Publications

sensible heat loss from muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) feeding in winter: small calves are not at a thermal disadvantage compared with adult cows.	muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are large (>200 kg adult body mass) mammalian herbivores that overwinter in the polar regions. calves are around one-third the body mass of mature females and may be expected to suffer greater thermal stresses in winter compared with adults because the ratio of surface area to volume (sa:vol) is much greater for calves than for adults. we found that during feeding bouts, when animals are fully exposed to environmental conditions, calves did lose sensible (dry) heat mo ...	2009	19569931
[microsatellite dna variability in the populations of muskoxen ovibos moschatus acclimated to the russian north].	the muskoxen populations introduced to the taimyr peninsula and wrangel island in 1974 to 1975 were examined for sequence variation at seven microsatellite loci. donor material originated from the populations of banks island (canada) and eastern greenland. relative to the allele frequencies, both introduced populations demonstrated rather strong deviation from the populations of the native range. at the same time, population allelic structures evidenced that they were closer to the greenland pop ...	2009	19705745
the facial integument of centrosaurine ceratopsids: morphological and histological correlates of novel skin structures.	the horned dinosaur pachyhinosaurus possesses rugose bony bosses across the skull roof in lieu of the projecting bony horn cores seen in most ceratopsians. this elaboration of typical ceratopsian ornaments provides an opportunity to test hypotheses of ceratopsian facial skin morphology and function. we analyze bone morphology and histology associated with several classes of skin features in extant amniotes using a classification tree analysis. we isolate key osteological and histological correla ...	2009	19711467
differential passage of fluids and different-sized particles in fistulated oxen (bos primigenius f. taurus), muskoxen (ovibos moschatus), reindeer (rangifer tarandus) and moose (alces alces): rumen particle size discrimination is independent from contents stratification.	ruminant species differ in the degree that their rumen contents are stratified but are similar insofar that only very fine particles are passed from the forestomach to the lower digestive tract. we investigated the passage kinetics of fluid and particle markers (2, 10 and 20 mm) in fistulated cattle (bos primigenius f. taurus), muskoxen (ovibos moschatus), reindeer (rangifer tarandus) and moose (alces alces) on different diets. the distribution of dry matter in the rumen and the viscosity of rum ...	2010	19896552
placing the mountain goat: a total evidence approach to testing alternative hypotheses.	the interpretation of a group's evolutionary history can be altered based on the phylogenetic placement of problematic taxa. mountain goats (oreamnos americanus) epitomize a 'rogue taxon' as many placements within the caprini tribe have been suggested. using a total evidence approach, we reconstructed the caprini phylogeny using parsimony, likelihood, and bayesian methods. bayesian and likelihood methods placed mountain goats as an independent lineage sister to all caprini except muskox and gora ...	2010	20097296
ancient dna analyses exclude humans as the driving force behind late pleistocene musk ox (ovibos moschatus) population dynamics.	the causes of the late pleistocene megafaunal extinctions are poorly understood. different lines of evidence point to climate change, the arrival of humans, or a combination of these events as the trigger. although many species went extinct, others, such as caribou and bison, survived to the present. the musk ox has an intermediate story: relatively abundant during the pleistocene, it is now restricted to greenland and the arctic archipelago. in this study, we use ancient dna sequences, temporal ...	2010	20212118
dynamics of body protein and the implications for reproduction in captive muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) during winter.	muskoxen are considered to be obligate capital breeders because they rely exclusively on endogenous stores to reproduce. we studied 14 captive female muskoxen (not pregnant, n = 9; pregnant, n = 5) in february-june 2007 to assess changes in body composition and isotopic correlates of protein status (proportions of amino acid [p-an] and urea n [p-un] derived from body n). we measured body mass, body composition, and n metabolites in blood and urine between midgestation in february and early lacta ...	2013	20497043
the effect of size and density on the mean retention time of particles in the reticulorumen of cattle ( bos primigenius f. taurus), muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus) and moose ( alces alces).	particle passage from the reticulorumen (rr) depends on particle density and size. forage particle density and size are related and change over time in the rr. particle density mainly influences sorting in the reticulum, whereas particle size influences particle retention in the fibre mat of stratified rumen contents ('filter-bed' effect). we investigated these effects independently, by inserting plastic particles of different sizes (1, 10 and 20 mm) and densities (1·03, 1·20 and 1·44 mg/ml) in ...	2010	21144130
snapshot of the eukaryotic gene expression in muskoxen rumen--a metatranscriptomic approach.	herbivores rely on digestive tract lignocellulolytic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa, to derive energy and carbon from plant cell wall polysaccharides. culture independent metagenomic studies have been used to reveal the genetic content of the bacterial species within gut microbiomes. however, the nature of the genes encoded by eukaryotic protozoa and fungi within these environments has not been explored using metagenomic or metatranscriptomic approaches.	2011	21655220
"emerging" parasitic infections in arctic ungulates.	important drivers for emergence of infectious disease in wildlife include changes in the environment, shrinking habitats or concentration of wildlife, and movement of people, animals, pathogens, or vectors. in this paper we present three case-studies of emerging parasitic infections and diseases in ungulates in the canadian north. first we discuss climate warming as an important driver for the emergence of disease associated with umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis, a nematode lungworm of muskoxen ...	2004	21680491
immobilization of muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) with etorphine and xylazine.	one hundred and thirty three "wild" muskoxen, 81 of which of known body mass, were successfully immobilized using etorphine (m99), and xylazine (rompun®), delivered by use of a dart gun. a dose of 0.05 mg/kg m99, supplemented by 0.15 mg/kg rompun was found to be very effective. this dose is much higher than currently recommended e.g. by handbook of wildlife chemical immobilization.	2011	21707976
annual dynamics of the body temperature in musk oxen (ovibos moschatus) under the conditions of yakutia.		2018	21728126
Common functional correlates of head-strike behavior in the pachycephalosaur Stegoceras validum (Ornithischia, Dinosauria) and combative artiodactyls.	Pachycephalosaurs were bipedal herbivorous dinosaurs with bony domes on their heads, suggestive of head-butting as seen in bighorn sheep and musk oxen. Previous biomechanical studies indicate potential for pachycephalosaur head-butting, but bone histology appears to contradict the behavior in young and old individuals. Comparing pachycephalosaurs with fighting artiodactyls tests for common correlates of head-butting in their cranial structure and mechanics.	2011	21738658
anthropogenic and natural radionuclides in caribou and muskoxen in the western alaskan arctic and marine fish in the aleutian islands in the first half of 2000s.	a number of caribou and muskoxen samples from the western alaskan arctic and fish samples from the aleutian islands were collected between 1998 and 2006 and analyzed for anthropogenic ((90)sr and (137)cs) and natural radionculides ((40)k, (210)pb and (226)ra), as part of the radiological assessment for the regional subsistence hunting communities in the first half of 2000s. we examined the relationship between the activities of these nuclides with the size of the fish. in caribou samples, concen ...	2011	21774963
discovery and description of the "davtiani" morphotype for teladorsagia boreoarcticus (trichostrongyloidea: ostertagiinae) abomasal parasites in muskoxen, ovibos moschatus and caribou, rangifer tarandus from the north american arctic: implications for parasite faunal diversity.	abstract collections to explore helminth diversity among free-ranging ungulates in the north american arctic revealed the occurrence of a third male, or "davtiani," morphotype for teladorsagia boreoarcticus. designated as t. boreoarcticus forma (f.) minor b, the males occurred with t. boreoarcticus f. major and t. borearcticus f. minor a in endemic populations of muskoxen (o. m. wardi) and barrenground caribou (r. tarandus groenlandicus) on victoria island, nunavut, canada and in muskoxen an ...	2011	21942428
first record of taenia ovis krabbei muscle cysts in muskoxen from greenland.	a first record of taenia ovis krabbei muscle cysts in a muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) from the kangerlussuaq population in west greenland suggests that introduced muskoxen now contributes to the transmission of this parasite in addition to previous observations from caribou (rangifer tarandus). muskoxen and caribou are the only wild ungulates in greenland.	2011	21955737
movements of wolves at the northern extreme of the species' range, including during four months of darkness.	information about wolf (canis lupus) movements anywhere near the northern extreme of the species' range in the high arctic (>75°n latitude) are lacking. there, wolves prey primarily on muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) and must survive 4 months of 24 hr/day winter darkness and temperatures reaching -53 c. the extent to which wolves remain active and prey on muskoxen during the dark period are unknown, for the closest area where information is available about winter wolf movements is >2,250 km south. w ...	2011	21991308
Species-specific responses of Late Quaternary megafauna to climate and humans.	Despite decades of research, the roles of climate and humans in driving the dramatic extinctions of large-bodied mammals during the Late Quaternary period remain contentious. Here we use ancient DNA, species distribution models and the human fossil record to elucidate how climate and humans shaped the demographic history of woolly rhinoceros, woolly mammoth, wild horse, reindeer, bison and musk ox. We show that climate has been a major driver of population change over the past 50,000 years. Howe ...	2011	22048313
Composition of milk from minor dairy animals and buffalo breeds: a biodiversity perspective.	A comprehensive review is presented of the nutrient composition for buffalo, mare, and dromedary camel milks at the level of breed, and species-level data for yak, mithun, musk ox, donkey, Bactrian camel, llama, alpaca, reindeer and moose milks. Average values of nutrients were calculated and compared. Interspecies values (g 100 g(-1) ) were 0.7-16.1 for total fat, 1.6-10.5 for protein, 2.6-6.6 for lactose, and 67.9-90.8 for water. Reindeer and moose milks had the highest fat and protein concent ...	2011	22083874
experimental reduction of food quality is not compensated with increased food intake in high-arctic muskoxen (ovibos moschatus).	a total of four barren adult female muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) were used over a period of 2 years for the purpose of the present study. during the first year, the natural changes in appetite (ad libitum intake of standard pelleted reindeer feed) and body mass were determined in two of the animals. during the second year, the effect of reduced food quality on ad libitum food intake was tested in all four animals in july when the appetite had been found to be at a high. we found that the experime ...	2012	22293221
serological evidence of besnoitia spp. infection in canadian wild ruminants and strong cross-reaction between besnoitia besnoiti and besnoitia tarandi.	bovine besnoitiosis, caused by besnoitia besnoiti, is considered to be emergent in europe and responsible for severe economic losses due to the chronic and debilitating course of the disease but has not been reported in north america. besnoitia tarandi is a related species and it has been reported in reindeer and caribou from different locations of the arctic pole, including north america. diagnosis of clinical besnoitiosis is largely based on the recognition of dermal grossly visible tissue cys ...	2012	22795672
estimation of body-size traits by photogrammetry in large mammals to inform conservation.	photography, including remote imagery and camera traps, has contributed substantially to conservation. however, the potential to use photography to understand demography and inform policy is limited. to have practical value, remote assessments must be reasonably accurate and widely deployable. prior efforts to develop noninvasive methods of estimating trait size have been motivated by a desire to answer evolutionary questions, measure physiological growth, or, in the case of illegal trade, asses ...	2012	22834930
malignant catarrhal fever virus identified in free-ranging musk ox (ovibos moschatus) in norway.	to study the epizootiology of malignant catarrhal fever viruses (mcfv), serum and spleen samples collected in 2004-2011 from a free-ranging musk ox (ovibos moschatus) population in dovrefjell, norway, were examined. sera were tested for antibodies against mcfv by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spleen samples were examined by a consensus polymerase chain reaction (pcr) for herpesviral dna and sequencing identification. the study included 101 musk oxen, of which 61 were examined ...	2013	23568926
first serosurvey of besnoitia spp. infection in wild european ruminants in spain.	besnoitia besnoiti has been reported to affect cattle, wildebeest, kudu and impala, and b. tarandi other wild ruminants (caribou, reindeer, mule deer and musk ox), causing similar characteristic clinical signs and lesions. however, both besnoitia species have been reported in different geographical areas and the link between the sylvatic and domestic life cycles of besnoita spp. in wild ruminants and cattle remains unknown. the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of specific antibodie ...	2013	23790546
possible secondary population-level effects of selective harvest of adult male muskoxen.	selective harvest regimes are often focused on males resulting in skewed sex-ratios, and for many ungulate species this strategy is sustainable. however, muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are very social and mature bulls (≥4 years old), particularly prime-age bulls (6-10 years old), play important roles in predator defense and recruitment. a year-round social structure incorporating large males into mixed-sex groups could make this species more susceptible to the effects of selective harvest if popula ...	2013	23818982
invasion, establishment, and range expansion of two parasitic nematodes in the canadian arctic.	climate warming is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the arctic and is having profound effects on host-parasite interactions, including range expansion. recently, two species of protostrongylid nematodes have emerged for the first time in muskoxen and caribou on victoria island in the western canadian arctic archipelago. umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis, the muskox lungworm, was detected for the first time in 2008 in muskoxen at a community hunt on the southwest corner of the island and by ...	2013	23828740
capital and income breeding traits differentiate trophic match-mismatch dynamics in large herbivores.	for some species, climate change has altered environmental conditions away from those in which life-history strategies evolved. in such cases, if adaptation does not keep pace with these changes, existing life-history strategies may become maladaptive and lead to population declines. we use life-history theory, with a specific emphasis on breeding strategies, in the context of the trophic match-mismatch framework to form generalizable hypotheses about population-level consumer responses to clima ...	2013	23836789
odor of the muskox : a preliminary investigation.	the behavior of captive male muskoxen was observed closely during their characteristic superiority display, the anatomy of the preputial region was studied in two adults and three calves, and preputial washings and preorbital gland secretion were subjected to gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. during the superiority display, the prepuce was everted to form a pendulous tube tipped with a fringe of matted hair. owing to the movement of the animal, the urine that dribbled from the preputial ...	1989	24272381
therio-ontology: a personal view of 40 years of farm animal embryo form and function.	the main purpose of this autobiographical reminiscence of 40 years of embryo research is to provide young theriogenologists with a firsthand account of how career development can depend strongly on early influences that become modified by changing circumstances. with no intention of being didactic, i hope that my experience of coping with enormous changes in techniques and attitudes may be of use to some of those embarking on a further 40 years of change of at least equal enormity.	2014	24274413
evaluation of hemostatic activity of latex from three euphorbiaceae species.	latices from several plant species of euphorbiaceae family have been traditionally applied over fresh cuts to stop bleeding and subsequently applied over wounds to enhance healing process. the latex arrested bleeding from fresh wounds by reducing bleeding and whole blood coagulation time which are important indices of hemostatic activity. it has been accepted that hemostatic activity is due to the proteolytic fraction of plant latices. thus, the present study aimed to assess the clot inducing pr ...	2014	24291032
isolation and phylogenetic analysis of an orf virus from sheep in makhdoom, india.	orf (contagious ecthyma) is an exanthematic disease caused by a parapoxvirus and occurs primarily in sheep and goats with zoonotic implications. in the present investigation, an orf outbreak in the muzzaffarnagari sheep flock at the central institute for research on goats (cirg), makhdoom, mathura, uttar pradesh, india, was investigated. primary goat testes cell culture was used for isolation of the orf virus (orfv) for the first time. the identity of the virus was confirmed by amplification and ...	2014	24347045
isotopic nitrogen in fecal fiber as an indicator of winter diet in caribou and muskoxen.	the ratios of stable nitrogen isotopes (δ(15)n values) in excreta have been used to examine aspects of trophic and nutritional ecology across taxa. nitrogen fractions in feces of herbivores include endogenous (e.g., sloughed intestinal cells, unresorbed digestive secretions, and microbial debris) and dietary sources. for animals such as large herbivores, that have diets and feces with high concentrations of indigestible fiber, endogenous (15)n may constrain the use of fecal δ(15)n values to esti ...	2014	24519825
surveillance for echinococcus canadensis genotypes in canadian ungulates.	the geographic and host distribution, prevalence and genotypes of echinococcus canadensis in wild ungulates in canada are described to better understand the significance for wildlife and public health. we observed e. canadensis in 10.5% (11/105) of wild elk (wapiti; cervus canadensis) in riding mountain national park, manitoba, examined at necropsy, over two consecutive years (2010-2011). molecular characterization of hydatid cyst material from these elk, as well as three other intermediate wild ...	2013	24533321
divergent parasite faunas in adjacent populations of west greenland caribou: natural and anthropogenic influences on diversity.	gastrointestinal parasite diversity was characterised for two adjacent populations of west greenland caribou (rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) through examinations of abomasa and small intestines collected from adult and subadult females during late winter. three trichostrongyline (trichostrongylina: nematoda) species were identified from the abomasa, although none were recovered from the small intestines, with faunal composition differing between the caribou populations. in caribou from kangerl ...	2013	24533335
warble infestations by hypoderma tarandi (diptera; oestridae) recorded for the first time in west greenland muskoxen.	in the northern hemisphere, caribou (rangifer spp.) populations are known to be infested with the skin-penetrating ectoparasite, hypoderma tarandi (diptera; oestridae). although regarded as host specific, h. tarandi has been reported from other species, and has become of increasing concern as a zoonosis infecting humans. in february 2012, concurrent with the hunting of muskoxen, we examined carcasses for muscle and tissue parasites, and recorded warble larvae infestations. dna extracted from sam ...	2013	24533338
from 'third pole' to north pole: a himalayan origin for the arctic fox.	the 'third pole' of the world is a fitting metaphor for the himalayan-tibetan plateau, in allusion to its vast frozen terrain, rivalling the arctic and antarctic, at high altitude but low latitude. living tibetan and arctic mammals share adaptations to freezing temperatures such as long and thick winter fur in arctic muskox and tibetan yak, and for carnivorans, a more predatory niche. here, we report, to our knowledge, the first evolutionary link between an early pliocene (3.60-5.08 myr ago) fox ...	2014	24920475
sentinels in a climatic outpost: endoparasites in the introduced muskox (ovibos moschatus wardi) population of dovrefjell, norway.	we assessed the occurrence of endoparasite eggs, cysts, oocysts and larvae in the muskox population of dovrefjell, norway, during june and august 2012. this population originates from 13 calves translocated from eastern greenland during the 1950s. a total of 167 faecal samples were collected, of which 49% came from identified individuals: 165 were examined by the baermann and 95 by mcmaster techniques and 167 by immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat). lungworm larvae recovered in the baermanns ...	2014	25161914
mycoplasma ovipneumoniae--a primary cause of severe pneumonia epizootics in the norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus) population.	the norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus) population lives on the high mountain plateau of dovre and originates from animals introduced from greenland. in the late summers of 2006 and 2012, severe outbreaks of pneumonia with mortality rates of 25-30% occurred. during the 2012 epidemic high quality samples from culled sick animals were obtained for microbiological and pathological examinations. high throughput sequencing (pyrosequencing) of pneumonic lung tissue revealed high concentrations of myco ...	2014	25198695
perfluorinated alkyl substances (pfas) in terrestrial environments in greenland and faroe islands.	perfluorinated alkylated substances (pfass) have been measured in liver samples from terrestrial organisms from greenland and the faeroe islands. samples from ptarmigan (west greenland), reindeer (southwest-greenland), muskox (east greenland), and land-locked arctic char from southwest greenland and the faroe islands were analyzed. in addition, pfass levels in land-locked brown trout from faroese lakes are reported. of the 17 pfass analyzed in the samples the following compounds were detected: p ...	2015	25482975
[extinction of large herbivore mammals: niche characteristics of musk ox ovibos moschatus and reindeer rangifer tarandus coexisting in isolation].	the extinction of large northern herbivores is a puzzle for many biologists. it is long debated whether climate change or human activity was the main factor of the extinction. the survival of the weak trophic competitors should reject the climatic hypothesis. extant species of pleistocene communities allow testing this explicitly. up to date, reindeer and musk ox coexist in the arctic territory. their island populations provide a unique natural experiment to assess the role of competition. on wr ...	2017	25486798
varestrongylus eleguneniensis sp. n. (nematoda: protostrongylidae): a widespread, multi-host lungworm of wild north american ungulates, with an emended diagnosis for the genus and explorations of biogeography.	a putative new species of varestrongylus has been recently recognized in wild north american ungulates based on the its-2 sequences of larvae isolated from feces during a wide geographic survey. no taxonomic description was provided, as adult specimens were not examined.	2014	25518883
erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae associated with recent widespread muskox mortalities in the canadian arctic.		2015	26028673
sequence analysis of bitter taste receptor gene repertoires in different ruminant species.	bitter taste has been extensively studied in mammalian species and is associated with sensitivity to toxins and with food choices that avoid dangerous substances in the diet. at the molecular level, bitter compounds are sensed by bitter taste receptor proteins (t2r) present at the surface of taste receptor cells in the gustatory papillae. our work aims at exploring the phylogenetic relationships of t2r gene sequences within different ruminant species. to accomplish this goal, we gathered a colle ...	2015	26061084
morphological and morphometric differentiation of dorsal-spined first stage larvae of lungworms (nematoda: protostrongylidae) infecting muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) in the central canadian arctic.	umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis and varestrongylus eleguneniensis are the two most common protostrongylid nematodes infecting muskoxen in the north american arctic and subarctic. first stage larvae (l1) of these lungworms have considerable morphological similarity that makes their differential diagnosis very difficult. using light microscopy, we studied in detail the l1 of these two species and identified the key differences in morphological and morphometric attributes. thirty l1 of each speci ...	2015	26155463
anti-brucella antibodies in moose (alces alces gigas), muskoxen (ovibos moschatus), and plains bison (bison bison bison) in alaska, usa.	we used an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ielisa) and the rose bengal test (rbt) to test for anti-brucella antibodies in moose (alces alces gigas), muskoxen (ovibos moschatus), and plains bison (bison bison bison) from various game management units (gmus) in alaska, us, sampled from 1982 to 2010. a portion of the sera had previously been tested with the standard plate test (spt), the buffered brucella antigen (bba) card test, and the card test (card). no antibody-positive plains bis ...	2016	26540335
fatty acid composition of muscle, adipose tissue and liver from muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) living in west greenland.	information about lipid content and fatty acid (fa) composition of muskoxen (ovibos moschatos) edible tissues is very limited in comparison to other meat sources. thus, this work aims to present the first in-depth characterization of the fa profile of meat, subcutaneous adipose tissue and liver of muskoxen living in west greenland. furthermore, we aim to evaluate the effect of sex in the fa composition of these edible tissues. samples from muscle (longissimus dorsi), subcutaneous adipose tissue ...	2015	26678792
[the first case of hypoderma tarandi-associated human myiasis in greenland].	we present the first case of human myiasis in greenland caused by the warble fly hypoderma tarandi. noticing a persisting, migrating, stinging facial sensation, a female patient eventually extirpated a larva from her upper eyelid, and the larva was confirmed to species level using dna-based methods. a high prevalence of h. tarandi in reindeer, the main reservoir host, and increasing populations of musk ox may imply an increased risk of zoonotic transmission. although diagnosis is challenging, ra ...	2016	26750192
show me your rump hair and i will tell you what you ate - the dietary history of muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) revealed by sequential stable isotope analysis of guard hairs.	the nutritional state of animals is tightly linked to the ambient environment, and for northern ungulates the state strongly influences vital population demographics, such as pregnancy rates. continuously growing tissues, such as hair, can be viewed as dietary records of animals over longer temporal scales. using sequential data on nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15n) in muskox guard hairs from ten individuals in high arctic northeast greenland, we were able to reconstruct the dietary history of musk ...	2016	27097032
contagious ecthyma, rangiferine brucellosis, and lungworm infection in a muskox ( ovibos moschatus ) from the canadian arctic, 2014.	an adult male muskox ( ovibos moschatus ), harvested on 26 august 2014 on victoria island, nunavut, in the canadian arctic, had proliferative dermatitis on the muzzle and fetlocks suggestive of contagious ecthyma or orf (parapoxvirus). histopathologic features of the lesions were consistent with this diagnosis. orf virus dna, phylogenetically similar to an isolate from a captive muskox of the minnesota zoo, us, was detected in the lesions by pcr using parapoxvirus primers. additionally, there wa ...	2016	27285415
understanding past population dynamics: bayesian coalescent-based modeling with covariates.	effective population size characterizes the genetic variability in a population and is a parameter of paramount importance in population genetics and evolutionary biology. kingman's coalescent process enables inference of past population dynamics directly from molecular sequence data, and researchers have developed a number of flexible coalescent-based models for bayesian nonparametric estimation of the effective population size as a function of time. major goals of demographic reconstruction in ...	2016	27368344
severe hypoxemia in muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus ) immobilized with etorphine and xylazine corrected with supplemental nasal oxygen.	twenty-three muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus ) housed in a captive facility for rewilding in sweden were chemically immobilized for annual health evaluations and hoof trimming. the muskoxen were darted in may to september (2012-15) in their holding pen with etorphine (0.015 mg/kg) and xylazine (0.1 mg/kg) intramuscularly. twenty-two of the 23 animals were immobilized with a single dart injection. the mean (sd) induction time was 4 (2) min. arterial blood gases were collected from 18 animals. all ani ...	2017	28051570
disease complexity in a declining alaskan muskox (ovibos moschatus) population.	the muskox ( ovibos moschatus ) population inhabiting the eastern north slope (ens) of alaska, us declined dramatically during 1999-2006, whereas populations in western alaska (wa) were stable or increasing. to understand morbidity and mortality factors contributing to the decline, alaska department of fish and game conducted pathologic investigations of carcasses from 2005 until 2008. additionally, archived sera from both ens and wa muskoxen collected during 1984-92, before the documented begin ...	2017	28099077
foraging strategies and seasonal diet optimization of muskoxen in west greenland.	various aspects of optimal foraging and seasonal diet composition of bulls (bachelor and dominant), cows, subadults, and yearlings of muskoxen ovibos moschatus were investigated in west greenland during the following seasons: calving, post-calving, summer, rut and mid-winter. the following hypotheses were tested: (1) muskoxen maximize daily energy intake during spring and summer, (2) dominant bulls monopolizing cows during the rutting season shift from an energy maximizing to a time minimizing f ...	1995	28307354
resource partitioning by mammalian herbivores in the high arctic.	willow (salix arctica) and sedges (carex stans and eriophorum triste) were the dominant plants available as forage for herbivores in the high arctic of greenland. willow leaves were of high quality as forage in early stages, of phenology, but crude protein and digestibility declined markedly by late stages whereas sedges, remained high in forage quality throughout the growing season. densities of fecal pellets indicated that muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) made heaviest use of sedge-dominated vegeta ...	1994	28313731
first insight into the faecal microbiota of the high arctic muskoxen (ovibos moschatus).	the faecal microbiota of muskoxen (n=3) pasturing on ryøya (69° 33' n 18° 43' e), norway, in late september was characterized using high-throughput sequencing of partial 16s rrna gene regions. a total of 16 209 high-quality sequence reads from bacterial domains and 19 462 from archaea were generated. preliminary taxonomic classifications of 806 bacterial operational taxonomic units (otus) resulted in 53.7-59.3 % of the total sequences being without designations beyond the family level. firmicute ...	2016	28348861
the impact of global climate change on the spread of parasitic nematodes	climate changes may influence the frequency, intensity and geographical distribution of parasites, directly affecting their dispersive stages in the environment (eggs, larvae) and, indirectly, the larvae living mainly in invertebrate intermediate hosts. in biologically diverse nematodes climate warming contributes to the increase in the range of distribution, colonization of new hosts and modification of their development cycles. this is particularly acute in the arctic and pertains, for instanc ...	2017	28432859
experimental life-cycle of varestrongylus eleguneniensis (nematoda: protostrongylidae) in a captive reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) and a muskox (ovibos moschatus moschatus).	the life-cycle of a recently described protostrongylid lungworm, varestrongylus eleguneniensis, which infects caribou, muskoxen, and moose from arctic and boreal regions of north america, was completed experimentally for the first time. a native north american slug species, deroceras laeve, was infected with the first-stage larvae (l1) isolated from the feces of wild muskoxen to generate third-stage larvae (l3). these were administered to a captive reindeer calf (250 l3) and an adult captive mus ...	2017	28590168
x chromosome evolution in cetartiodactyla.	the phenomenon of a remarkable conservation of the x chromosome in eutherian mammals has been first described by susumu ohno in 1964. a notable exception is the cetartiodactyl x chromosome, which varies widely in morphology and g-banding pattern between species. it is hypothesized that this sex chromosome has undergone multiple rearrangements that changed the centromere position and the order of syntenic segments over the last 80 million years of cetartiodactyla speciation. to investigate its ev ...	2017	28858207
qiviut cortisol in muskoxen as a potential tool for informing conservation strategies.	muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are increasingly subject to multiple new stressors associated with unprecedented climate change and increased anthropogenic activities across much of their range. hair may provide a measurement of stress hormones (glucocorticoids) over periods of weeks to months. we developed a reliable method to quantify cortisol in the qiviut (wooly undercoat) of muskoxen using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. we then applied this technique to determine the ...	2017	28948023
gammaherpesvirus (type 1 ruminant rhadinovirus) in muskox (ovibos moschatus) in greenland.	the world's native distribution of muskox (ovibos moschatus) is restricted to canada and greenland, and a muskox-specific gammaherpesvirus has been described from canadian populations. we analyzed spleen samples from the kangerlussuaq muskox population in greenland and identified muskox gammaherpes by pcr and sequencing.	2017	29148883
immune function in arctic mammals: natural killer (nk) cell-like activity in polar bear, muskox and reindeer.	natural killer (nk) cells are a vital part of the rapid and non-specific immune defense against invading pathogens and tumor cells. this study evaluated nk cell-like activity by flow cytometry for the first time in three ecologically and culturally important arctic mammal species: polar bear (ursus maritimus), muskox (ovibos moschatus) and reindeer (rangifer tarandus). nk cell-like activity for all three species was most effective against the mouse lymphoma cell line yac-1, compared to the human ...	2018	29249321
orf virus infection in alaskan mountain goats, dall's sheep, muskoxen, caribou and sitka black-tailed deer.	the zoonotic orf virus (orfv; genus parapoxvirus, poxviridae family) occurs worldwide and is transmitted between sheep and goats, wildlife and man. archived tissue samples from 16 alaskan wildlife cases, representing mountain goat (oreamnos americanus, n = 8), dall's sheep (ovis dalli dalli, n = 3), muskox (ovibos moschatus, n = 3), sitka black-tailed deer (odocoileus hemionus sitkensis, n = 1) and caribou (rangifer tarandus granti, n = 1), were analyzed.	2018	29467004
on the crucial importance of a small bird: the ecosystem services of the little auk (alle alle) population in northwest greenland in a long-term perspective.	the little auk is the most numerous seabird in the north atlantic and its most important breeding area is the eastern shores of the north water polynya. here, a population of an estimated 33 million pairs breeds in huge colonies and significantly shapes the ecosystem. archaeological remains in the colonies document that the little auk has been harvested over millennia. anthropological research discloses how the little auk has a role both as social engineer and as a significant resource for the i ...	2018	29516440
limited dietary overlap amongst resident arctic herbivores in winter: complementary insights from complementary methods.	snow may prevent arctic herbivores from accessing their forage in winter, forcing them to aggregate in the few patches with limited snow. in high arctic greenland, arctic hare and rock ptarmigan often forage in muskox feeding craters. we therefore hypothesized that due to limited availability of forage, the dietary niches of these resident herbivores overlap considerably, and that the overlap increases as winter progresses. to test this, we analyzed fecal samples collected in early and late wint ...	2018	29700632
high resistance towards herbivore-induced habitat change in a high arctic arthropod community.	mammal herbivores may exert strong impacts on plant communities, and are often key drivers of vegetation composition and diversity. we tested whether such mammal-induced changes to a high arctic plant community are reflected in the structure of other trophic levels. specifically, we tested whether substantial vegetation changes following the experimental exclusion of muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) altered the composition of the arthropod community and the predator-prey interactions therein. overall ...	2018	29743265
a comparative study on the faecal bacterial community and potential zoonotic bacteria of muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) in northeast greenland, northwest greenland and norway.	muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are ruminants adapted to a high-fibre diet. there is increasing interest in the role that gut microbes play in the digestion and utilization of these specialized diets but only limited data available on the gut microbiome of high-arctic animals. in this study, we metabarcoded the 16s rrna region of faecal samples from muskoxen of northeast greenland, northwest greenland and norway, and quantified the effects of physiological and temporal factors on bacterial compositi ...	2018	30044373
molecular resolution to a morphological controversy: the case of north american fossil muskoxen bootherium and symbos.	the musk ox (ovibos moschatus) is the only surviving member of a group of pleistocene north american musk ox genera (praeovibos, ovibos, bootherium, euceratherium, and soergelia) whose taxonomy is uncertain. the helmeted musk ox (bootherium bombifrons) and the woodland musk ox (symbos cavifrons) have been synonymised as male and female forms of a single nearctic species found from alaska, in the north, to texas, in the south. however, this reclassification has not been tested using molecular dat ...	2018	30121342
influence of season and diet on fiber digestion and bacterial community structure in the rumen of muskoxen (ovibos moschatus).	we studied the relationship between fiber digestion and the composition of the bacterial community in the rumen of muskoxen at the start and the end of the annual window of plant growth from spring to fall. eight ruminally cannulated castrated males were fed brome hay or triticale straw (69.6% vs. 84.6% neutral detergent fiber, respectively) that were similar in fiber content to the sedges consumed by wild muskoxen (64.5 to 71.7% neutral detergent fiber). muskoxen digested fiber from both forage ...	2018	30127327
evaluation of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays measuring pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in the blood of muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus).	pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (pags) are expressed by the ruminal placenta, making their detection in blood an accurate indicator of pregnancy. this study aimed to evaluate two commercially available pag enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) in muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus). the two tests are based on the same principles; however, one is evaluated photometrically and the other visually. sixteen samples covering all trimesters of pregnancy, and 16 nonpregnant samples were included to ev ...	2018	30212318
the muskox lost a substantial part of its genetic diversity on its long road to greenland.	the muskox (ovibos moschatus) is the largest terrestrial herbivore in the arctic and plays a vital role in the tundra ecosystem [1-4]. its range, abundance, and genetic diversity have declined dramatically over the past 30,000 years [5]. two subspecies are recognized, but little is known about the genetic structure and how this relates to the species history. one unresolved question is how and when the species dispersed into its present range, notably the present strongholds in the canadian arch ...	2018	30528581
immobilizing muskox ( ovibos moschatus) under high arctic conditions.	immobilizing and handling large, free-ranging animals without proper facilities in harsh environmental conditions poses significant challenges. during two field expeditions, a total of 29 female muskoxen ( ovibos moschatus) were immobilized in northeast greenland (74°n, 20°e). fixed doses of immobilizing drugs were used regardless of animal size: 2 mg etorphine, 30 mg xylazine, 0.3 mg medetomidine, and 40 mg ketamine. physiologic and behavioral monitoring was performed during the second expediti ...	2018	30592918
muskox status, recent variation, and uncertain future.	muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are an integral component of arctic biodiversity. given low genetic diversity, their ability to respond to future and rapid arctic change is unknown, although paleontological history demonstrates adaptability within limits. we discuss status and limitations of current monitoring, and summarize circumpolar status and recent variations, delineating all 55 endemic or translocated populations. acknowledging uncertainties, global abundance is ca 170 000 muskoxen. not all p ...	2020	31187429
echinococcus canadensis g8 tapeworm infection in a sheep, china, 2018.	we report a sheep infected with echinococcus canadensis g8 tapeworm in china in 2018. this pathogen was previously detected in moose, elk, muskox, and mule deer in europe and north america; our findings suggest a wider host range and geographic distribution. surveillance for the g8 tapeworm should be conducted in china.	2019	31211942
novel encephalomyelitis-associated astrovirus in a muskox (ovibos moschatus): a surprise from the archives.	the small, single-stranded positive-sense rna astroviruses are mostly known to be enteric viruses. in recent years, though, different astroviruses were reported in association with neurological disease in various species. in cattle, two distinct neurotropic astrovirus genotype species were described in numerous cases of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis, with one of these viruses also reported in similar circumstances in several sheep. here, we retrieved archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ...	2019	31234899
sequencing and characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of mishmi takin (budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) and comparison with the other caprinae species.	mishmi takin (budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) is an endangered and least studies species. we sequenced and annotated a 16,584 bp long complete mitogenome of mishmi takin (b. t. taxicolor). it was encoded by 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes (pcgs), two ribosomal rna genes, 22 transfer rna, and non-coding control region. all trna genes show a typical secondary cloverleaf structure, except trnaser(agy) in which dihydrouridine arm did not form a stable structure. we observed 82 bp nucleotide deletion ...	2019	31254580
muskox myoglobin: purification, characterization and kinetics studies compared with cattle and water buffalo myoglobins.	the arctic muskox has economic potential as an alternative meat species and is becoming increasingly popular. the present study aimed to determine the primary structure and pseudoperoxidase activity of muskox myoglobin (mb) compared to cattle and water buffalo myoglobins.	2019	31259416
the muscular, hepatic and adipose tissues proteomes in muskox (ovibos moschatus): differences between males and females.	the muskox (ovibos moschatus) is a ruminant highly adapted to arctic conditions. the objective of this work is to study liver, muscle and adipose tissues proteomes in muskoxen highlighting sex differences. ten animals (5 per sex) were sampled in western greenland during the winter hunting season. during carcass processing, muscle, liver and rump fat samples were obtained. proteomic analyses were conducted using both gel-based and gel-free approaches. gel-free data are available (proteomexchange; ...	2019	31394309
a transdisciplinary approach to brucella in muskoxen of the western canadian arctic 1989-2016.	brucella serostatus was evaluated in 3189 muskoxen sampled between 1989 and 2016 from various locations of the canadian arctic archipelago and mainland, near the communities of sachs harbour and ulukhaktok, northwest territories, and cambridge bay and kugluktuk, nunavut. brucella antibodies were found only in muskoxen sampled around cambridge bay, both on southern victoria island and on the adjacent mainland (kent peninsula). consistent with participatory epidemiology data documented from local ...	2019	31414318
comparative chromosome mapping of musk ox and the x chromosome among some bovidae species.	: bovidae, the largest family in pecora infraorder, are characterized by a striking variability in diploid number of chromosomes between species and among individuals within a species. the bovid x chromosome is also remarkably variable, with several morphological types in the family. here we built a detailed chromosome map of musk ox (ovibosmoschatus), a relic species originating from pleistocene megafauna, with dromedary and human probes using chromosome painting. we trace chromosomal rearrange ...	2019	31671864
mycoplasma conjunctivae-associated keratoconjunctivitis in norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus).	in late summer 2014, an outbreak of ocular disease occurred in the norwegian muskox (ovibos moschatus) population. animals showed rings of pus around their eyes and one euthanized animal was diagnosed with acute keratoconjunctivitis. the dna sequence analysis of eye-swab samples from this animal revealed a high abundance of mycoplasma conjunctivae.	2020	31833817
geography, seasonality, and host-associated population structure influence the fecal microbiome of a genetically depauparate arctic mammal.	the canadian arctic is an extreme environment with low floral and faunal diversity characterized by major seasonal shifts in temperature, moisture, and daylight. muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) are one of few large herbivores able to survive this harsh environment. microbiome research of the gastrointestinal tract may hold clues as to how muskoxen exist in the arctic, but also how this species may respond to rapid environmental changes. in this study, we investigated the effects of season (spring/su ...	2019	31871639
microbiota in foods from inuit traditional hunting.	the foods we eat contain microorganisms that we ingest alongside the food. industrialized food systems offer great advantages from a safety point of view, but have also been accused of depleting the diversity of the human microbiota with negative implications for human health. in contrast, artisanal traditional foods are potential sources of a diverse food microbiota. traditional foods of the greenlandic inuit are comprised of animal-sourced foods prepared in the natural environment and are ofte ...	2020	31935269
the biogeography of the caribou lungworm, varestrongylus eleguneniensis (nematoda: protostrongylidae) across northern north america.	varestrongylus eleguneniensis (nematoda; protostrongylidae) is a recently described species of lungworm that infects caribou (rangifer tarandus), muskoxen (ovibos moschatus) and moose (alces americanus) across northern north america. herein we explore the geographic distribution of v. eleguneniensis through geographically extensive sampling and discuss the biogeography of this multi-host parasite. we analyzed fecal samples of three caribou subspecies (n = 1485), two muskox subspecies (n = 159), ...	2020	31970056
on the interplay between hypothermia and reproduction in a high arctic ungulate.	for free-ranging animals living in seasonal environments, hypometabolism (lowered metabolic rate) and hypothermia (lowered body temperature) can be effective physiological strategies to conserve energy when forage resources are low. to what extent such strategies are adopted by large mammals living under extreme conditions, as those encountered in the high arctic, is largely unknown, especially for species where the gestation period overlaps with the period of lowest resource availability (i.e. ...	2020	32001737
novel insights into serodiagnosis and epidemiology of erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a newly recognized pathogen in muskoxen (ovibos moschatus).	muskoxen are a key species of arctic ecosystems and are important for food security and socio-economic well-being of many indigenous communities in the arctic and subarctic. between 2009 and 2014, the bacterium erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated for the first time in this species in association with multiple mortality events in canada and alaska, raising questions regarding the spatiotemporal occurrence of the pathogen and its potential impact on muskox populations.	2020	32315366
an application of upscaled optimal foraging theory using hidden markov modelling: year-round behavioural variation in a large arctic herbivore.	in highly seasonal environments, animals face critical decisions regarding time allocation, diet optimisation, and habitat use. in the arctic, the short summers are crucial for replenishing body reserves, while low food availability and increased energetic demands characterise the long winters (9-10 months). under such extreme seasonal variability, even small deviations from optimal time allocation can markedly impact individuals' condition, reproductive success and survival. we investigated whi ...	2020	32518653
correction: novel insights into serodiagnosis and epidemiology of erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a newly recognized pathogen in muskoxen (ovibos moschatus).	[this corrects the article doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231724.].	2020	33031443
range expansion of muskox lungworms track rapid arctic warming: implications for geographic colonization under climate forcing.	rapid climate warming in the arctic results in multifaceted disruption of biodiversity, faunal structure, and ecosystem health. hypotheses have linked range expansion and emergence of parasites and diseases to accelerating warming globally but empirical studies demonstrating causality are rare. using historical data and recent surveys as baselines, we explored climatological drivers for arctic warming as determinants of range expansion for two temperature-dependent lungworms, umingmakstrongylus ...	2020	33057173
foot health and prevalence of dichelobacter nodosus in 11 ungulate species at berne animal park.	dichelobacter nodosus (d. nodosus) is the etiological agent of ovine footrot affecting mainly sheep worldwide, but also free-ranging wild ungulates such as alpine ibex (capra ibex ibex) and mufflon (ovis orientalis orientalis). a nationwide ovine footrot eradication program is planned for the years to come, based on polymerase chain reaction (pcr)-testing of interdigital swab samples and regular footbathing. in this cross-sectional study, we clinically evaluated the foot health and analysed pres ...	2020	33140726
corynebacterium freneyi bacterial septicemia secondary to contagious ecthyma in a wild muskox (ovibos moschatus).	a wild muskox (ovibos moschatus) with dermatitis typical of contagious ecthyma had secondary bacterial septicemia with corynebacterium freneyi that included laminitis, hepatitis, and suppurative encephalitis. this case supports the association between orf virus infection and fatal secondary infections, which may have contributed to population declines on victoria island, canada.	2021	33635972