ondava downstream (Eastern Slovakian Lowlands). 4. Mites
(Mesostigmata. Natura carpatica, 37: 151-160. (in Slovak with English summary).
Sincerely, Michal
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o WHAT'S NEW ON THE SHREW (ist's) SITE?
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http://members.vienna.at/shrew
o Last Update: October 1997
o Number of Visitors (Date: 22 December 1997): >5596
o Number of "Shrewists on E-mail": >171 (registered on
the website) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. New Shrewists on e-mail (http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewemail.html):
.
Takuo Mizukami: Laboratory of Anatomy and Physiology, Nihon University,
Japan
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o SHREW TALK INSTRUCTIONS
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TO POST TO THE GROUP
All replies to the Shrew Talk inquiries should be posted to the group.
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==================================================================
Dr. Werner Haberl Editor, SHREW TALK (http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewtalk.html)
Hamburgerstr. 11, A-1050 Vienna, Austria
Email: shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at URL: http://members.vienna.at/shrew
(The Shrew (ist's) Site)
The Shrew Bibliography (> 6000 references) (available on CD ROM)
==================================================================
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Dr. Werner Haberl. Address: Hamburgerstrasse
11, A-1050 Vienna, Austria.
E-mail: shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at
URL: http://members.vienna.at/shrew
