Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Elisa Torretta, Andrea Corradini, Luca Pedrotti, Luciano Bani, Francesco Bisi, Olivia Dondina
Summary: In the last few decades, there has been a significant recovery and natural expansion of wolf populations in Europe. This study focused on the movement patterns of rehabilitated wolves in a highly human-dominated landscape in Northern Italy. The results showed that wolves had the ability to segregate from human activities and exhibited different movement patterns based on their settling or dispersing phases.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alan H. Fielding, David Anderson, Stuart Benn, Robin Reid, Ruth Tingay, Ewan D. Weston, D. Philip Whitfield
Summary: Natal dispersal of large raptors is poorly understood, and there is a research gap in understanding how young dispersing raptors strategize their movements towards first settlement on a prospective breeding territory. This study analyzed pre-settlement data from 37 GPS-tagged nestling golden eagles and found substantial variation in prospecting behavior. However, the expected associations between number of prospecting visits and natal dispersal duration, as well as the presence of prior vacant territories, were not supported. Further study is needed to understand the drivers behind this variation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mohan Ram, Aradhana Sahu, Nityanand Srivastava, Lahar Jhala, Yashpal Zala, Meena Venkataraman
Summary: This article discusses the use of GPS radio-collars to study the movement and activity of Asiatic lions, and the use of virtual geofence functions and alert generation to reduce their mortality on linear infrastructures. The study also provides baseline information for impact assessment studies and predictive models for lion ecological requirements, habitat improvement, and mitigation measures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
James M. Pay, Toby A. Patterson, Kirstin M. Proft, Elissa Z. Cameron, Clare E. Hawkins, Amelia J. Koch, Jason M. Wiersma, Todd E. Katzner
Summary: Effective planning for species conservation often requires understanding habitat use. This study developed behavior-specific spatial habitat-use models using GPS telemetry data, providing valuable information for the management of threatened species. The study found that recently fledged Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles selected different areas for perching, short-distance flight, and long-distance flight, with preferences for forest edges, steep topography, and areas further from forest edges, respectively.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Hana Tebelmann, Udo Ganslosser
Summary: Prosocial behavior is common among group-living mammals, and Canidae are known for their social organization. This case study focused on social feedback mechanisms in two groups of grey wolves, and found that bold behavior is more likely to receive prosocial responses.
Article
Ecology
D. Philip Whitfield, Alan H. Fielding, David Anderson, Stuart Benn, Roy Dennis, Justin Grant, Ewan D. Weston
Summary: Studying population ecology and behavior of large raptors with life-history traits involving high survival and low reproductive output can be challenging. GPS-telemetry has proven valuable in studying aspects such as age of first territory settlement (AFTS). Using GPS-records from tagged Golden Eagles, we estimated AFTS and found a range of ages, including much younger settlement ages than previously documented. Our results suggest that GPS-data can provide accurate estimations of AFTS, including early settlement ages not consistently recorded by other methods.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tariku Mekonnen Gutema, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Desalegn Chala, Afework Bekele, Claudio Sillero-Zubiri, Jorgelina Marino, Dietmar Zinner, Vivek V. Venkataraman, Peter J. Fashing, Nils C. Stenseth
Summary: African wolves and Ethiopian wolves often coexist in different habitats in the Ethiopian Highlands and compete with each other. However, the ecology of African wolves is less understood compared to Ethiopian wolves. A study was conducted on radio-collared African wolves in two locations to gather data on their home range, habitat use, and activity patterns. Results showed that African wolves exhibited flexibility in response to habitat fragmentation and human disturbance, with a preference for areas near human settlements and being mainly active at dawn and dusk.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Marceau Minot, Aurelien Besnard, Aurelie Huste
Summary: Local movements of aquatic insects are driven by the need to find food, mates, resting sites, or avoid predators, with distances moved varying greatly among species. This study found that both sexes of the dragonfly Anax imperator have similar probability of movement between ponds, but females tend to move further in the landscape matrix and have larger home ranges compared to males.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Justin T. French, Nova J. Silvy, Tyler A. Campbell, John M. Tomecek
Summary: The landscape of fear (LOF) hypothesis explains the effects of predators on the space use of their prey, but the empirical evidence for this hypothesis is mixed. Recent research suggests that the LOF is dynamic, depending on the daily activity of predators. However, support for a dynamic LOF remains inconsistent, possibly due to neglecting intraspecific variation in predator behavior.
Article
Ecology
Rohit Naniwadekar, Akanksha Rathore, Ushma Shukla, Aparajita Datta
Summary: Roost selection by hornbills is not influenced by nest/foraging sites, and Wreathed Hornbill roosts are often located close to rivers. While hornbills only disperse 10% of seeds at roosts, the dispersal distances of those seeds are longer.
Article
Ecology
Claire Mason, Alistair J. Hobday, Mary-Anne Lea, Rachael Alderman
Summary: This study analyzed the foraging behavior of shy albatross from Albatross Island. The results showed a consistent foraging area for the population, with individuals utilizing both the shelf break and the Bass Strait. There was also evidence of individual consistency to geographic locations. Age and sex did not explain the between-individual variation in foraging behavior.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Ivan Literak, Rainer Raab, Jan Skrabal, Stanislav Vyhnal, Marek Dostal, Hynek Matusik, Karel Makon, Boris Maderic, Peter Spakovszky
Summary: A study on Red Kite dispersal movements in Central Europe found that migration behavior is dependent on age and sex, with females having longer migration routes and males showing higher natal philopatry.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fiona McDuie, Austen A. Lorenz, Robert C. Klinger, Cory T. Overton, Cliff L. Feldheim, Joshua T. Ackerman, Michael L. Casazza
Summary: Long-term environmental management to prevent waterfowl population declines is based on ecology, movement behavior, and habitat use patterns. Human-induced disturbance can cause changes in behavior, affecting movement and resource needs. A study in California found that dabbling ducks adjust rapidly to different levels of disturbance during hunting season, showcasing the importance of understanding the relationship between human disturbance and animal behavior for effective management strategies.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Pascual Lopez-Lopez, Arturo M. Perona, Olga Egea-Casas, Jon Morant, Vicente Urios
Summary: Cutting-edge technologies were used to monitor 25 Bonelli's eagles during the breeding season, revealing roles and differences in parental care between sexes and substantial increase in energetic requirements of males. The study highlights the crucial role of males in raptor species exhibiting biparental care.
Article
Ecology
Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, George Wittemyer
Summary: This study proposes a framework for characterizing individual variation in space-use behavior, aiming to advance understanding of the diversity of individual behavior and its influence on population organization. By analyzing 20 years of telemetry data from African elephants, the research developed four metrics to characterize differentiation in resource selection behavior within a population. The study highlights that focusing on population average responses may not capture complex individual behavioral variations, and the developed metrics provide additional information beyond mean responses, with specialization and heterogeneity being informative.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marta Cimatti, Nathan Ranc, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Luigi Maiorano, Luigi Boitani, Francesca Cagnacci, Mirza Cengic, Paolo Ciucci, Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Miha Krofel, Jose Vicente Lopez-Bao, Nuria Selva, Henrik Andren, Carlos Bautista, Dusko Cirovic, Heather Hemmingmoore, Ilka Reinhardt, Miha Marence, Yorgos Mertzanis, Luca Pedrotti, Igor Trbojevic, Andreas Zetterberg, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Luca Santini
Summary: The recent recovery of large carnivores in Europe is attributed to decreased human persecution due to rural land abandonment and increased forest cover, leading to improved shelter and prey availability. Changes in land cover and human population density were found to have altered habitat suitability for the grey wolf, Eurasian lynx, and brown bear in various regions of Europe between 1992 and 2015. The expansion of large carnivore populations matched projected changes, but factors beyond habitat availability, such as human tolerance and policy, may have influenced the recent wolf expansion in Central and Southern Europe.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Daniele De Angelis, Josip Kusak, Djuro Huber, Slaven Reljic, Goran Guzvica, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: The study found that 37% of Dinaric-Pindos brown bears migrated during hyperphagia, primarily in years with poor beechnut availability. Migrating bears entered migration in early fall and returned to their pre-migratory ranges after approximately 7 weeks. Summer ranges from which bears migrated were characterized by proximity to supplemental feeding sites and mixed forests, while fall ranges reached by migrants were differentiated by lower elevations, and a higher composition of deciduous forest, grasslands, forest edges, and shrublands.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Daniele De Angelis, Djuro Huber, Slaven Reljic, Paolo Ciucci, Josip Kusak
Summary: The research suggests that bears alter their space-use patterns at the home range level in response to anthropogenic land use and food availability. Bears living in human-influenced areas tend to avoid human settlements and agricultural lands but concentrate their use near supplemental feeding sites. Additionally, the study found that bears have larger home ranges at night compared to during the day, and the size of their home ranges is inversely related to the density of supplemental feeding sites.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nina L. Santostasi, Olivier Gimenez, Romolo Caniglia, Elena Fabbri, Luigi Molinari, Willy Reggioni, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: The study presented a formal approach to estimate the proportion of admixture between domestic dogs and wolves in a protected wolf population in Italy. Results showed an average of 7.8% dog ancestry in the wolf population, with formally estimated prevalence significantly higher than the detected sample proportion of admixed individuals.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Vincenzo Gervasi, Valeria Salvatori, Gianluca Catullo, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: A study in Italy from 2010 to 2014 found that regions recently recolonized by wolves experienced lower levels of livestock depredation compared to areas with historical wolf presence. Certain municipalities emerged as hotspots of impact and economic cost, indicating the need for effective conflict management strategies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giulio Careddu, Paolo Ciucci, Stella Mondovi, Edoardo Calizza, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: The Apennine brown bears primarily consume plant matter, with individual differences in seasonal isotopic patterns. Male bears have higher δ15N values than females in spring and autumn, indicating differences in dietary habits between genders. Management bears show differences in isotopic values compared to non-management bears, with elevated δ15N values in autumn.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Cecilia Di Bernardi, Camilla Wikenros, Eva Hedmark, Luigi Boitani, Paolo Ciucci, Hakan Sand, Mikael Akesson
Summary: The study on large carnivore feeding ecology is crucial for management and conservation efforts, with DNA-based methods showing higher reliability and success rates in detecting prey species in predator scats. Evaluating the optimal number of markers is important for sensitive target species detection.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Astrid Stronen, Barbara Molnar, Paolo Ciucci, Chris T. Darimont, Lorenza Grottoli, Paul C. Paquet, Tim Sallows, Judit E. G. Smits, Heather M. Bryan
Summary: The study found that wolf-parasite associations influence the population dynamics and ecological functions of both wolves and their prey. The prevalence of parasites transmitted directly to wolves via contact with other canids was positively associated with wolf density, while the prevalence of parasites transmitted via prey was negatively associated with prey diversity. Parasite communities were affected by landscape characteristics and specific prey items available to wolves.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Angela Anna Rositi, Giovanna Jona Lasinio, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: The availability of hard mast and soft-mast producing species is influenced by forest typology, historical forestry practices, and topographical features. Herb cover is negatively affected by terrain steepness and basal area, while ant richness is associated with forest volume and density. These findings provide valuable information for forest management practices to support the conservation of Apennine bears in the long term.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Agnese Marino, Paolo Ciucci, Stephen M. Redpath, Simone Ricci, Juliette Young, Valeria Salvatori
Summary: This study discusses the use of a participatory approach in addressing social tensions caused by the presence of wolves in an agricultural area in central Italy. Through workshops involving stakeholders, consensus was reached on various management interventions, including managing free-ranging dogs, implementing damage prevention measures, and establishing a suitable damage compensation system for farmers.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vincenzo Gervasi, John D. C. Linnell, Tomaz Berce, Luigi Boitani, Rok Cerne, Paolo Ciucci, Benjamin Cretois, Daniela Derron-Hilfiker, Christophe Duchamp, Adrienne Gastineau, Oksana Grente, Djuro Huber, Yorgos Iliopoulos, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Ilpo Kojola, Francesca Marucco, Yorgos Mertzanis, Peep Mannil, Harri Norberg, Nives Pagon, Luca Pedrotti, Pierre-Yves Quenette, Slaven Reljic, Valeria Salvatori, Tonu Talvi, Manuela von Arx, Olivier Gimenez
Summary: Sharing space with large carnivores in human-dominated Europe leads to conflicts with human interests, especially in terms of livestock depredation. Wolves were found to cause the highest percentage of sheep kills, and the study showed a positive relationship between wolf distribution and the number of compensated sheep. Time of coexistence with large carnivores plays a role in reducing associated costs, as continuous presence of these animals results in lower depredation levels.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Michele Angelo Di Bari, Vincenza Di Pirro, Paolo Ciucci, Alessandra Fondati, Geraldina Riccardi, Rosalia Bruno, Roberta Latini, Vittorio Guberti, Leonardo Gentile, Umberto Agrimi
Summary: Histopathological examination of skin biopsies from Apennine brown bears revealed various degrees of dermatitis, some of which were caused by Pelodera strongyloides infection. Further investigations are needed to confirm the role of Pelodera strongyloides in the observed lesions.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
E. Gonzalez-Bernardo, M. D. M. Delgado, D. G. G. Matos, A. Zarzo-Arias, A. Morales-Gonzalez, H. Ruiz-Villar, M. Skuban, L. Maiorano, P. Ciucci, J. Balbontin, V. Penteriani
Summary: This study assessed the potential impact of road networks on the distribution of brown bears in Cantabrian population in Spain. The results showed that road networks had little influence on the distance of bear locations to roads, except for females with yearlings during the denning season. Road networks also had almost no effect on brown bear habitat suitability, possibly due to the majority of roads being located in unsuitable bear habitats. Compared to previous studies conducted in North America, the findings suggest a different response of Eurasian brown bears to roads.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ana Garcia-Vazquez, Denise A. Crampton, Angela L. Lamb, George A. Wolff, Kostas Kiriakoulakis, Giulia Guidarelli, Anna Loy, Paolo Ciucci, Claudio Groff, Ana C. Pinto-Llona, Aurora Grandal-d'Anglade, Carlo Meloro
Summary: Stable isotope analysis of animal tissue samples is used to study trophic ecology and shows that isotopic signatures respond to diet type and environmental conditions. In this study, brown bear hair samples from four populations in southwest Europe were analyzed, considering geographical and climatic differences. The study found inter-population differences in isotopic values that suggest differences in food consumption, with higher altitude populations showing a greater consumption of animal foods. The quantification of isotopic niche space identified significant similarities between two populations and highlighted the need for conservation measures for southern isolated populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Filippo Marino, Ruth Kansky, Irene Shivji, Antonio Di Croce, Paolo Ciucci, Andrew T. Knight
Summary: The study found that the tolerance of large carnivores in Europe depends on human tolerance towards sharing mixed landscapes. By using the Wildlife Tolerance Model (WTM) and structural equation modeling, the research assessed tolerance drivers and identified both similarities and differences between species and areas, resulting in seven management proposals to foster tolerance.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2021)
