Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Daniel Klich, Magdalena Perlinska-Teresiak, Hendrik Bluhm, Tobias Kuemmerle, Marlena Wojciechowska, Wanda Olech
Summary: Traffic mortality poses a serious risk to endangered species like the European bison, especially those in small populations, with high mobility, and occupying fragmented habitats. Our study in Poland, which has a significant population of free-ranging European bison, reveals an increasing trend of bison mortality on roads and railways. The high traffic volumes on a national road passing through the core range of the Zachodniopomorskie population significantly contribute to the majority of reported mortality. Reintroduction efforts should prioritize roadless areas and avoid busy roads and railways to reduce the risk to both bison and people.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Romualdas Lapickis, Loreta Griciuviene, Arturas Kibisa, Indre Lipatova, Asta Aleksandraviciene, Irma Razanske, Marlena Wojciechowska, Marta Kloch, Wanda Olech, Algimantas Paulauskas
Summary: The genetic diversity and structure of European bison in Lithuania were examined using microsatellite markers and mtDNA sequences. The study found that the Lithuanian population has a different genetic structure compared to populations in Poland, Germany, and Sweden. It also revealed low genetic variation in the Lithuanian bison population, with two haplotypes observed in the mtDNA sequences.
Article
Ecology
Jeff M. Martin, Rachel A. Short, Glenn E. Plumb, Lauren Markewicz, Dirk H. Van Vuren, Bradly Wehus-Tow, Erik Otarola-Castillo, Matthew E. Hill
Summary: This paper presents a multidisciplinary approach to assemble a comprehensive database and meta-analysis of bison occurrence over the last 200,000 years. The database includes data from paleontology, archaeology, and historical ecology, totaling 6438 observations. The findings contribute to the fields of bison ecology, evolution, rewilding, management, and conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Klich, Ignacy Kitowski, Rafal Lopucki, Dariusz Wiacek, Wanda Olech
Summary: The study of hepatic concentrations of 27 elements in free-ranging European bison populations revealed differences in element concentrations between populations living in different locations, with the mountain population in Bieszczady being the most distinctive. Even geographically close lowland populations sometimes have different hepatic concentrations of particular elements. Individual sex and age have a weak effect on mineral status.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Sobczuk, Daniel Klich, Anna Uciechowska-Grakowicz, Wanda Olech
Summary: The reintroduction of European bison into the natural environment is a crucial conservation measure. Spatial monitoring is necessary to observe the population, detect threats, and determine intervention needs. A new free herd of European bison was introduced in 2016, and their acclimation process was observed for 7 years using GPS collars. The monitoring confirmed the stability of the herd's home range and the success of the chosen reintroduction site.
Article
Biology
Gabriel Gadsden, Nigel Golden, Nyeema C. Harris
Summary: This article calls for the inclusion of negative human histories in ecological research and provides three positive recommendations to address historic place-based bias, aiming to increase the success of environmental and conservation goals.
Article
Biology
Christinna Herskind, Heidi Huus Petersen, Cino Pertoldi, Stine Karstenskov Ostergaard, Marta Kolodziej-Sobocinska, Wojciech Sobocinski, Malgorzata Tokarska, Trine Hammer Jensen
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptability of recently introduced European bison in Lille Vildmose by analyzing their dietary diversity and parasitic load. The study found that the bison quickly adapted to their new habitat, with seasonal changes in their diet and parasitic load.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
A. Akhshik, A. Tusznio, M. Strzelecka
Summary: This study aims to uncover the significance of the environmental context in inducing visitor support for wildlife protection by analyzing memorable tourism experiences in the Bison enclosures in Poland. The results show that memorable experiences play an important role in shaping attitudes and behaviors. Additionally, environmental planners can analyze complex constellations of internal and external factors to identify the conditions that generate visitor support for wildlife protection.
CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ida Hartvig, Andy G. Howe, Emilie N. B. Schmidt, Cino Pertoldi, Jeppe Lund Nielsen, Rita M. Buttenschon
Summary: This study investigated the diet of recently introduced European bison in a forest habitat in Denmark, showing the bison's capacity to adapt to new habitats and exploit a variety of different habitats when foraging. The results suggest that foraging by bison can contribute towards limiting domination by understory shrubs and high, coarse grasses, promoting development towards a lower and more open understory and herbaceous layer in the forest habitats.
Article
Biology
Juli G. Pausas, Jon E. Keeley
Summary: The idea of fire acting as an evolutionary force in shaping species traits was initially proposed a century ago but only recently gained recognition. The role of fire in evolutionary ecology has slowly permeated mainstream ecological and evolutionary biology, but is still rarely mentioned in textbooks. It is now widely accepted that the biodiversity of our planet cannot be understood fully without considering the evolutionary role of fire.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carole L. Crumley
Summary: How can the disintegration of ecosystems be halted and rehabilitated? Scholars must increase expertise, gather disappearing data, analyze with new methods, and apply actionable science to policy. The historical ecology framework constructs evidence-validated narratives of ecosystem evolution and transformation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marta Kolodziej-Sobocinska, Aleksander W. Demiaszkiewicz, Katarzyna Filip-Hutsch, Tomasz Borowik, Rafa l Kowalczyk
Summary: Parasitic infections in wildlife are influenced by factors related to wildlife management, such as supplementary feeding and winter ranging behavior. This study analyzed the impact of supplementary feeding and winter ranging of European bison herds on the infection dynamics and severity of Ashworthius sidemi, a blood-sucking nematode. The results showed that European bison fed with supplementary feeding had higher parasitic load compared to non-fed individuals, and different management strategies influenced the spread and dynamics of the parasite.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Rassim Khelifa, Hayat Mahdjoub
Summary: Scientists need help from community scientists to address global issues, hence the proposal of a game called EcoDragons to teach ecological thinking and biodiversity conservation. The game, adaptable to different regions, has the potential to foster public engagement in biodiversity conservation and community science.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zlatozar Boev
Summary: This paper presents an analysis of the past geographical, altitudinal, and chronological distribution of the European bison remains in Bulgaria. It summarizes scattered data published in the last 36 years on the distribution of the species. The findings reveal that the wisent had a wide distribution in the lowland, plain, and lower hilly landscapes in Bulgaria, with the majority of the sites located in plains up to 300 meters above sea level.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nicholas A. McMillan, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Barney Luttbeg, Laura E. Goodman, Craig A. Davis, Brady W. Allred, Robert G. Hamilton
Summary: Animal movement patterns are influenced by biotic and abiotic landscape conditions, as well as weather variability associated with a changing climate. The movement patterns of keystone species such as the American plains bison may be altered by these factors, leading to potential impacts on ecosystem structure and biodiversity.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tomasz Borowik, Rafal Kowalczyk, Weronika Maslanko, Norbert Duda, Miroslaw Ratkiewicz
Summary: The study found that the level of stationarity and home range size of moose within seasonal ranges vary with the season and gender, where individuals with partial migration are more prone to establishing stable seasonal home ranges.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Rafal Kowalczyk, Tomasz Kaminski, Tomasz Borowik
Summary: The study found that the increased visitation by European bison in open habitats significantly reduced the density and volume of woody vegetation, affecting tree encroachment. The combined visitation by other ungulates did not have an impact on the density or volume of woody vegetation. Smaller meadows tended to have higher density of woody vegetation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maciej Sykut, Slawomira Pawelczyk, Tomasz Borowik, Bostjan Pokorny, Katarina Flajsman, Tjibbe Hunink, Magdalena Niedzialkowska
Summary: This study analyzed the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of bone collagen from 242 modern red deer in 15 different habitats in Europe. It found that forest cover had the most significant impact on delta C-13 values, while delta N-15 values were positively correlated with the proportion of open area and negatively correlated with the distance to the seashore in coastal areas. Rigorous statistical methods were used to confirm that delta C-13 and delta N-15 values can serve as a proxy for past habitats of red deer.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tomasz Podgorski, Kim Pepin, Anna Radko, Angelika Podbielska, Magdalena Lyjak, Grzegorz Wozniakowski, Tomasz Borowik
Summary: This study investigates the influence of genetic relatedness and spatial distance on infection risk between wild boar and African swine fever (ASF). The results show that infection risk is positively correlated with spatial proximity and genetic relatedness to infected individuals, but these relationships weaken with increasing distance. In the high-contact zone, infection risk is primarily influenced by the presence of infected individuals, while in the medium-contact zone, infection risk decreases but is still associated with relatedness. In the no-contact zone, infection risk further declines with relatedness and proximity to positive individuals.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
History & Philosophy Of Science
Aurika Rickiene, Piotr Daszkiewicz, Anastasia Fedotova, Tomasz Samojlik
Summary: The first scientific description of the flora of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest was published in 1829 by Stanislaw Batys Gorski, evaluating the plant species present in the forest and dismissing the popular hypothesis about the survival of European bison based on its preferred forage plants.
ARCHIVES OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ulrika A. Bergvall, Nicolas Morellet, Petter Kjellander, Geir R. Rauset, Johannes De Groeve, Tomasz Borowik, Falko Brieger, Benedikt Gehr, Marco Heurich, A. J. Mark Hewison, Max Kroeschel, Maryline Pellerin, Sonia Said, Leif Soennichsen, Peter Sunde, Francesca Cagnacci
Summary: Studying animal movement in the wild is crucial for ecosystem relationships and conservation efforts. Capturing and handling animals for fitting tracking devices can cause behavioral modifications, but wild species have shown resilience to such events, quickly recovering to average behavior. Researchers are encouraged to adapt methods to minimize stress and prioritize animal welfare in research.
Article
Ecology
Kamila Plis, Magdalena Niedzialkowska, Tomasz Borowik, Johannes Lang, Mike Heddergott, Juha Tiainen, Aleksey Bunevich, Nikica Sprem, Ladislav Paule, Aleksey Danilkin, Marina Kholodova, Elena Zvychaynaya, Nadezhda Kashinina, Bostjan Pokorny, Katarina Flajsman, Algimantas Paulauskas, Mihajla Djan, Zoran Ristic, Lubos Novak, Szilvia Kusza, Christine Miller, Dimitris Tsaparis, Stoyan Stoyanov, Maryna Shkvyria, Franz Suchentrunk, Miroslav Kutal, Vukan Lavadinovic, Dragana Snjegota, Ana-Maria Krapal, Gabriel Danila, Rauno Veeroja, Elzbieta Dulko, Bogumila Jedrzejewska
Summary: The study identified two mtDNA lineages of European roe deer, with the European lineage consisting of three clades (Central, Eastern, and Western) composed of multiple haplogroups separated in space. The high genetic diversity of extant roe deer is likely due to their survival during the Last Glacial Maximum in a large range and two northern refugia.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Kamila Plis, Magdalena Niedzialkowska, Tomasz Borowik, Johannes Lang, Mike Heddergott, Juha Tiainen, Aleksey Bunevich, Nikica Sprem, Ladislav Paule, Aleksey Danilkin, Marina Kholodova, Elena Zvychaynaya, Nadezhda Kashinina, Bostjan Pokorny, Katarina Flajsman, Algimantas Paulauskas, Mihajla Djan, Zoran Ristic, Lubos Novak, Szilvia Kusza, Christine Miller, Dimitris Tsaparis, Stoyan Stoyanov, Maryna Shkvyria, Franz Suchentrunk, Miroslav Kutal, Vukan Lavadinovic, Dragana Snjegota, Ana-Maria Krapal, Gabriel Danila, Rauno Veeroja, Elzbieta Dulko, Bogumila Jedrzejewska
Summary: This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of the European roe deer based on mitochondrial DNA analysis. The results indicate two main diversity hotspots in Eastern and Central Europe, which are influenced by the introgression of Siberian roe deer mtDNA and secondary contact of mtDNA clades, respectively. The peripheral areas of the species' range show lower genetic diversity values. Additionally, the population of the European roe deer in Europe consists of 2-3 genetic groups, with the main driver of population structure being the introgression of mtDNA from C. pygargus. Spatial genetic analyses reveal a complex structure of the roe deer on a pan-European scale due to post-glacial recolonization from different LGM refugia.
Article
Zoology
A. Wereszczuk, A. Fedotova, A. Marciszak, M. Popiolek, A. Zharova, A. Zalewski
Summary: Climate and environmental changes have an impact on the morphology and ecology of pine martens, with different responses observed across species. Warmer and less snowy winters lead to an increase in body size, while changes in primary productivity affect skull structure. Over time, the population sex ratio of pine martens has skewed towards males.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Maciej Sykut, Slawomira Pawelczyk, Natalia Piotrowska, Krzysztof Stefaniak, Bogdan Ridush, Daniel Makowiecki, Pavel Kosintsev, Barbara Wilkens, Tomasz Borowik, Ralph Fyfe, Jessie Woodbridge, Magdalena Niedzialkowska
Summary: Through the analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in 68 red deer bone samples from Europe and Asia, it was found that the feeding habits of red deer are related to environmental conditions such as forest cover, mean July temperature, annual precipitation, and altitude. Red deer shifted their feeding habitats in response to environmental oscillations over the last 50,000 years, with modern red deer populations inhabiting the most densely forested areas.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomasz Samojlik, Piotr Daszkiewicz, Anastasia Fedotova, Aurika Rickiene, Olga Cielemecka, Marianna Szczygielska
Summary: Visual media is a fast and effective tool for informing the public and gaining their support for conservation actions. This article analyzes the depiction of European bison from 1500 to 1900 and its impact on public awareness and conservation needs.
Article
Zoology
Dragana Snjegota, Magdalena Niedzialkowska, Astrid Vik Stronen, Tomasz Borowik, Kamila Plis, Marine Arakelyan, Dusko Cirovic, Gabriel Danila, Mihajla Djan, Astghik Ghazaryan, Zurab Gurielidze, Tigran Hayrapetyan, Zsolt Hegyeli, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Natia Kopaliani, Josip Kusak, Dmitry Politov, Maya Talala, Elena Tsingarska, Bogumila Jedrzejewska
Summary: Mountain regions play a crucial role in maintaining the populations and genetic diversity of wild species that require large areas to sustain viable populations. A study on wolves in the Caucasus, Carpathian, and Dinaric-Balkan regions revealed high genetic diversity and overlap of major haplogroups. The findings highlight the importance of these regions for intraspecific variability and the need for further research and conservation efforts, particularly in the biodiverse Caucasus region. Broad-scale planning is essential for conserving evolutionary processes in these transboundary areas.
Review
Forestry
Anastasia Fedotova, Ekaterina Zharova
Summary: This paper analyzes data on the occurrence of the European mink in the Bialowiea Primeval Forest in the 19th century, providing evidence from various sources and highlighting the importance of historical evidence in understanding ecological processes. Despite the indirect nature of the evidence, the reliability of the sources confirms the presence of the European mink in Bialowiea Primeval Forest in the 19th century.