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Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management
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Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2023) | Viewed by 13357

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 05-556 Magdalenka, Poland
Interests: animal behavior; animal welfare; horse behavior and welfare; free-roaming Konik polski horses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The equids (Equidae), comprising zebras, asses, and horses, include numerous ungulate species, mainly because of the wide spread of domestic species (e.g., horses and donkeys). However, except for domestic equids, most wild species are threatened or endangered for extinction and need protection and rewilding. When unwanted or of low value, abandoned horses and donkeys may pose environmental problems. As prolific species, feral horses and burros may threaten the environment by overgrazing and through feed or water competition with local wild species. While feral equids may be problematic for sustainable environmental management, they may also be beneficial for the conservation of the biodiversity of local plants, birds, and invertebrate populations.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and review papers that address the pros and cons of the management, conservation, and welfare of wild, feral, or semi-feral equids; their ecology and relative behavior; interactions between local wild fauna; and depredation problems. We also welcome new research and advances in equid conservation, papers presenting novel methods to preserve threatened species, and new policies and assessments of species’ threats and conservation statuses. I am pleased to announce that the first ten accepted papers will be granted a 20% reduction in the publication fee.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • equids
  • wild
  • feral
  • management
  • welfare
  • conservation
  • biodiversity
  • environment
  • predation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 5767 KiB  
Article
How Useful Are Existing Protocols in the Quick Assessment of the Welfare of Semi-Feral Horses? Pilot Study on Konik Polski Horses Living in the Forest Sanctuary
by Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda, Marta Siemieniuch, Léa Lansade and Christina R. Stanley
Animals 2024, 14(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010008 - 19 Dec 2023
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Scientifically validated and standardised methods for the evaluation of the welfare of free-living horses are urgently needed by both the owners and managers of these populations and those responsible for implementing national welfare legislation. The aim of the study was to test the [...] Read more.
Scientifically validated and standardised methods for the evaluation of the welfare of free-living horses are urgently needed by both the owners and managers of these populations and those responsible for implementing national welfare legislation. The aim of the study was to test the feasibility and usefulness of two welfare protocols that could be applied to semi-feral populations: a prototype of welfare assessment template (WAT) for Carneddau semi-feral ponies and the IFCE/INRAE Horse Welfare Protocol. Additionally, the body condition scale designed by Henneke (BCS-H) was employed. The study took place in July/August 2022 and April 2023 to evaluate the welfare of a pilot population of nineteen semi-feral Konik polski horses. The horses scored high or satisfactory under indicators across both protocols; only body condition scores were significantly lower in early spring (BCS-WAT: 1.11 ± 0.57; BCS-H: 3.84 ± 1.17) than in the summer (BCS-WAT: 1.58 ± 0.61; BCS-H: 5.63 ± 1.01). Our study confirmed the feasibility of utilising most of the WAT and IFCE/INRAE welfare indicators in semi-feral horses. Some adaptations, such as considering validation of scales, positive welfare indicators and animals’ free-choice of conditions, have been suggested for future in-field application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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17 pages, 1810 KiB  
Article
Browsers or Grazers? New Insights into Feral Burro Diet Using a Non-Invasive Sampling and Plant DNA Metabarcoding Approach
by Saeideh Esmaeili, Sarah R. B. King and Kathryn A. Schoenecker
Animals 2023, 13(16), 2683; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162683 - 21 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1217
Abstract
Ungulates play a large role in shaping ecosystems and communities by influencing plant composition, structure, and productivity. We investigated the summer diets of feral burros in two ecosystems in which they are found in the United States: a subtropical desert in Arizona and [...] Read more.
Ungulates play a large role in shaping ecosystems and communities by influencing plant composition, structure, and productivity. We investigated the summer diets of feral burros in two ecosystems in which they are found in the United States: a subtropical desert in Arizona and a temperate juniper shrubland in Utah. Between 24 June and 16 July of 2019, we gathered 50 burro fecal samples from each location and used plant DNA metabarcoding to determine the burros’ diets. We found that during our sampling period the burros in the Sonoran Desert consumed a higher proportion of woody browse and had a narrower dietary niche breadth and lower degree of diet diversity compared to the burros in the juniper shrubland ecosystem, where the burros consumed higher proportions of graminoids and forbs and had a higher diet diversity index and broader dietary niche breadth. The burros in the Sonoran Desert relied primarily on Prosopis spp. (mesquite) and Poaceae grasses, whereas the burros in the juniper shrubland relied on a wider variety of forb and grass species, likely due to the greater variability in the forage species temporally and spatially available in that temperate ecosystem. We found that feral burros are highly adaptable with respect to diet and appear to be employing a mixed feeding strategy, similar to their ancestor, the African wild ass, to meet their nutritional needs in whichever ecosystem they are found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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25 pages, 4385 KiB  
Article
Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Feral Horses and the Influence of Physiological and Social Factors
by Sarah A. Medill, David M. Janz and Philip D. McLoughlin
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2133; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132133 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced during activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) in response to psychological or physiological demands. High amounts of circulating cortisol can be found in individuals experiencing energetically demanding physiological events, such as pregnancy, lactation, injury, or starvation, but, [...] Read more.
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced during activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) in response to psychological or physiological demands. High amounts of circulating cortisol can be found in individuals experiencing energetically demanding physiological events, such as pregnancy, lactation, injury, or starvation, but, also, in individuals who may have less obvious HPA activation from social situations. The feral horse population on Sable Island (Nova Scotia, Canada) provides an opportunity to look at hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a proxy for circulating cortisol concentration to better understand physiological correlates. The horse’s complex social structure also allows us to look at how the population and group structure may influence HPA activation. Hair samples (n = 282) were analyzed from 113 females and 135 males. Females with dependent offspring (foals) had higher HCC than those females without dependent offspring (p = 0.005). Horses in poor body condition were also more likely to have higher HCC (females: p < 0.001, males: p = 0.028); females had greater variation in the body condition index (BCI), which also correlated with foal production. In general, the top-ranked models describing female cortisol levels included age, BCI, presence of a foal, as well as social measures such as harem size and the number of bachelors in the vicinity. The top model describing male cortisol levels included age, BCI, and year of collection only, and the number of bachelors in the home range appeared in subsequent, though still high-ranked, models. Among the variables not of direct interest, we found some significant results relating to hair color and hair texture. Differences in HCC patterns between feral and domestically kept horses (e.g., age and sex) are likely linked to periods of resource limitations, particularly for individuals experiencing energetically demanding processes such as reproduction, illness/parasitism, or related to experiencing the full range of social and reproductive behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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13 pages, 1227 KiB  
Article
Hair Cortisol and Testosterone Concentrations in Relation to Maturity and Breeding Status of Male Feral Horses
by Sarah A. Medill, David M. Janz and Philip D. McLoughlin
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132129 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1301
Abstract
Steroid-hormone concentrations from non-invasively obtained biomarkers, like hair, can provide a representation of circulating hormones diffused over relatively long time periods (e.g., weeks or months). The hormone cortisol is often associated with physiological or even psychological stress, while testosterone is strongly associated with [...] Read more.
Steroid-hormone concentrations from non-invasively obtained biomarkers, like hair, can provide a representation of circulating hormones diffused over relatively long time periods (e.g., weeks or months). The hormone cortisol is often associated with physiological or even psychological stress, while testosterone is strongly associated with male development and reproductive success. Increasingly, studies are using hormone levels derived from hair to make inferences among both domestic animals and wildlife. For horses, all previous hair hormone analysis has been done on companion or working animals. We evaluated the levels of hair cortisol (n = 153) and testosterone (n = 48) from 136 feral horses living on Sable Island, Canada that have been part of a long-term individual-based study since 2008. This population has been undisturbed and unmanaged for over 50 years, and exhibits the natural social organization for horses, harem defense polygyny. Hair samples were collected in mid to late summer and the segment analyzed corresponds with hair grown during, and following, the peak of the reproductive season. Social position was determined based on the male’s role as either a dominant breeding Stallion (Stallion), a non-breeding subordinate male (tag), adult Bachelor (5 years old or older), or Immature male (2–4 years of age). While there was no difference in hair-cortisol concentration among any class of adult males (i.e., Stallion, tag, or Bachelor), Immature males had significantly lower hair cortisol concentrations than the other groups (p = 0.001). Hair testosterone levels among the four social positions were significantly higher among Stallions (p = 0.04). Hair testosterone concentration was also significantly related to the probability of a male being either a Bachelor or Stallion and was the only variable remaining in AICc model selection (p = 0.016, AICc = 32.3, Null AICc = 38.8). While not a significant relationship, Stallions had a negative correlation between hair cortisol concentrations and testosterone (R2 = −0.20, p = 0.383), and Bachelors, conversely, had a positive association (R2 = 0.43, p = 0.246). Our observations of hormone concentrations in relation to physiological, social, or reproductive parameters in this population suggest trends that are similar to what has been established using blood or other matrices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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14 pages, 1574 KiB  
Article
Laissez-Faire Stallions? Males’ Fecal Cortisol Metabolite Concentrations Do Not Vary with Increased Female Turnover in Feral Horses (Equus caballus)
by Maggie M. Jones and Cassandra M. V. Nuñez
Animals 2023, 13(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010176 - 3 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2507
Abstract
Stress responses can be triggered by several physical and social factors, prompting physiological reactions including increases in glucocorticoid concentrations. In a population of feral horses (Equus caballus) on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, females previously immunized with the immunocontraceptive agent porcine zona [...] Read more.
Stress responses can be triggered by several physical and social factors, prompting physiological reactions including increases in glucocorticoid concentrations. In a population of feral horses (Equus caballus) on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, females previously immunized with the immunocontraceptive agent porcine zona pellucida (PZP) change social groups (bands) more often than unimmunized females, disrupting the social stability within the population. We assessed the effects of increased female group changing behavior (or female turnover) on individual male stress by comparing fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations among stallions experiencing varying amounts of female group changing behavior. FCM concentrations did not significantly correlate with female turnover. Similarly, FCM concentrations were not dependent upon the timing of female group changing behavior. These findings suggest that female turnover rate has little influence on physiological measures of stress in associated stallions. That said, Shackleford stallions experiencing increased female turnover do engage in behaviors typically associated with stress (increased vigilance, highly escalated male-male conflicts). Future work should compare FCM concentrations across time within populations and among populations managed under different strategies to better isolate factors influencing stallion stress physiology. Such studies are especially important if we are to determine how changes in female behavior related to immunocontraception impact physiological and behavioral indicators of stress for non-target animals. Finally, our study highlights the importance of considering both physiological and behavioral measures when investigating animal responses to potentially challenging situations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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Review

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14 pages, 388 KiB  
Review
An Update on Status and Conservation of the Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii): Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Projects
by Mardan Aghabey Turghan, Zhigang Jiang and Zhongze Niu
Animals 2022, 12(22), 3158; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223158 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4139
Abstract
This review summarizes studies on Przewalski’s horse since its extinction in the wild in the 1960s, with a focus on the reintroduction projects in Mongolia and China, with current population status. Historical and present distribution, population trends, ecology and habitats, genetics, behaviors, conservation [...] Read more.
This review summarizes studies on Przewalski’s horse since its extinction in the wild in the 1960s, with a focus on the reintroduction projects in Mongolia and China, with current population status. Historical and present distribution, population trends, ecology and habitats, genetics, behaviors, conservation measures, actual and potential threats are also reviewed. Captive breeding and reintroduction projects have already been implemented, but many others are still under considerations. The review may help to understand the complexity of problem and show the directions for effective practice in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Feral Equids—Biology, Conservation and Management)
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