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Biology
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Biology, Ecology, Management and Conservation of Canidae
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Biology, Ecology, Management and Conservation of Canidae

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Conservation Biology and Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 3161

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Meriggi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: mammalogy; wild canids; wildlife conservation; human-wildlife conflicts; ecology and evolution
Prof. Dr. Francesco Maria Angelici

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Center for Wildlife, Al Imam Faisal Ibn Turki Ibn Abdullah, Ulaishah, Riyadh 12746, Saudi Arabia
Interests: wildlife conservation; wildlife ecology; conservation biology; biodiversity; carnivores; lagomorphs; ungulates; medium and large mammals; human-wildlife interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Canids, including dogs, foxes, wolves, jackals, wild dogs, etc., are among the oldest surviving and one of the most successful carnivore groups, occupying almost all terrestrial biomes, from deserts, to equatorial and temperate forests, to steppes and arctic regions. They are medium-sized animals with a strong sense of smell and excellent running abilities. Canids are found on all continents of the world. Dogs are the most common domesticated animals and are often kept as pets. Some dog breeds have been developed to assist humans with tasks such as herding, hunting, guarding, and personal protection. The fur of canids, such as foxes, is valuable in trade. Wild canids, like wolves, jackals, and African wild dogs, play a crucial role as predators in the ecosystem and usually live in groups. However, the survival rate of some species has decreased due to climate, habitat changes, and human factors, causing their numbers to decline. On the other hand, some species such as wolves and jackals have expanded their range and are increasing in number thanks to their adaptability and causing conflicts with human activities.

This Special Issue aims to gather the latest canine biology, ecology, conservation, and management research. The content may include research on canine habitats, ecological niches, diversity, genetics, population recovery, physiological habits, reproduction, protection measures, and other related aspects.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Alberto Meriggi
Prof. Dr. Francesco Maria Angelici
Guest Editors

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. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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

  • Canidae
  • biology
  • ecology
  • management
  • conservation
  • ecosystem
  • habitats
  • niches
  • biodiversity
  • physiology
  • reproduction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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15 pages, 3076 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Study of Scent Rolling in Captive Wolves (Canis lupus L. 1758) in Response to Olfactory Enrichment
by Nikolina Boić, Nikica Jukić, Alma Mikuška, Dora Bjedov, Mislav Kovačić, Tatjana Šalika-Todorović and Mirta Sudarić Bogojević
Biology 2024, 13(6), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060422 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 759
Abstract
Scent rolling, a behaviour observed in various large carnivores like wolves, entails the animal lowering its chin and neck towards a scent, followed by rubbing the head, neck, shoulders, and back into it. This behaviour is prevalent among wolves exposed to diverse scents, [...] Read more.
Scent rolling, a behaviour observed in various large carnivores like wolves, entails the animal lowering its chin and neck towards a scent, followed by rubbing the head, neck, shoulders, and back into it. This behaviour is prevalent among wolves exposed to diverse scents, though its exact purpose remains uncertain. In this study, captive wolves at Osijek Zoo responded differently to odours during olfactory enrichment sessions. In the initial year of this study, the highest level of interest, evidenced by both the frequency of responses and scent-rolling behaviour, was noted when the wolves encountered odours such as curry and rosemary, along with deer/mouflon and rat faeces. While certain odours, such as llama faeces and deer/mouflon faeces, garnered longer durations of interest in the second year of study, others, like guinea pig faeces and oregano, elicited shorter responses. Female wolves demonstrated a higher level of engagement with scents compared with males, particularly through scent rolling behaviour, which was exclusively observed in females during the second year of this study. Interestingly, certain odours did not trigger scent rolling, suggesting selective preferences. On the other hand, sheep’s wool induced the longest duration of scent rolling, and a lack of significant differences in behaviour was observed between morning and afternoon sessions. Despite the existence of multiple hypotheses put forward to explain the causation of scent rolling in wolves, it seems to be elicited by unfamiliar odours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, Management and Conservation of Canidae)
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14 pages, 1215 KiB  
Article
Predatory Dogs as Drivers of Social Behavior Changes in the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) in Agro-Forest Landscapes
by Himani Nautiyal, Virendra Mathur, Kimaya Hemant Gajare, Julie Teichroeb, Dipto Sarkar and Rui Diogo
Biology 2024, 13(6), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060410 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 788
Abstract
Globally, habitat fragmentation has increased the proximity between wildlife, humans, and emerging predators such as free-ranging dogs. In these fragmented landscapes, encounters between primates and dogs are escalating, with primates often falling victim to dog attacks while navigating patchy landscapes and fragmented forests. [...] Read more.
Globally, habitat fragmentation has increased the proximity between wildlife, humans, and emerging predators such as free-ranging dogs. In these fragmented landscapes, encounters between primates and dogs are escalating, with primates often falling victim to dog attacks while navigating patchy landscapes and fragmented forests. We aim to investigate how these primates deal with the simultaneous threats posed by humans and predators, specifically focusing on the adaptive strategies of Central Himalayan langur (CHL) in the landscape of fear. To address this, we conducted a behavioral study on the CHL in an agro-forest landscape, studying them for a total of 3912 h over two consecutive years. Our results indicate that, compared to their most common resting behavior, CHLs allocate more time to feeding and locomotion, and less time to socializing in the presence of humans and predatory dogs. Additionally, they exhibit increased feeding and locomotion and reduced social behavior in agro-forest or open habitats. These behavioral patterns reflect adaptive responses to the landscape of fear, where the presence of predators significantly influences their behavior and resource utilization. This study suggests measures to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife through the integration of effective management strategies that incorporate both ecological and social dimensions of human–wildlife interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, Management and Conservation of Canidae)
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11 pages, 728 KiB  
Brief Report
Raising an Eye at Facial Muscle Morphology in Canids
by Courtney L. Sexton, Rui Diogo, Francys Subiaul and Brenda J. Bradley
Biology 2024, 13(5), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050290 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1151
Abstract
The evolution of facial muscles in dogs has been linked to human preferential selection of dogs whose faces appear to communicate information and emotion. Dogs who convey, especially with their eyes, a sense of perceived helplessness can elicit a caregiving response from humans. [...] Read more.
The evolution of facial muscles in dogs has been linked to human preferential selection of dogs whose faces appear to communicate information and emotion. Dogs who convey, especially with their eyes, a sense of perceived helplessness can elicit a caregiving response from humans. However, the facial muscles used to generate such expressions may not be uniquely present in all dogs, but rather specifically cultivated among various taxa and individuals. In a preliminary, qualitative gross anatomical evaluation of 10 canid specimens of various species, we find that the presence of two facial muscles previously implicated in human-directed canine communication, the levator anguli occuli medialis (LAOM) and the retractor anguli occuli lateralis (RAOL), was not unique to domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris). Our results suggest that these aspects of facial musculature do not necessarily reflect selection via human domestication and breeding. In addition to quantitatively evaluating more and other members of the Canidae family, future directions should include analyses of the impact of superficial facial features on canine communication and interspecies communication between dogs and humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, Management and Conservation of Canidae)
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