scholarly journals Proposed migration corridors for large mammals in the south-east of Polish Carpathians

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (30) ◽  
pp. 63-72
Author(s):  
Kajetan Perzanowski ◽  
Katarzyna Pędziwiatr ◽  
Paulina Konieczna ◽  
Jan Śmiełowski
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Critical Points ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Heavy Traffic ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Least Cost Path ◽  
Habitat Patches

The aim of the study was the delineation of migratory corridors migration for large mammals between the Ukrainian Carpathians and the western part of their range in Poland. Potential corridors for the wolf (Canis lupus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), wisent (Bison bonasus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) were identified within 534,818 ha with the ArcGIS Corridor Designer software. Corridors of regional importance (42,283 ha in total) and local connections between habitat patches (13,154 ha) were delineated separately according to the least-cost path criterion. We identified 115 critical points where heavy traffic, or the proximity of settlements, could obstruct animal movements. A considerable number of such critical points indicate the urgency for ensuring the functionality of the remaining linkage. The permeability of barriers between habitat patches was determined by ground observations, confirming the presence of target species. The highest proportion of patches estimated by experts as optimal and suboptimal was for wild boar (91%), while the lowest for lynx (52%). The proportion of habitats avoided or useless due to anthropogenic barriers was 34% for lynx, 25% for wisents, and 19% for brown bears.

scholarly journals The mammalian fauna of Barová Cave (Moravian Karst, the Czech Republic)

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 515-532
Author(s):  
Martina Roblíčková ◽  
Vlastislav Káňa ◽  
Miriam Nývltová Fišáková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Mammalian Fauna ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Cave Bear ◽  
Moravian Karst

Abstract Barová Cave is located in the central part of the Moravian Karst (the Czech Republic), on the right slope of Josefovské Valley; it is the outflow part of Rudické propadání (Rudice Sink) – Býčí skála (Bull Rock) cave system. Even since its discovery by A. Sobol in 1947, Barová Cave has been known as important palaeontological site, with well-preserved fauna of the Late Pleistocene. In the summer of 2011, a landslide of sediments revealed yet unexamined fossiliferous positions, and started the current research activity. There were discovered skeletal remains of these 21 taxa of vertebrates between 2011 – 2017 in Barová Cave: bear from the cave bear group (Ursus ex gr. spelaeus), cave lion (Panthera spelaea), wolf (Canis lupus), cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea), brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), wolverine (Gulo gulo), fox, probably red (Vulpes cf. vulpes), marten (Martes cf. martes), alpine ibex (Capra ibex), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), aurochs or bison (Bos primigenius/Bison priscus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), horse (Equus sp.), woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), hare (Lepus sp.), lemming (Dicrostonyx sp.), bank vole (Myodes sp.), jackdaw (Corvus monedula) and probably northern pintail (Anas aff. acuta). Animal osteological material from sectors 2, 3, 4 and R4 from the Under the Ladder test pit in Barová Cave is analysed in detail in this paper. Bears from the group of cave bears completely dominate, the total sum of bones determined as bear bones make up nearly 95% of all determined material. The cave lion bones comprise nearly 3% of the determined osteological material; bones of a wolf represent about 1.2%, bones of cave hyena approximately 0.5% and bones of ungulates approximately 0.2% of all determined material (Tab. 1). From the MNI point of view the bears from the cave bear group dominate too. Bear bones belonged to at least 40 individuals (70.2% of all minimally present individuals) of all age categories (Tabs 1, 2). The predominance of bones of bears from the cave bear group in Barová Cave shows that the cave was mainly used as a bear wintering site. The presence of bear cub bones proved that the cave also served females as a birthing place. Some bones of bears from the group of cave bears and several bones of cave lions, cave hyenas and wolves also show evidence of bite and gnawing marks by carnivores or scavengers (cave lions, cave hyenas, wolves and perhaps cave bears). This suggests that hibernating bears, and more often the cadavers or isolated bones of dead individuals sometimes served as a food source. The seasonality analysis indicates that the time of death varied most frequently near the end of wintering season (spring/summer). The large amount of bear bone material leads to the consideration that the bears from the cave bear group used Barová Cave over a period longer than thousand years.

Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in game animals from Slovenia

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Žele ◽  
Jana Avberšek ◽  
Igor Gruntar ◽  
Matjaž Ocepek ◽  
Gorazd Vengušt
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Fluorescent Antibody ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Game Species ◽  
Game Animals

Anaplasma phagocytophilumis a tick-borne rickettsial pathogen responsible for granulocytic anaplasmosis in mammalian hosts including humans. Wild animals may play an important role in the epidemiology of this disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of infection withA. phagocytophilumamong wildlife in Slovenia. Serum samples (n = 376) from the most important game species [red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and brown bear (Ursus arctos)] were examined byA. phagocytophilum-specific indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) and wild boar spleen samples (n = 160) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).A. phagocytophilum-specific antibodies were found in 72% of sera andA. phagocytophilumDNA was present in 6.2% of spleens. The data indicate thatA. phagocytophilumis present and widespread in Slovenian game animals and that game species are involved in the natural life cycle ofA. phagocytophilum.

scholarly journals Occurrence of large carnivores – Lynx lynx, Canis lupus, and Ursus arctos – and of Felis silvestris in the Czech Republic and western Slovakia in 2012–2016 (Carnivora)

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslav Kutal ◽  
Elisa Belotti ◽  
Josefa Volfová ◽  
Tereza Mináriková ◽  
Luděk Bufka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Grey Wolf ◽  
Felis Silvestris ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
The Czech Republic

Abstract In the last decades, large carnivores – the grey wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and brown bear (Ursus arctos), and to a certain extent also the wildcat (Felis silvestris) – have increased their distribution ranges throughout Europe. Monitoring of their current distribution and population trends in the Czech Republic is crucial for the effective conservation and elimination of possible conflicts with humans in the future. In the last years, many projects focused on small-scale monitoring of large carnivores were implemented in the Czech Republic and the neighbouring mountain ranges of Slovakia. Using their results, we compiled the dataset from different regions and analysed the recent distribution of large carnivores and the wildcat. The distribution maps are based on verified data on the presence and reproduction in 2012–2016. This is consistent with the standardized methodology used across Europe. The Eurasian lynx was the most widespread of all large carnivore species in the Czech Republic, with the two trans-boundary populations (Carpathian and Bohemian-Bavarian-Austrian) occupying 94 out of 868 squares (10.8%) of the mapping grid of the Czech Republic. Reproduction was confirmed in 46.8% of the occupied squares. The grey wolf occupied 6.8% of the squares in the Czech Republic and its reproduction was confirmed in 10.2% of the occupied squares. Three reproducing packs belonging to the Central European lowland population were confirmed and the area occupied by the species increased three times within the study period. The brown bear occupied 2.8% of the squares of the Czech Republic – the area is restricted to the Carpathians – with no signs of reproduction; its distribution fluctuated heavily during the study period. The wildcat occupied the smallest range of the Czech Republic among the studied species (1.4% of the squares) but its reproduction was confirmed in a trans-boundary area (White Carpathians) at the Slovakian side of the border. The wildcat also significantly increased its range from one to six squares during the study period.

scholarly journals Francisella tularensis in Swedish predators and scavengers

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hestvik ◽  
H. Uhlhorn ◽  
M. Koene ◽  
S. Åkerström ◽  
A. Malmsten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Slide Agglutination ◽  
Microagglutination Test ◽  
Wild Predators

Abstract Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease, in Europe caused by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica. Many lagomorphs and a variety of small rodents are wildlife species prone to develop clinical disease, while predators and scavengers are relatively resistant and may serve as sentinels. Blood samples from 656 Swedish wild predators and scavengers were serologically investigated using slide agglutination and microagglutination. In the slide agglutination test, 34 seropositive animals were detected, and they were found among all species investigated: brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo). Due to haemolysis the microagglutination test was more difficult to read at low titres, and only 12 animals were classified as seropositive. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was detected by a polymerase chain reaction in lymphatic tissues of the head in one brown bear, one red fox and one wolf. The significance of this finding regarding possible latency of infection is not clear. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that all predator and scavenger species included in this study may serve as sentinels for tularaemia in Sweden. Their role as reservoirs is unclear.

scholarly journals Trichinella spp. in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa), Brown Bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian Lynxes (Lynx lynx) and Badgers (Meles meles) in Estonia, 2007–2014

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Age Kärssin ◽  
Liidia Häkkinen ◽  
Annika Vilem ◽  
Pikka Jokelainen ◽  
Brian Lassen
Keyword(s):  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Brown Bears ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Infection Pressure ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Free Ranging

In this study, we summarize Trichinella findings from four wild, free-ranging host species from Estonia during 2007–2014. Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 281 (0.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.0) of 30,566 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 63 (14.7%, 95% CI 11.6–18.3) of 429 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 59 (65.56%, 95% CI 55.3–74.8) of 90 Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx), and three (60.0%, 95% CI 18.2–92.7) of five badgers (Meles meles). All four European Trichinella species were detected: T. britovi in 0.7% of the wild boars, 7.2% of the brown bears, 45.6% of the lynxes, and 40.0% of the badgers; T. nativa in 0.1% of the wild boars, 5.8% of the brown bears, and 20.0% of the lynxes; T. pseudospiralis in 0.02% the wild boars; and T. spiralis in 0.03% of the wild boars and 4.4% of the lynxes. The results include the first description from Estonia of T. britovi in brown bear and badgers, T. pseudospiralis in wild boars, and T. spiralis in wild boars and lynxes. The results indicate high infection pressure in the sylvatic cycles across the years—illustrating continuous risk of spillover to domestic cycles and of transmission to humans.

An investigation into the transition from forest dwelling pigs to farm animals in medieval Flanders, Belgium

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Ervynck ◽  
An Lentacker
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Almost Everywhere ◽  
Medieval Europe

There is ample evidence to show that in medieval Europe, unlike today, pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) were herded in woodland (see for example ten Cate 1972; Laurans 1975; Mane 1997). For England, this statement has been contested (Rackham 1976, 1980, 1986), but a recent re-evaluation of the historical data indicates that pig husbandry traditions there were the same as in continental Europe (Wilson 2003). Nowadays, pigs have almost everywhere become farm animals, at best living outdoors in semi-confinement near farmhouses, or, at worst, being reared in intensive indoor units with very limited freedom of movement. At some point in time the animals thus made the transition from forest dwellers to farmyard inhabitants, a process that is hardly documented by historical data, or at least little investigated by historians. The aim of this chapter is to investigate whether the analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites can recognize this transition by identifying changes in the characteristics of diachronic pig populations, indicative of differing animal husbandry regimes. Flanders (in present-day Belgium) was one of the most densely populated regions in medieval Europe, and as such, represents an appropriate case study area where the transition from forest to farmyard pigs can be explored. Historical data from Flanders confirm that deforestation was already very advanced towards the end of the High Medieval period (10th–12th centuries AD), so much so that reforestation campaigns were implemented (be it not always successfully) during Late Medieval times (13th–15th centuries AD) (Verhulst 1990; Tack et al. 1993; Tack & Hermy 1998). Deforestation, together with overhunting, resulted in the local extinction of wild woodland mammal species such as brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the 12th century, and wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) towards the end of the Middle Ages (Ervynck et al. 1999). In fact, in Flanders, virtually no parcel of land has been continuously under forest since medieval times, a phenomenon illustrated, for example, by the poverty of the carabid beetle fauna (an insect group with poor (re-)colonizing capacities) in present-day woodlands (Desender et al. 1999).

Wolverines and their prey in southern Norway

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1292-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Landa ◽  
O. Strand ◽  
J. E. Swenson ◽  
T. Skogland
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Stable Part ◽  
Southern Norway ◽  
Main Factor

Wolverines (Gulo gulo) recolonized the Snøhetta plateau in southern Norway in 1976–1979 after an absence of over 50 years. This is presently the southernmost part of the wolverine's distribution and the only area where it coexists with wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in western Europe. Other, larger predators in the Scandinavian ecosystem, the wolf (Canis lupus), lynx (Lynx lynx), and brown bear (Ursus arctos), have been absent from the area since the beginning of this century. We monitored wolverine numbers, reproduction, and diet during the denning period and studied the effects of abundance of different prey species on wolverine reproduction. Although there were differences in productivity among maternity dens, the main factor influencing the number of wolverine cubs surviving was the abundance of small rodents (p = 0.0002). Although small rodents constituted the main factor explaining variation in cub numbers, the basic prey during the denning period was reindeer. Hares (Lepus timidus) accounted for a significant but stable part of the diet during the denning period. The wolverine was an important predator on sheep (Ovis aries), but we found no evidence that sheep are an essential part of its diet.

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Habitat Use and Food Resources on Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean D. Farley ◽  
Herman Griese ◽  
Rick Sinnott ◽  
Jessica Coltrane ◽  
Chris Garner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Air Force Base
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