The island of Madagascar, situated off the coast of East Africa, has a unique history that sets it apart from other landmasses on Earth. Approximately 88 million years ago, the island drifted away from India, isolating it and its inhabitants from all other continents. This geographical isolation allowed the flora and fauna of Madagascar to evolve in seclusion, giving rise to an astonishing array of plants and animals found nowhere else on our planet.

One aspect of this remarkable biodiversity is a process called endozoochory, where animals consume plant seeds and then deposit them elsewhere through their digestive system. While research has focused primarily on the roles of birds and mammals as seed dispersers, lizards have often been overlooked in this context. This neglect inspired a team of researchers from Kyoto University to shine a spotlight on these humble creatures.

Contrary to popular perception, not all lizard species are frugivores, which means they do not consume fruits or other fruit-like substances. However, some lizards that do eat fruits can play an essential role in seed dispersal, and certain species are even primary seed dispersers for specific plant species. As the corresponding author Ryobu Fukuyama notes, “Lizards are under-appreciated as seed dispersers in many forest ecosystems, but we hypothesized that they may play a more important role across a broader range of regions than previously recognized.”

The research team focused on three lizard species found in a tropical dry forest in Madagascar: the Malagasy Giant Chameleon, Cuvier’s Madagascar Swift, and the Western Girdled Lizard. These omnivores consume fruits from over 20 plant species and expel viable seeds. Interestingly, these plant species are largely different from those typically consumed by the Common Brown Lemur, a principal seed disperser in Madagascar’s forests, indicating that lizards may play a more crucial role than previously thought.

While acknowledging the importance of lizards as seed dispersers is significant, the research project also highlights the challenges faced by Malagasy forests due to human activities. The degradation of these ecosystems has made them uninhabitable for large frugivores like lemurs, but not for the lizard species studied in this research. As seed dispersers, these lizards could potentially contribute to forest regeneration, although many unknowns remain.

In the future, the team intends to focus further on additional aspects of lizard seed dispersal, such as dispersal distances. This research has significant implications for our understanding of ecosystem function and biodiversity conservation, particularly in the context of Madagascar’s unique environment.

Researchers at Swansea University have made an intriguing discovery about the behavior of wild chacma baboons on South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. By using high-resolution GPS tracking, they found that these intelligent primates walk in lines not for safety or strategy, but simply to stay close to their friends.

For a long time, scientists believed that baboons structured their travel patterns, known as “progressions,” to reduce risk and optimize access to food and water. However, the new study published in Behavioral Ecology reveals that this behavior is actually driven by social bonds rather than survival strategies.

The researchers analyzed 78 travel progressions over 36 days and found that the order in which individual baboons traveled was not random. They tested four potential explanations for this phenomenon, including strategic positioning to avoid danger or gain access to resources. However, their findings show that the consistent order of baboon movement patterns is solely driven by social relationships.

According to Dr. Andrew King, Associate Professor at Swansea University, “The baboons’ consistent order isn’t about avoiding danger like we see in prey animals or for better access to food or water. Instead, it’s driven by who they’re socially bonded with. They simply move with their friends, and this produces a consistent order.”
This discovery introduces the concept of a “social spandrel.” In biology, a spandrel refers to a trait that arises not because it was directly selected for but as a side effect of something else. The researchers found that the consistent travel patterns among baboons emerge naturally from their social affiliations with each other and not as an evolved strategy for safety or success.

The study highlights the importance of strong social bonds in baboon society, which are linked to longer lives and greater reproductive success. However, this research also shows that these bonds can lead to unintended consequences, such as consistent travel patterns, which serve no specific purpose but rather as a by-product of those relationships. The findings have implications for our understanding of collective animal behavior and the potential for social spandrels in other species.

The world of cat care is about to undergo a significant transformation. For the first time, researchers have shown that video telehealth visits can be an effective way to improve the quality of life for cats suffering from chronic health conditions. The study, conducted by a team at the University of California, Davis, involved 106 pet owners whose cats had mobility issues and found that these virtual consultations significantly benefited both cat and owner.

According to lead author Grace Boone, an assistant specialist in the UC Davis Animal Welfare Epidemiology Lab, “Teleadvice is meant to provide advice and support for caregivers caring for their cats.” The results of the study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, demonstrate that video calls where pet owners can ask questions and get non-medical advice can be beneficial. In fact, more than 95% of those who took part in the research said they would pay for telehealth visits, though most were willing to pay a little less than for in-clinic appointments.

A common ailment affecting cats is feline arthritis, which affects roughly 6% to 30% of cats under age 10 and from 64% to 92% of those older than 10. As Carly Moody, senior author on the paper and an assistant animal science professor, points out, “Cats are great at hiding signs of pain.” This means that chronic health issues can go undetected for a long time if owners don’t seek veterinary care.

The researchers found that video telehealth visits allowed pet owners to receive guidance on how to modify their home environment to improve their cat’s mobility and comfort. Suggestions included elevated food and water dishes, larger litter boxes with shorter walls, and additional steps to access favorite places. Pet owners reported that the visits helped them understand their cats’ needs, making them more confident in how they cared for their cats.

Telehealth visits don’t require a veterinarian; a registered veterinary technician or other knowledgeable staff member can conduct the calls, answer questions, and give advice. These consultations are meant to supplement, not replace, in-person veterinary care. In fact, the visits have the potential to foster better veterinarian-client-patient relationships by improving communication and understanding between cat owners and veterinarians.

Future research will examine whether recommended changes based on expert advice can improve a cat’s wellbeing in the home. Additionally, Moody’s lab may explore whether telehealth could be beneficial for other health issues like obesity and disease prevention.

This article highlights the potential benefits of video telehealth visits for cats with chronic health conditions and emphasizes the importance of exploring new ways to provide care that prioritizes animal welfare.