Sex and season explain spleen weight variation in the Egyptian mongoose

The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompete nee) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body con dition, sex, age, seas on, and envir onmental conditi ons with splee n weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findi ngs suggest that splee n weight variation in this species is mostly influe need by lifehistory traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic.

First Serological Evidence on Endemicity of HEV Infection in Wild Boar(Sus scrofa) Populations from Portugal

Increasing number of hepatitis E virus（HEV）infection has been described in industrialized countries,with infection occurring as a sporadic disease,usually associated with travel to endemic regions or small outbreaks due to ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Native and exotic seed dispersal by the stone marten(Martes foina):implications for the regeneration of a relict climactic forest in central Portugal

The stone marten(Martes foina)is a carnivorous mammal that often consumes fleshy fruits,thus potential­ly promoting seed dispersion.The present study was developed in Bussaco National Forest,central Portugal,and aimed to assess the potential role of the stone marten in dispersing native and exotic plants in different for­est landscape types.Seeds from stone marten scats and fleshy fruits were collected monthly and were thereafter identified and sowed in a nursery,following a randomized experimental setup.Plant emergence was monitored fortnightly.Generalized linear models were used to test for differences in time and success of emergence be­tween seeds from scats and fruits of 3 native species(Rubus ulmifolius,Arbutus unedo and Celtis australis)and 1 exotic plant species with invasive behavior(Prunus laurocerasus).Fruit consumption by the stone martens significantly increased and accelerated the germination of the native R.ulmifolius but had no effect on the other 2 native species or on the invasive species.This suggested that stone martens contribute to gene flow and forest regeneration by dispersing native plant seeds.However,although the germination was not enhanced in the in­vasive species,the preference of stone martens for these fruits may potentially contribute to the proliferation of P.laurocerasus.Our study represents a contribution to better understanding the fauna and flora interactions,en­abling for a more conscious and effective decision-making in forest management.