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Mugger crocodile is a keystone species of slow flowing fresh water ecosystem. Few studies regarding status and distribution of Vulnerable Mugger have been conducted in Nepal. However, studies on ecology and other aspects of the species are limited. The goal of this study was to determine the Mugger crocodile's population status, habitat occupancy, and conservation threats in the Ghodaghodi lake complex, located in the western lowlands of Nepal. A detailed survey was conducted on 18 lakes of the lake complex in February, 2021. The population status of the Mugger was surveyed by walking along the entire boundary line of each lake. For habitat survey, perimeter of all the lakes of the complex was divided into the number of stations spaced at 500 m intervals. Habitat factors associated with the presence and absence of the Mugger were analyzed using Generalized Linear Model under binary logistic regression and likelihood ratio test was performed to test predictors for statistical significance. During the survey, 26 muggers were recorded. The probability of sighting Mugger in the lake complex was significantly differ by distance to settlement, distance to river, and human disturbances, among the nine habitat variables examined. Similarly, habitat modification and illegal fishing were ranked as most severe threats to Mugger crocodile in the lake complex. The concerned authorities, responsible for managing the lake complex shall pay attention on controlling the major identified threats like habitat modification, illegal fishing, unmanaged infrastructure development, and pollution in the lake complex in order to support future conservation of Vulnerable Mugger population in the area. Furthermore, a detailed and extensive study is suggested to investigate the movement of Muggers between different lakes of the complex as well as from Ghodaghodi lake complex to the nearby rivers during breeding season in order to support effective planning and execution of habitat management activities of this Vulnerable species.

The main aim of this study was to not only establish the prevalence of the recently described Spirocerca vulpis parasite in the wild-life cycle of carnivores in western Spain but to also elaborate a model to explain the risk of infestation based on 16 topo-climatic and habitat variables. During the period from June 2016 to November 2017, 1644 carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and another 105 wild mammals, legally hunted or killed in car accidents, were analyzed. Parasitic nodules of Spirocerca were found in 6% of the foxes, and the molecular analyses established a homology of our samples with the species S. vulpis. There were no differences in the occurrence of the infestation between sexes, but there were differences in terms of age, such that infestation was proportionally more frequent among young individuals. In terms of temporality, a higher percentage of positive cases was observed during the late-autumn and winter months, especially between December and February. This study provides new data on the factors that predispose S. vulpis infection in the red fox. Model results indicate that a spatial pattern exists in the occurrence and prevalence of this species in the studied area (higher probabilities to the west), and that this pattern seems to mainly be associated with topo-climatic variables., This research did notreceive any specific grant from funding agencies of the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

The study compares the epiphytic lichen communities of two different ecological systems of northern Poland, a non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest corresponding to the potential vegetation flora of a large part of Central Europe, in relation to the same tree species. The impact of habitat type and tree species on individual tree properties and the association between tree size, bark pH, conductivity, water-holding capacity, bark splitting, light intensity at tree trunks and the composition of lichens were analysed. Three sets of lichens were identified: confined to non-forested areas (40 species), confined to forests (61 species), and non-specific mutual species (53 species). The results indicate that most species demonstrate specificity to habitat type rather than to tree species. Factors related to tree species and bark properties gain in importance at the level of a specific habitat. Bark pH and water-holding capacity are decisive factors for lichen occurrence in both habitat types; additionally, in forests, tree diameter is important. The paper provides potentially useful ecological data for campaigns aimed at lichen conservation and at shaping the environment with concern for biodiversity.

Quarrying for constructions has left many bare rocky slopes, in order to recreate biodiversity, artificial revegetation methods have been widely used in the ecological restorations. The study selected several rocky slopes in Zhoushan City for vegetation survey, recorded vegetation species and habitat factors in different sample plots. Based on vegetation data, community parameters such as vegetation diversity indices were computed for statistical analysis, then the relationship between the habitat factors and the slope re-vegetation were revealed. The results showed, the changes of vegetation community diversity in different habitats were obvious, furthermore, for the four habitat factors, significant correlations between slope aspect and vegetation diversity, also slope position and vegetation diversity had been found. Thus, revegetation of rocky slope must be based on characteristics of different local habitats, which can make significant contribution to maintain species diversity and community stability of vegetation.