Small carnivores, such as the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), play important ecological roles but remain poorly studied in many parts of their range, particularly in landscapes undergoing rapid human-induced change. We investigated Pallas’s cat occupancy and activity patterns in Bogd Khan Mountain, north-central Mongolia, in relation to habitat features, camera-detectable potential prey activity, and anthropogenic disturbance. Camera traps were deployed from April to August over three years. Because detections were sparse and the survey was not specifically designed for Pallas’s cats or their primary prey, we used occupancy-based framework and interpreted covariate relationships as tentative ecological associations. Mean predicted occupancy across site-year sampling units was 0.31 ± 0.08 SE, and detection probability varied among years. The best-supported model included a positive association between occupancy and the relative abundance index of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), a camera-detectable, forest-associated potential prey species. However, squirrel relative abundance may indicate opportunistic prey, broader prey availability, or favorable forest microhabitat. Although forest cover was not supported as a key occupancy covariate, most detections occurred at forested sites, indicating that Pallas’s cats occur within the heterogeneous forest-steppe landscape of the mountain. We detected no strong occupancy response to the anthropogenic disturbance covariates considered, including human activity, livestock activity, dog presence, and distance to urban areas. Activity records suggested moderate to high temporal overlap with squirrels, livestock, people, and free-ranging dogs. Our findings provide evidence of continued occurrence in a protected area facing increasing anthropogenic pressure and highlight the need for targeted monitoring.
The microhistological technique is fundamental to the study of herbivore’s diets. Yet, its time-consuming nature requires careful consideration in sampling efforts to balance accuracy, cost and efficiency. Using 141 red deer (Cervus elaphus) fecal samples, we evaluated how many plant epidermis fragments are required to achieve robust results, considering plant species identification and diversity. Our findings indicate that analyzing 140 plant fragments per fecal sample provides a good relationship between precision and cost, capturing 95
The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) occupies a pivotal position at the human–livestock–wildlife interface, yet its role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ecology remains poorly characterized in Southwest Asia. This study investigated whether anthropogenic pressure is associated with the gastrointestinal ecosystem of wild boar by integrating enteric resistome dynamics with mucosal immunopathology within a One Health framework. Intestinal contents and matched ileal and colonic tissues were collected from 87 wild boars across a defined anthropogenic gradient in Iran, spanning protected forests to peri-urban agricultural landscapes. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to characterize resistome composition, pathogenic lineages, and mobile genetic elements, while quantitative histopathology and immunohistochemistry were applied to assess subclinical mucosal inflammation. Resistome diversity and total antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) abundance increased significantly with anthropogenic pressure and were strongly associated with histopathological indicators of chronic enteritis, including villus atrophy and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. High-pressure zones harbored clinically relevant resistance determinants, notably extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes, and pandemic Escherichia coli sequence type ST131, with evidence of putative plasmid association. Integrated mixed-effects modeling identified anthropogenic pressure as the dominant predictor of ARG burden, with a significant interaction between inflammation severity and resistance load. These findings suggest that wild boar may act as anthropogenically influenced reservoirs of high-risk AMR at the landscape scale. By linking microbial genetic potential to host tissue response, this study suggests a link between gut ecosystem dynamics and resistance persistence, raising implications for public health, livestock biosecurity, and the conservation of sympatric apex predators. However, the cross-sectional design and opportunistic sampling strategy limit causal inference, and the findings should be interpreted as correlational evidence requiring further validation through longitudinal and experimental studies.
A recent publication argued that the invasive raccoon dog does not pose a threat to waterbirds in Europe. We argue, however, that the study in question is misleading because it is not representative, does not consider the problem from the birds’ perspective, and misquotes several earlier studies.
Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are an invasive non-native species in the UK which can strip bark from trees, detrimentally impacting biodiversity and forestry. Extensive control measures are undertaken to reduce grey squirrel populations each year; however, it is unclear if abundance influences the extent of damage. Predicting changes in abundance could be an important technique to increase the efficacy of control measures. We explore whether climate-based predictors of beech (Fagus sylvatica) masting, covary with an abundance index of grey squirrels. We find predicted masting years covary with the abundance of grey squirrels at all sites and those in broadleaf woodland the following year. We also find that predicted masting years covary with squirrel abundance at beech dominated sites in the same year as masting. These inconsistent patterns may be due to the limitations with the proxies used this analysis, but indicate potential hypotheses for future studies. We also investigate whether grey squirrel abundance index covaries with the prevalence of accumulated bark stripping damage with inconclusive results. More research is needed to identify the drivers of bark stripping to identify new preventative measures. Our exploratory results suggest potential influences of beech masting on grey squirrel abundance, although more research is needed before this could be used within management.
Increasing farmer complaints about common starlings Sturnus vulgaris depredating maize silage on Danish dairy farms initiated an investigation of whether the growth in larger herds kept indoors year-round fed maize silage was exacerbating this conflict. Agriculture statistics showed a strong positive correlation between maize area and dairy cattle numbers in 81 Danish municipalities, confirming indoor maize silage feeding practices influences maize distribution nationally. Questionnaire returns from large (> 500 dairy cows) farms reported starlings present at 41
Animal dummies (sometimes called decoys or models) are widely used in ecological research to investigate predation, sexual selection, or social communication. The use of this method, however, is generally limited to small-bodied taxa, especially in predation studies. Yet, dummy prey could prove useful in understanding large carnivore behaviour, especially in situations where real-time observations and experimental approaches may be difficult. It is not known whether and to what extent large carnivores will recognise dummy prey as realistic in field experiments, which may hinder the development and funding of research using this method. In this study, we presented African lions (Panthera leo) with dummies visually resembling two types of prey in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. Lions showed predatory intent by stalking a dummy in 32
The dhole (Cuon alpinus), an endangered canid, requires urgent ecological understanding, particularly in human-modified landscapes. This study in India’s Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (2011–2015) employed direct observation and camera/video trapping of identified dhole packs to compare their ecology and behaviour in areas with high versus low human influence. The mean home range size of the four identified packs was 24.45 ± 8.14 km2 (6.97–40.29 km2). Home range size varied considerably among packs, with packs in human-altered environments (P1, P2) having much smaller ranges (14.38 and 6.97 km2) than those in natural forests (P3, P4) (36.14 and 40.29 km2). This reduction is possibly due to reliance on anthropogenic food sources like livestock and garbage that reduces the need for extensive movements. Dholes were primarily diurnal, with peak activity at dawn and dusk, and a notable decline around midday characterised by long-term resting (often > 6 h), an adaptation possibly for heat avoidance. P2, heavily exposed to human activity, showed elevated nocturnal activity, possibly to avoid human contact, especially during the breeding season. While pups were observed only in packs in human-influenced areas (P1, P2), they also experienced increased adult and pup mortality, possibly from retaliatory killings and disease transmission from domestic dogs. Conversely, sizes of packs in natural environments (P3, P4) did not change because no new pups were recruited and no adult mortality occurred. Encounters with humans, domestic animals or vehicles, mainly with resting dholes, consistently resulted in dholes fleeing, indicating significant disturbance, even when detected from 50 to 150 m away. Effective dhole conservation in human-affected landscapes requires reducing conflict by: curbing access to anthropogenic food sources (e.g., improved waste management), minimising disease transmission risks from domestic and feral dogs, implementing livestock management strategies (e.g., avoiding dhole long-term resting sites by > 150 m) and reducing human disturbance during wildlife observation tours. These targeted interventions are vital for promoting coexistence and ensuring the survival of this species.
In the natural world, humans and birds have formed deep, mutually beneficial relationships, particularly in regions where indigenous communities rely on gathering and hunting. In southwestern Ethiopia, such interactions are not incidental but essential, with local people engaging in unique mutualistic partnerships; between honey gatherers and honeyguides to find wild beehives, and between hunters and vultures to locate wounded prey. This study assessed the nature, benefits, and challenges of these human-bird interactions through structured questionnaires involving 99 honey gatherers and hunters, supported by key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate factors influencing gathering and hunting success, whereas multiple response regression was applied to identify key benefits and challenges. This study underscores that mutualistic relationships between humans and wildlife remain vital. Honeyguides guide honey gatherers to wild beehives, benefiting from access to beeswax and larvae. Meanwhile, subsistence hunters using traditional, non-toxic weapons depend on vultures to locate wounded prey that escape after being shot, and in turn, vultures gain access to the remains of these hunts. Because hunters avoid poisons and hunt primarily for food, carcasses remain poison-free for scavengers, supporting healthy vulture populations. Regression models confirm the importance of these interactions; honey gathering success (94.0
Migratory geese increasingly forage on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in northern Europe, intensifying conflicts between conservation and agriculture. While grazing impacts are known to vary considerably, the role of timing in shaping these effects remains underexplored. This study combines empirical yield data from six intensively grazed fields with simulation experiments mimicking worst-case grazing in winter and late spring to assess the importance of timing in goose grazing impacts on winter wheat yield. Results show that even heavy winter grazing did not significantly reduce grain yield, indicating substantial resilience in winter wheat during the dormant phase and a considerable compensatory growth in spring. In contrast, spring grazing consistently reduced grain yield by 7–10
Nasal pigmentation has been widely used in the field as a non-invasive visual cue to estimate the age of African lions (Panthera leo), including in contexts such as trophy hunting, translocations, and population management. However, the reliability of this criterion for individual age classification remains unclear, particularly in situations where age estimates inform management decisions. In this study, we present a comprehensive and statistically robust evaluation of nasal pigmentation as a predictor of age, analyzing standardized photographs of 200 lions from 31 zoological institutions across 11 countries using objective image processing with FIJI software. A significant positive correlation between pigmentation and age was observed (Spearman’s rho = 0.315, p < 0.0001), confirming a general population-level trend of increasing pigmentation over time. However, the commonly used thresholds (> 50
Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) are a major concern for both wildlife conservation and traffic safety, as transportation infrastructure fragments habitats and increases wildlife mortality and the risk of injury for road users. Motorway fencing is widely implemented to reduce these impacts, often in combination with wildlife crossing structures; however, uncertainty persists regarding whether fencing may displace WVC to nearby unfenced roads. This study investigates both the effectiveness of fencing in reducing WVC on motorways and the potential displacement effect to adjacent roads. We analysed four continuously fenced sections of the Czech D10 motorway, using police-reported WVC data collected between 2007 and 2023. A total of 11,654 WVC records from the study area, comprising six surrounding districts and the motorway itself, formed the basis of the analysis. Using a Before–After Control–Impact (BACI) design and applying Fisher’s exact test across multiple distance thresholds (0.5 km, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km and 5 km) from the motorway study sections, we evaluated changes in collision patterns following fence installation. The WVC occurring farther than 5 km from the study section served as the Control. Across all study sections, motorway fencing resulted in a statistically significant reduction in WVC compared to the period before fence installation, with decreases ranging from 66
As wolves (Canis lupus) recolonize diverse environments, the extent to which ecological and individual factors shape their spatial behaviour remains insufficiently understood. Italy, where wolf recovery began earlier than elsewhere in Europe and spans highly heterogeneous landscapes, offers an opportunity to explore patterns relevant to future European scenarios. We analysed variation in home range size and movement patterns using GPS data from 19 wolves monitored between 2019 and 2025 across five study areas representing a broad environmental gradient. Continuous-time movement modelling was used to estimate home range size and distance travelled. Home range size varied markedly among areas, with annual averages for pack-member wolves ranging from 35 to 185 km². The smallest ranges occurred where wolves had been established for longer and/or where prey availability was higher, suggesting that both intraspecific competition and resource abundance influence space use. Wolves expanded their ranges in winter and in more urbanized landscapes. Pack members consistently had smaller home ranges than floaters, and among floaters, females showed slightly larger ranges than males. Distance travelled also differed significantly across areas (local averages 25–53 km/day) but showed no significant association with individual traits. Three dispersal events were documented, two of which resulted in successful pair formation and subsequent reproduction. Overall, our results provide a broad overview of wolf spatial behaviour in contemporary Italian landscapes and offer insights relevant to the management of wolf populations across Europe.
Eurasian otters Lutra lutra are protected in Europe and vulnerable due to low reproductive rates. The ability to age cubs may be important to identify and protect breeding places and target seasonal surveys, yet little data exists. We developed a novel method to measure cubs relative to their mother using on-screen pixels on camera trap footage. We tested this on domestic ferrets Mustela furo of known length, then applied it to footage from an otter natal den to estimate relative growth curves of three litters from emergence (c. 2 months old) to beyond 7 months old. We tested inter-observer consistency, then developed some rule-of-thumb age-stage characteristics for cubs (< 3 months, 3–6 months and 6–9 months). Absolute error relative to known tail to body length ratios of domestic ferrets was typically < 10
Understanding how predators cope with variation in the availability of key prey species is pivotal for understanding the adaptive significance of their feeding strategies. In the framework of nutritional ecology, we explored the yearly diets and macronutrient (protein, lipids and carbohydrates) ratios of mesocarnivores (Martes spp. and red fox Vulpes vulpes), in a protected area (Mount Fenera Natural Park, NW Italy) where the availability of small mammals was unexpectedly low. Small mammal abundance was assessed by live trapping and hair-tube surveys, while diet analysis was based on faecal samples (117 and 104, respectively) collected along transects. All predators compensated for the low availability of their usual main source of protein by switching to alternative, nutritionally equivalent prey: arboreal rodents for martens and earthworms and wild boars for foxes. The higher-than-average use of these prey species indicated that the recorded diets were the result of the search for complementary nutritional resources. Accordingly, both martens and the red fox regulated their nutrient intakes so as to get close to their respective intake targets, suggesting that the nutritional content of food resources may play a major role in shaping the responses of predators to changes in prey abundance. Such dietary flexibility is likely a key factor enabling them to persist across a wide range of habitats, including those undergoing rapid man-driven modification.
Furuncular myiasis, typically caused by bot flies (Oestridae), is a visibly apparent parasitic condition, yet its prevalence and distribution in Neotropical primates are poorly documented. We demonstrate the use of terrestrial camera traps at mineral licks as a non-invasive method for monitoring such parasitization. We analyzed 6,114 camera-trap videos of Bolivian red howler monkeys (Alouatta sara), recorded across 970 trap-days. Of these, 81 (13
Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) are widespread and omnipresent throughout the urban areas of Zagreb, Croatia. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the colonisation of Hooded Crows in Zagreb. From 2022 to 2024, 729 active nests were recorded. The average nest density in the entire research area of 84.6 km² was 8.62 pairs/km², but with significant variation between the different parts of the city (0.8–28.3 pairs/km²). The highest nest densities were recorded south of the Sava River, near the city landfill, in areas where built-up, grassland, and tree cover habitats were abundant and interspersed rather than homogeneous. Birds built nests on 43 tree species and three subspecies. Our analyses showed that Hooded Crows have a preference for the London planetree Platanus acerifolia, Poplar (Populus sp.) and Pine (Pinus sp.) species of trees, and the height of trees within the range of 11 and 20 m. These findings contribute to understanding how urbanisation influences avian nesting behaviours, providing insights into nesting site preferences that could inform future urban planning and management efforts.
Algeria is the largest country in Africa and for the most part has not yet been surveyed for bat species. To contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of Algerian bat fauna, between 2011 and 2026 we surveyed 70 sites from 19 provinces across the country, mostly roost sites but also using mist nets. We found 19 species from six families, out of a total of 27 species from seven families currently recognized for Algeria. The most frequently found species were the Maghrebian mouse-eared bat (Myotis punicus), the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), and the common bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii). Our observations represent several new findings regarding the distribution of bat species in the country, including, for example, the southernmost record for the Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale), the northernmost record for the Egyptian mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma cystops), the southernmost and westernmost records for Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus), and the southernmost record for the desert long-eared bat (Otonycteris hemprichii). Overall, this work provides 18 new provincial records for 11 species, contributing significantly to our understanding of bat distribution in Algeria and informing future conservation planning.
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are recognized reservoirs of Betacoronavirus erinacei, but the mechanisms sustaining viral circulation in largely solitary hosts remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence, transmission clues, and phylogenetic relationships of B. erinacei in hedgehogs admitted to a regional wildlife recovery center in Apulia. From May to September 2025, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 111 individuals and screened by RT-PCR. The nucleotide sequences of the obtained amplicons were determined, and phylogenetic analysis was performed by the maximum-likelihood method. Overall, 29 out of the 111 animals (26.1
The Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L. uses its calls for breeding, territorial and hierarchical purposes. We investigated whether changes in the vegetation structure of the forest might affect call transmission and contribute to Western Capercaillie’s lek desertion in the Pyrenees, as predicted by the acoustic adaptation hypothesis. We measured forest structure and the sound propagation properties of the forest at nine occupied lek sites and eleven deserted lek sites in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park in Catalonia (NE Spain). We found similar values of forest Maturity Index (MI), Human Footprint Index (HFI) or Spatial Integrity Index (SII) in both groups of stands. Abandoned stands exhibited higher Dominant Tree Height (Ho), higher Basal Area (BA), higher Volume of Living Trees (FV) and higher Volume of Dead Trees (FM). Deserted sites exhibited higher values of Background Noise (N) and lower values of scattering of the sound on the vertical and horizontal plane (JLFH and JLFV), resulting in longer reverberation time (T20), higher sound pressure level (SIGC) and a slower decay curve (K) due to lower attenuation. We suggest that the background noise and the sound propagation characteristics of the deserted forest stands might be affecting the transmission of Capercaillies’ calls, creating distortion and masking of the acoustic signal by excessive reverberation and noise. Our results suggest that changes in the acoustic properties of forests, partially driven by changes in the forest structure, may contribute to lek desertion. If confirmed, conservation-oriented forest management for Capercaillies should aim not only to maintain food and shelter resources, but also to preserve acoustic conditions that facilitate non-distorted and correct signal discrimination during display. Background noise and sound propagation properties differ between occupied and deserted Capercaillie’s lek forest stands in the Pyrenees. These differences, probably partially associated to changes in forest stand structure, might impair Capercaillie communication within deserted stands, suggesting that changes in call transmission might play a role in lek desertion. If these results were confirmed by further research, conservation-oriented management should consider, in addition to other factors, how to maintain adequate bioacoustic properties of the forest stands where Capercaillie’s display takes place.
