Enhancement of a declining European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) population with habitat restoration

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 98-106
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kenyeres ◽  
Norbert Bauer ◽  
Lajos Nagy ◽  
Szilárd Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

scholarly journals The role of ant nests in European ground squirrel’s (Spermophilus citellus) post-reintroduction adaptation in two Bulgarian mountains

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kachamakova ◽  
Vera Antonova ◽  
Yordan Koshev
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Entire Range ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Adaptation Process ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
South Eastern Europe ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a vulnerable species, whose populations are declining throughout its entire range in Central and South-Eastern Europe. To a great extent, its conservation depends on habitat restoration, maintenance and protection. In order to improve the conservation status of the species, reintroductions are increasingly applied. Therefore, researchers focus their attention on factors that facilitate these activities and contribute to their success. In addition to the well-known factors like grass height and exposition, others, related to the underground characteristics, are more difficult to evaluate. The presence of other digging species could help this evaluation. Here, we present two reintroduced ground squirrel colonies, where the vast majority of the burrows are located in the base of anthills, mainly of yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus). This interspecies relationship offers numerous advantages for the ground squirrel and is mostly neutral for the ants. The benefits for the ground squirrel, including reduced energy demand for digging, as well as additional surveillance and hiding places available, could greatly enhance the post-reintroduction adaptation process.

scholarly journals Geographic variability in the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Schneiderová ◽  
Lucie Štefanská ◽  
Lukáš Kratochvíl
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Geographic Variability ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
Different Origins

Abstract Geographic variability in vocalizations has been documented in many mammalian species. We examined to what extent it applies to the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus. We recorded the calls of 82 adult individuals from 5 natural colonies in the Czech Republic and 24 adult individuals from an artificial seminatural colony located in a Czech zoo. The founders of this colony originated from 4 different natural colonies in the Czech Republic. Our results showed that there are hardly any differences in the acoustic structure of the alarm calls between male and female European ground squirrels. Discriminant function analysis showed the highest degree of discriminability for the most isolated sites (54–74% of individuals classified correctly), whereas the lowest degree of discriminability was found for 2 interconnected colonies (38–40% individuals classified correctly). Individuals from the artificial seminatural colony were often classified correctly to this colony (58% classified correctly); however, the precision of the classification was comparatively relatively low, that is, many individuals from other colonies were incorrectly classified into this seminatural colony. This likely corresponds to the different origins of its founders. These findings indicate that there is a rather substantial geographic variability in the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel, and our study highlights its possible impact on conservation measures such as establishing artificial colonies or reintroductions.

Method of releasing and number of animals are determinants for the success of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) reintroductions

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Matějů ◽  
Štěpánka Říčanová ◽  
Simona Poláková ◽  
Michal Ambros ◽  
Borys Kala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

scholarly journals Distribution, Population Size, and Habitat Characteristics of the Endangered European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus, Rodentia, Mammalia) in Its Southernmost Range

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8411
Author(s):  
Dimitra-Lida Rammou ◽  
Dimitris Kavroudakis ◽  
Dionisios Youlatos
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
System Productivity ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is an endangered species, endemic to Central and Southeastern Europe, inhabiting burrow colonies in grassland and agricultural ecosystems. In recent years, agricultural land-use changes and increased urbanization have largely contributed to a severe population decline across its range, particularly in its southernmost edge. Assessing the population and habitat status of this species is essential for prioritizing appropriate conservation actions. The present study aims to track population size changes and identify habitat characteristics of the species in Greece via a literature search, questionnaires, and fieldwork for assessing trends in population size as well as spatial K-means analysis for estimating its relation to specific habitat attributes. We found that both distribution size (grid number) and colony numbers of the species decreased in the last decades (by 62.4% and 74.6%, respectively). The remaining colonies are isolated and characterized by low density (mean = 7.4 ± 8.6 ind/ha) and low number of animals (mean = 13 ± 16 individuals). Most of the colonies are situated in lowlands and did not relate to specific habitat attributes. Habitat aspect and system productivity (NDVI) were the main factors contributing mostly to the clustering of the existing colonies. These results demonstrate that the species is confined to small, isolated anthropogenic habitats. Specific conservation actions such as population reinforcement, habitat improvement, and specific common agricultural policy measures could effectively improve agroecological zones that are suitable for the maintenance and protection of existing and potential habitats for populations of the species.

scholarly journals Research of foraging and resting behaviour of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) in conditions of zoological garden as a tool for its restitution back to the wild

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-185
Author(s):  
Sandra Fraňová ◽  
Ivan Baláž
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Resting Behaviour ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
Long Term Observation ◽  
Two Peaks

AbstractWe decided to focus our research on two basic forms of behaviour occurring in colonies of ground squirrels in semi-natural conditions of zoological gardens-foraging and resting behaviour. Our main goal was to perform an analysis of behaviour of ground squirrels living in captivity and to compare these two categories of behaviour on a set timeline. Our research has been performed throughout the span of years 2011and 2012, during which we were able to observe two separate ground squirrel colonies (A, B). In the analytical part, we described the two main forms of ground squirrels’ behaviour in Zoo Bojnice and we subjected the compiled information to a thorough statistical analysis with the aid of main comparison tools. Based on long-term observation and the analysis of the results, we were able to gather detailed information about the two behaviour categories and their duration within a time frame. The results from the year 2011 confirmed that ground squirrel’s behaviour, bred in captivity, the display of foraging behaviour is the most frequent during the day, as was also observed in wild ground squirrels recorded by Ambros (Ambros, 1999). Within the year 2011 (without human activity) foraging behaviour reaches two peaks with raised frequencies of display, in the daily time periods, the first from 9 to 11 am and the second from 2.30 to 5 pm. We noted a change in behaviour in 2012, when there was a reconstruction nearby the enclosures. These reconstructive activities influenced the behaviour (significant decrease of activity) of the ground squirrels in the presence of the assigned workers approximately until 3 pm, from which time-also in connection with the lessening of the worker’s presence-the foraging behaviour of ground squirrels began to rise rapidly, which held the peak on until 5 pm. Resting behaviour had only one peak with rising trend during the day in dependence on rising temperature of bedding in the enclosure, on which ground squirrels used to sunbathe. These findings give us valuable information about ground squirrels’ behaviour in captivity as well as behaviour influenced by human presence, what can be used in behavioural research of ground squirrels in the wild.

The impact of cold acclimation and hibernation on antioxidant defenses in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus): An update

2013 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 916-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Vucetic ◽  
Ana Stancic ◽  
Vesna Otasevic ◽  
Aleksandra Jankovic ◽  
Aleksandra Korac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Antioxidant Defenses ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
The Impact
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