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Mandothi Wetlands located in district Jhajjar of Haryana, India is about 1000 acres of farmland, serves as a crucial habitat for numerous species of winter migratory birds. From December 2021 to March 2023, fortnightly periodic visits were made to the area by using scan sampling and point-cum-line transect methods. A total of 54 winter migratory birds' species were recorded including 33 genera, 19 families, and 8 orders. Order Charadriiformes was highly diverse with the presence of 17 species in the study area. Feeding guild analysis expressed that Insectivores were the dominant ones among all guilds. As per the IUCN Red List criteria, 48 species were classified as least concern (LC) whereas, 3 species were classified as Near Threatened (NT) i.e., Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, and 3 species were classified as Vulnerable (VU) such as Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga and Common Pochard Aythya ferina globally. Study area holds a significant role in sustaining the diversity of birds and also facing various stress factors thus it needs to be conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the ability of non-native species to establish and invade different habitats is one of the most important approaches in the analysis of biological invasion mechanisms. In this study, we used a regional dataset of non-native plant species compiled for Caribbean islands to estimate the level of invasion of major habitat types in this region. Our results show that although non-native species are successfully invading all habitat types evaluated, they are exhibiting considerably higher affinity toward human-made habitats. Across these islands, highly anthropogenically altered habitats such as ruderal sites, pastures, and cultivated lands are the habitats showing higher levels of invasion compared to natural habitats with low levels of disturbance. We found a significant association between geographical origin and habitat invaded, with species originating from Asia, South America, and Africa overrepresented as invaders in the Caribbean. Additionally, a significant association between life-form and habitat invaded was detected, with more trees and herbaceous species than expected successfully invading ruderal habitats, and more trees and vines than expected invading natural forests. In general, non-native species invading habitats across Caribbean islands seem to be adapted to a broad range of successional stages ranging from highly disturbed human-made habitats to least disturbed natural forests. Our results highlight how complex interactions among human activity, geographical origin, plant life-form, and habitat affinity can determine patterns of invasions across broad landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looper infestation in tea growing region of the sub-Himalayan range poses a severe threat to tea industries that can jeopardize a major player in the nation's economy. Despite undertaking several control measures, their impact has only grown due to climate change and ineffective pest management strategies. This comprehensive review consolidates findings from various published articles, encompassing this pest's ecology, morphology, diversity, their resistance patterns to plant allelochemicals and pesticides, and impact of climate change on the growth and development. The pest's habit and habitat, lifecycles, interactions with the environment, and defensive strategies are being studied thoroughly. This review also underscores the paradoxical issue of shade tree planting in tea plantations, which, while integral for quality tea-leaves, inadvertently fosters pest outbreaks. To address this, the planting of suitable shade trees like Melia azedarach, having insect repellent ability has been endorsed. Understanding these factors may result in low-cost maintenance, reduction in crop losses, and improved overall efficiency in pest management. This knowledge facilitates the development of proactive and sustainable pest management strategies, which effectively minimize the emergence, and proliferation of resistance, thereby safeguarding the long-term efficiency of pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both aquatic and terrestrial habitat characteristics impact semi-aquatic turtle abundances, community composition, and sex ratios. South Florida is the global hotspot for non-native herpetofauna, but there is limited data on the turtle assemblage in this region. With the expectation that the turtle assemblage would reflect the high diversity of non-native herpetofauna species, we sought to identify both aquatic and terrestrial habitat characteristics that would support a higher percentage of native turtles in the community. We examined the relationships between a suite of habitat variables (pond characteristics, spatial structure of aquatic habitat, surrounding uplands) and turtle abundances, species richness, and sex ratios at 17 ponds in Miami-Dade County during 2019–2021. As expected, this turtle assemblage was dominated by non-natives, with 80% of individuals derived from six non-native species. This is the highest non-native turtle diversity documented in the Americas and is only rivaled by the high diversity of non-natives in a few Eurasian studies. We found that the abundance of native turtles was positively related to chlorophyll concentration, submergent vegetation density, pond area, and (surprisingly) high density urban habitat in the surrounding uplands. Road density in the surrounding uplands was also identified as an important habitat parameter, as it negatively affected both native turtle richness and the proportion of female turtles in each pond. Tracking the trajectory of the semi-aquatic turtle assemblage in this region heavily impacted by both urbanization and biotic invasions may foreshadow future changes in urban centers around the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seamounts are thought to function as hotspots of megafauna diversity due to their topology and environmental characteristics. However, assessments of megafauna communities inhabiting seamounts, including diversity and density, are scarce. In this study, we provide megafauna diversity and density estimates for a recently discovered, not yet characterized seamount region (Boetius seamounts) west of Cape Verde (N17° 16′, W29° 26′). We investigated the distribution of epibenthic megafauna over a large depth gradient from the seamount’s summit at 1400 m down to 3200 m water depth and provided qualitative and quantitative analyses based on quantified video data. In utilizing an ocean floor observation system (OFOS), calibrated videos were taken as a horizontal transect from the north-eastern flank of the seamount, differentiating between an upper, coral-rich region (−1354/−2358 m) and a deeper, sponge-rich region (−2358/−3218 m). Taxa were morphologically distinguished, and their diversity and densities were estimated and related to substrate types. Both the upper and deeper seamount region hosted unique communities with significantly higher megafauna richness at the seamount’s summit. Megafauna densities differed significantly between the upper (0.297 ± 0.167 Ind./m2) and deeper community (0.112 ± 0.114 Ind./m). The seamount showed a vertical zonation with dense aggregations of deep-sea corals dominating the seamount’s upper region and colonies of the glass sponges Poliopogon amadou dominating the deeper region. The results are discussed in light of detected substrate preferences and co-occurrence of species and are compared with findings from other Atlantic seamounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeastern Fennoscandia, which encompasses the Republic of Karelia and the adjacent districts of Leningrad and Arkhangelsk oblasts, until lately remained an area of Russia's European North especially poorly studied as regards the status of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Modern (2001–2022) records of this species obtained through the authors' original observations and based on reports received from respondents, altogether covering 212 hedgehogs and 182 encounters, are analyzed. The spatio-temporal patterns in the records of this species in the region are demonstrated; that is, there are an expanding distribution area and a growing frequency of encounters from northwest to southeast. The northernmost records are shown (64.368° N, 30.383° E), including yearlings (63.624°–63.924° N, 30.466°–30.901° E, northern taiga subzone), as well as the first reports of the species east of Lake Onega in both Karelia and Arkhangelsk oblast. Studies have revealed the habitat preferences and the rate of use of urban territories in the northern part of the distribution range: high shares of records come from deciduous (34.0% of the total number of animals reported) and mixed (19.3%) forest sites, as well as farmland (10.8%), second-home communities (16.5%), and rural settlements (9.0%). Hedgehog encounters in cut-over places, pine and spruce stands, wetlands, abandoned hamlets, and solitary buildings in the woods were few (0.5–6.1%). Most of the records were a result of accidental sightings by humans (80.8%), while domestic dogs spotted 19.2% of the hedgehogs. The earliest encounters in spring were recorded from April 25 to May 11, the latest sightings in autumn were from September 2 to September 17. The number of hedgehog encounters during their active life period was the lowest in April (1.1%), growing sharply in May and June (16.7 and 17.8%, respectively), peaking in July and August (30.0 and 24.4%), and falling sharply in September (10.0%). Some of the population parameters were determined: the average brood was 2.8 young of the year, the share of which amounted to 24.5% of the total number of records. Active single animals prevailed among adults (86.3%), and much smaller shares belonged to active pairs (7.6%) and females with litters (6.1%). The main cause of death was road killing by vehicles (77.4%). Climate warming and alterations in the forest structure may be reasons to expect further expansions of the area of hedgehog encounters, e.g., to transformed and urbanized boreal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban development is thought to negatively affect most native mammals. Here we assess whether adjacent suburbia, fire regime and vegetation influence the activity of mammal species in a reserve in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. We used multiple regression to analyse the relationship between distance from houses, fire history, vegetation structure and floristics, and mammal activity, derived from camera visits and signs. Animal diggings and visits by long-nosed potoroos, southern brown bandicoots and cats were greater close to houses, while visits by red-necked wallabies, rufous-bellied pademelons, brushtail possums and short-beaked echidnas were not. The structure of the vegetation, particularly related to shelter, was important in many models. Many models also included floristic ordination axes that reflected drainage, fire regime and distance from high-density housing. Positive relationships between the introduced predatory cat and some of its potential native prey animals may reflect the influences of close proximity to suburbia, such as elevated domestic mesopredator populations, and elevated resource availability in domestic gardens. Our results suggest that urban areas can have a valuable role in nature conservation, despite, or because of, their effects on remnant native ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the geographical distribution and habitat preferences of marine species is the key to protecting marine ecosystems. Modeling the distribution of marine species through environmental variables is an essential step to understanding and reducing climate change effects on marine biodiversity and related human populations. In this study, the present distributions of commercial fishes including Acanthopagrus latus, Planiliza klunzingeri, and Pomadasys kaakan were modeled using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling technique and a set of 22 environmental variables. In total, 1531 geographical records belonging to three species were extracted from online databases Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS, 829 records, 54%), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, 17 records, 1%), and literature (685 records, 45%) during September to December 2022. The findings showed the values of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) above 0.99 for all species indicating the high performance of this technique to reflect the actual distribution of species. Environmental factors such as depth (19.68%), sea surface temperature (SST) (19.40%), and wave height (20.71%) were the strongest environmental predictors determining the present distribution and habitat preferences of the three commercial fish species. The Persian Gulf, Iranian coasts of the Sea of Oman, North Arabian Sea, North-East areas of the Indian Ocean, and North coasts of Australia are among the areas with ideal environmental conditions for the species. For all species, the percentage of habitats with high suitability (13.35%) was higher compared to habitats with low suitability (6.56%). However, a high percentage of species occurrence habitats had unsuitable conditions (68.58%) showing the vulnerability of these commercial fishes. Significant management strategies are needed to protect preferred habitats to minimize the effect of fishery and climate change on the population stocks of these commercial fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for sea cucumbers from the NE-Atlantic is increasing as a consequence of the depletion of stocks that historically supplied Asian markets. Some species from the NE-Atlantic are already showing overfishing signs due to either inefficient policies or their total absence, and they do not offer any margins of sustainability to sea cucumber fisheries. The current lack of knowledge of biological and ecological traits has led to ineffective protection of those species. Holothuria arguinensis is a good example of a temperate sea cucumber species suffering from the effects of unregulated and illegal harvest. This study aims to determine the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of H. arguinensis, assessing density and size-class structure in a NE-Atlantic population, in SW Portugal, as a function of environmental conditions. Sampling was done every 1.5 months at 6 stations defined according to habitat heterogeneity, following the coastline from the mouth of the Sado estuary to marine coastal areas. At each station, there were two habitats (rocky substrate and sandy areas) sampled through SCUBA diving along 30-m random transects, each with three replicates. Individuals were counted and measured (total length) and individual behavioural parameters, such as sheltering and settlement surface, were recorded. Water column parameters, sediment composition, and substrate cover were also recorded. Generalised Linear Models were fit to the data, modelling density and size distribution of the species with respect to environmental conditions. The results indicate that the distribution of H. arguinensis was mainly determined by its ability to deal with physical environmental stressors (current), rather than the chemical properties of the water column or sediment composition. The hydrodynamic features of the region exert the greatest impact on this species' distribution and help shape habitat usage by different size class groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To outline influence of anthropogenic activities on natural aquatic habitats such as wetlands, we sampled ostracods along with measuring several different aquatic variables at four different aquatic bodies between 2019 and 2020 in the Hıdırşeyhler Village (Bolu, Turkey). We found 15 living and 10 subfossil ostracods. Species with high tolerances (Eucypris virens) and/or with swimming abilities (Cypria ophtalmica) were reported from the canal and wetland. Non-swimmer ostracods (e.g., Prionocypris zenkeri) were only found from the creek. Ostracod Watch Model illustrated some species with stenochronal and eurychronal (e.g., Heterocypris incongruens) occurrences per site. CCA results displayed that water temperature and electrical conductivity were the most important explanatory variables on species. Unbiased diversity indices revealed the highest diversity in the canal followed by the creek, wetland, and trough. Wetland diversity exhibited positive and negative correlations with the canal and the creek, respectively. Tukey's pairwise test supported the significant comparisons between the trough, canal, and wetland (p < 0.01). The ratio of tolerant species per station was slightly higher in the canal than the wetland, trough, and creek. This suggests the fact that species encountered from the creek seem to be habitat specific and may be considered more vulnerable to changes in aquatic conditions. Frequency of species encountered in three habitats (wetland, canal, and trough) was significantly changed after the construction (digging and converting the wetland) activities began in August 2019. This activity was a negative impact on species diversity and richness in the wetland area where the diversity sharply dropped down and did not recover during the study. In contrast, this was probably advantage for some cosmoecious species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the phylogeny and taxonomy of the /Camptori clade sensu Soop et al. (2019a). Based on combined nrDNA ITS phylogenetic, morphological, and ecological analyses, the clade includes six species in Europe, four of which are described here as new to science: Cortinarius malavalii, C. marklundii, C. violaceoserrulatus, and C. viridocaelestinus. We also provide a taxonomic revision of the two known species in the clade, C. camptoros and C. viridocoeruleus. In its current concept, the /Camptori clade is mostly represented in frondose woodlands of southern Europe and none of the species is found in the boreal coniferous zones of Northern Europe. Three species are strictly thermophilous Mediterranean-submediterranean species associated mainly with southern Quercus spp., whereas C. camptoros is found mainly in montane Abies forests, and C. marklundii reaches boreonemoral Tilia-Corylus sites in S Scandinavia and alpine Dryas sites in Spain. An identification key to the species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien anurans are introduced worldwide in freshwater ecosystems where they can have a strong impact on native organisms such as amphibians. The risk for natives is dependent on the degree of niche overlap and co-occurrence in pond-breeding sites. In the present study, we focused on alien marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) that are invading nationwide areas in Western Europe and which prey on both caudates and anurans. We assessed aquatic habitat preferences, pond use and environmental niche overlap between invasive populations of marsh frogs and five species of native amphibian prey of the Larzac plateau (southern France). Due to their large environmental niche, marsh frogs have become the most ubiquitous amphibians in the area. Occupancy models revealed that they had aquatic habitat preferences (e.g., water depth and aquatic vegetation) similar to most species of native amphibians. This resulted in a large overlap between the environmental niche of the invader and its potential prey. The frequent coexistence in ponds therefore exposed native species to predation risk and other potential disturbances caused by marsh frogs. Altogether, these results highlight on the risks posed by such opportunist invaders for native amphibians that occur in their wide invasion range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide range of fish species navigate and return to previously selected habitats across time scales ranging from days to years. While this ability may be challenged in anthropogenically disturbed systems, such as temperate regulated reservoirs, where littoral freezing/drying may alter critical habitats, no work has yet been conducted to determine if fish within these systems are able to home to specific habitats. In addition, most studies have examined site fidelity over a limited time scale. In this study, we investigated the long-term movement and habitat utilization of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède, 1802) using a combination of radiotelemetry and habitat mapping across nine consecutive seasons in a winter drawdown reservoir to examine seasonal population- and individual-level spatial clustering and site fidelity. Largemouth bass navigated across large distances through spatially and temporally disturbed habitat with exceptional inter-annual site fidelity during winter, spring, and summer. Drawdown constrained the availability of preferred winter habitat, concentrated fish, and rendered them potentially vulnerable to overexploitation, predation, and competition. Adaptive drawdown protocols should be developed that incorporate temporally and spatially resolved fish movement data, and variables such as available critical habitat, which are essential for maintaining fish population stability in temperate regulated reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the indicator potential of non-marine ostracods for lotic (streams) and lentic (lakes) habitats, 42 taxa (27 recent, 15 subfossil) were evaluated from 62 sampling sites in West-site of Turkey during May of 2018. Nannocandona faba is a new report for Turkey. A higher Shannon diversity value was reported for lakes (H′ = 2.16) than streams (H′ = 1.62) when they had equal number of species (17 spp.). SIMPER analysis showed 53.01% contribution of Psychrodromus olivaceus, Candona neglecta, Heterocypris incongruens and Stenocypria fischeri with a 96.72% difference between lakes and streams. Both TWINSPAN and Indicator Species Analysis revealed that P. olivaceus (p < 0.01) and S. ficheri (p < 0.05) were found to be candidate indicators for the lotic and lentic habitats, respectively. The first two axes of CCA explained 66.90% of the relationship between species and environmental variables when elevation, dissolved oxygen concentration and water temperature showed influential effects (p < 0.05) on the ordination of species. Species with reduced swimming setae (17 spp.) were ordinated relatively closer to the center of CCA. Results showed that ecological tolerances of species seemed to be more deterministic than morphological characters (e.g., swimming setae) on their habitat preferences. A broad knowledge of the morphological and ecological preferences of the species is needed to distinguish whether habitat is chosen by species due to its ecological needs or morphological characteristics. Studies providing information about the current ecological preferences of the species give the opportunity to understand the habitat of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anzali wetland (located in northern Iran) and many parts of its catchment are considered important habitats for the swan mussel (Anodonta cygnea). The habitat of this native bioindicator mussel is being threatened in many locations of the catchment due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study aimed to apply a classification tree model (J48 algorithm) to predict the habitat preferences of A. cygnea in 12 sampling sites based on various water quality and physical-habitat variables. The species was present in 50% of sampling sites, while it was absent in the remaining of the sampling sites. In total, 144 samples of A. cygnea (72 presence and 72 absence instances) were monthly measured together with the abiotic variables during 1-year study period (2017–2018). For the CT model, two-thirds of datasets (96 instances) served as a training and the remainder was employed for the validation set (48 instances). Among 25 environmental variables introduced to the model (with pruning confidence factor = 0.10, threefold cross-validation and 5 times randomization effort), the validity of 6 variables was confirmed by the model in all three subsets. Water salinity, flow velocity, water depth and water turbidity were jointly predicted by the model in three subsets. The model predicted that the absence of A. cygnea might be associated with increasing flow velocity, total phosphate and water turbidity. In contrast, the presence of A. cygnea might be related to decreased water depth and increased calcium concentration. The model also confirmed that all predicted variables for the species might be completely dependent on the water salinity. According to the chi-square test (x2 = 26.53, p < 0.05), the habitat condition of A. cygnea is influenced by significant variations in the spatio-temporal patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas attract birds during the winter when cities provide a predictable source of food and relatively stable weather conditions. However, many other factors determine the occurrence of birds in cities. This study analysed the relationship between corvids wintering in the city of Poznań, in western Poland and habitat features. Each of 32 research site was investigated three times. The most abundant species was the rook (mean = 17.4 individuals/site); the most frequent was the Eurasian magpie (88% of all sites). To determine variables that influence the abundance of birds, a set of generalised linear models was created, with model averaging being selected for each species. The abundance of hooded crows was positively influenced by surface of parks, water and by the length of tram tracks. The number of rooks was positively linked with the number of walnut trees, garbage cans and the surface of the water and negatively linked with the length of watercourses. Jackdaw was affected positively by the number of garbage cans, the surface of the water and negatively by the cover of trees. The number of magpies was associated with the number of walnut trees, garbage cans and negatively influenced by the surface of trees. None of the investigated habitat variables significantly affected the abundance of European jay. We also found a positive correlation between the abundances of hooded crow, rook, jackdaw and magpie. The results indicate that corvids wintering in urban ecosystems exhibit selectivity toward specific habitat features and that preferences differ among the studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of species' ecological requirements is key for designing effective conservation management. In butterflies, the needs of larval stages are often the most specialised part of the life-cycle, but for many species information on this is lacking. The Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron is a cold-adapted butterfly found in alpine grasslands in mountainous regions of Europe. Efforts to devise conservation strategies for this climate change-threatened species are hampered due to its basic ecology being poorly understood. Here, we describe a study on the autecology of Mountain Ringlets at sites across its British distribution, focusing on the habitat preferences of egg-laying females as a proxy for larval preferences. Female Mountain Ringlets placed their eggs predominantly on Nardus stricta and Festuca ovina, but also on several other host plant species, suggesting larvae may be more broadly polyphagous than previously realised. Sites chosen for eggs had higher abundance of larval host plants, intermediate leaf litter cover, and lower cover of grass tussocks than random locations, as well as a shorter and sparser grass sward. Although the main host plant is ubiquitous in upland areas of Britain, our findings suggest that this butterfly's egg and larval stages have specialised ecological requirements, requiring specific microhabitat features characterised by a narrow range of vegetation composition and structural characteristics. Many habitat associations are liable to be explicable as adaptations to ensure placement of eggs and larvae in sites within optimal (warm or buffered) microclimates. We tentatively suggest that the distribution of Mountain Ringlets in the landscape is thermally-constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat characteristics play an important role in determining the structure of fish communities. The decline in fish diversity and abundance with the decline in coral diversity and cover may be explained by habitat specialisation and partitioning among reef fishes and/or preferences for particular corals that are susceptible to disturbance. These preferences may develop at different life history stages. Here, we investigated patterns of habitat specialisation and ontogenetic shifts in habitat preference among 14 co-existing damselfish species at Lizard Island lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef. Although live coral cover contributed only 26% of the substratum, 28% of adults and 57% of new settlers were mostly found on live coral, indicating a strong preference for live coral habitat by new settlers. Only a few species exhibited a high degree of habitat specialisation and low overlap in habitat use with other species. Specialisation differed among species and life stages. New settlers were more commonly associated with finely branched corymbose corals and using those habitats with higher frequency than expected based on habitat availability alone. Adults were more commonly linked to more open branching morphologies or non-coral substrata. Our results suggest that habitat loss may not uniformly impact on all life stages. While adult individuals may not be as reliant as juveniles on corals, detrimental effects of habitat loss on juvenile survival may have longer-term impacts on adult populations. As juveniles show preferential associations with particular coral species, such as corymbose corals, the loss of these growth forms is likely to have the most significant negative impacts on this critical life history stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vineyards are intensively managed monocultures, constituting homogeneously cultivated landscapes. They often have a mineral appearance, not only because they occur mostly in xeric biomes but also as a result of the herbicide treatments used to combat ground vegetation. However, new vineyard management practices are being developed that tolerate more vegetation cover on the ground, potentially having positive impacts on biodiversity. We have investigated the effects of ground greening on habitat preferences of the Woodlark (Lullula arborea), an emblematic, insectivorous passerine typical of vineyards in central and southern Europe. We first investigated the role of ground vegetation cover and plant species richness on habitat use by Woodlarks, while accounting for various additional habitat characteristics. Second, we assessed whether the dependence of Woodlarks on ground vegetation cover could be mediated by an increased occurrence of invertebrate prey. Ground-dwelling invertebrates were sampled with pitfall traps placed in vineyard fields visited by Woodlarks (presence fields) and in adjacent vineyards where Woodlarks had not been observed (pseudo-absence fields). We show that increased ground vegetation cover, plant species richness and wider inter-rows were the main drivers of Woodlark occurrence. Overall invertebrate prey abundance increased with ground vegetation cover. Similarly, the abundance and number of beetle and spider families were primarily driven by increased ground vegetation cover, plant species richness or wider inter-rows. We conclude that less intensive management, which involves the restricted use of herbicides and concomitantly favors a diverse plant community, promotes Woodlarks and their invertebrate prey, thus having a positive impact on vineyard biodiversity at multiple trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to identify uniform criteria for the classification of arvicoline species as paleoenvironmnental proxies in studies of the environmental dynamics in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, published data on the distribution and environmental preferences of modern Arvicolinae species inhabiting the central part of northern Eurasia have been compiled. For each of the 17 Arvicolinae species, the following characteristics were examined: (1) thermal neutral zone parameters and temperature preferences of adult individuals; (2) biotopical associations (i.e., the range of abiotic and biotic features of habitats used for breeding, feeding, expansion, and survival in unfavorable conditions), and (3) trophic preferences. It is shown for each of the study species that their most sustainable and conservative environmental preferences within their modern ranges relate to the requirements on the soil and vegetation properties of their breeding and/or survival habitats, as well as trophic specialization. Taking the factors limiting the modern distribution and abundance of the study species, a classification of the arvicolines inhabiting the central part of northern Eurasia based on their environmental preferences has been proposed. The classification specifies the parameters that can be reconstructed based on the species composition of arvicolines, as paleoenvironmental proxies, in micromammalian subfossil assemblages dating back to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. It also contributes to a better understanding of the position of this taxonomic group within the entire complex of paleoecological proxies. This approach to the identification of environmental groups, based on the trophic specialization and characteristics of breeding and/or survival habitats, is universal for all representatives of the subfamily and may be used as a classification template for Arvicolinae species in any region of the Northern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial relicts have been regionally more common in glacial than in recent times. A rigorous assessment of which species are indeed glacial relicts is extremely difficult because direct evidence is untraceable or equivocal for many species. We aimed to identify species of the Western Carpathian flora (vascular plants, bryophytes and terrestrial lichens) that display apparent biogeographical and ecological symptoms, suggesting a wider regional or supra-regional distribution during glacial times, or at least before the middle-Holocene climate optimum. We worked with the premise that exemplary relict species should tolerate continental and/or arctic climates, should have large distribution ranges with disjunctions, being regionally rare and ecologically conservative nowadays, should be associated with habitats that occurred during glacial times (tundra, steppe, peatland, open coniferous forest) and should display a restriction of ecological niches in the study region. The assessed species were primarily those with boreo-continental or artcic-alpine distribution. We demonstrated a conspicuous gradient of glacial-relict symptoms, with Carex vaginata, Betula nana, Trichophorum pumilum, Nephroma arcticum, Saxifraga hirculus and Cladonia stellaris topping the ranking. Based on the arbitrary ranking, 289 taxa can be considered high-probability relicts. For only a minority of them, there are any phylogeographical and/or palaeoecological data available from the study area. Biogeographical and ecological symptoms of 144 taxa suggest that they retreated rapidly after the Last Glacial Maximum whereas other species probably retreated later. The first principal component of biogeographical symptoms sorted species from circumpolar arctic-alpine species of acidic peatlands and wet tundra to strongly continental species of steppe, steppe-tundra and mineral-rich fens. This differentiation may mirror the altitudinal zonation of glacial vegetation in the Western Carpathians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biota dependant on early seral stages or frequently disturbed habitats belong to the most rapidly declining components of European biodiversity. This is also the case for Carabus nitens, which is threatened across Western and Central Europe. We studied one of the last remaining populations of this ground beetle in the Czech Republic, which inhabits post-extraction peat bogs. In line with findings from previous studies, we show that C. nitens prefers patches characterized by higher light intensity and lower vegetation cover. Abundance of females was positively correlated with the cover of plant species requiring higher temperature. In addition, we demonstrate its preference for periodically moist, but not wet or inundated plots, suggesting that the transition between dry heathland and wet peat bog might be the optimal habitat for this species. This hypothesis is further supported by results showing a positive correlation between the abundance of C. nitens and vegetation cover comprising of a mix of species typical for heathland, peat bog, and boreal habitats. Our results show that C. nitens mobility is comparable to other large wingless carabids. The maximum covered distance was ~ 500 m in a month. To ensure the survival of this population, sites of recent peat extraction should be spared from reclamation and afforestation. In contrast, active measures should be taken to facilitate nutrient removal, disturbance of vegetation cover, and the creation of depressions with a humid microclimate. These actions will create a mosaic of heath, bog, and bare ground, which seems to be the preferred habitat of C. nitens at our study site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat selection in sedentary, long-lived burrowing spiders is a key life-history event that directly affects their reproductive success. In this study, we analyzed the role of the chemical and physical properties of soil in habitat selection by threatened temperate burrowing spiders. We examined 296 burrows of three Atypus spp. and three Eresus spp. at 68 sites in Czechia. We found that the study species were associated with soils that have high or very high cation exchange capacity, which allows the presence of a stable and humid microclimate in their burrows. We found that specific bedrock types can be used as predictors of the presence of particular study species. All Eresus spp. avoided compacted soils. However, when present in soils with very low penetration resistance, they were limited to sites with high soil cohesion. The burrows of all study species were located at well-drained sites. The study species seemed to be selective for a steppe-like character of their microhabitat but not necessarily for its southward orientation. We found the study species even at sites where steppes were present in the early 1950s and that underwent later afforestation but not extensive landscaping or plowing. What types of disturbances can be sustained by the study species and how long it takes the decreased populations to recover after, e.g., trampling associated with grazing, remain to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable indicators on whether natural and cultured fish exhibit differences in habitat preferences are lacking. In this study, δC and δN were used to distinguish the habitat preferences of cultured versus natural ayu and their prey (periphyton) in a typical riffle-pool river reach. It found that the δC of natural ayu (−13.747‰) was consistent with that of periphyton in riffles (−14.611‰), while the δC of cultured ayu (−19.088‰) was consistent with that of periphyton (−19.711‰) in pools. The results indicated that cultured ayu appear to favor pools whereas natural ayu favor riffles, and δC and δN represent potential reliable indicators of habitat preferences of cultured ayu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birds of Kabaklı Pond and its near surrounding were surveyed between October 2014 and December 2015 periods. During the study period, 105 bird species that belong to 12 orders and 34 families were detected and represented. Among these species determined, 17 of them certainly, 19 probably and 11 possibly breed in the area, while 58 of them are wintering or transitory migrating birds for the area. Among the recorded species, seven are globally threatened, while 20 are threatened for Turkey without least concern species. Obtained information suggests that this small artificial area has a great importance for many bird species related to habitat that have. Habitat preferences of species were analysed, and it was determined that the most preferred habitats are pond (water surface), wooded and agricultural zones, respectively. Also, the maximum bird number obtained during April and December, while maximum bird species richness observed during April. Results suggest that artificial ponds can be important for birds as feeding, resting and breeding area due to rapidly decline in natural wetland areas. Effective protection of the area requires the prevention of illegal hunting, fishing, human disturbance and pasturing. Also, in order to extend the existing reed and meadow areas, convenient plantation of natural plants at around of pond has a critic role for waterfowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest rivers in Europe are under strong human pressure, resulting in habitat changes and consequently in structural changes in the quantitative and qualitative composition of fauna assemblages. The aim of this study was to identify the taxonomic structure of leech assemblages and the main environmental factors influencing their distribution pattern on a 306 km stretch of the Oder River encompassing different habitat types. Representatives of 28 leech taxa were recorded in 527 samples of bottom macrofauna. The most abundant and most frequently recorded species was the eurytopic Erpobdella octoculata, occurring in all examined habitat types. Although a significant influence of habitat type on the species composition of leech assemblages was noted, a significant positive correlation with habitat type was found only in the case of Piscicola pojmanskae and P. geometra. Our results show that abundance of food resources was the most important factor influencing the distribution of leeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we assessed microhabitat and host plant preferences of Aporia crataegi (Linne 1758) larvae in the field. The study was conducted in the submediterranean part of Slovenia, at the edge of the limestone region Kraški rob, where this species is widespread. The larvae were most abundant on blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa L.) and the common hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna Jacq.), and infrequent on the rosehip ( Rosa sp.) and rock cherry ( Prunus mahaleb L.). Smaller shrubs with greater exposure to sun appeared to be preferred and larvae constructed their nests on outer branches of plants. The thermophilic nature of larvae was evident by the low and sheltered position of the nests, although in P. spinosa, which is more thermophilic than C. monogyna, they were positioned somewhat higher. As the nests and larvae occur mostly on plants growing in warmer microhabitats, larvae that had overwintered can take advantage of the quicker development of buds and leaves in early spring. The rocky ground below and around the occupied plants was often covered with grass, suggesting the need for cooler and warmer microclimate during hot summers and cold winters with strong winds, respectively. Densities of larvae and nests were positively but non-significantly correlated to density of host plants; however, in later successional stages, where host plants are most abundant, open and sunny microhabitats that can provide opportunities for larvae to warm up are lacking. The revival of the traditional management practices with extensive grazing with late and only occasional mowing may slow down the overgrowing process, leaving spiny host plants abundant and in close proximity to the nectaring sources for the adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution models (SDMs) are often limited by the use of coarse-resolution environmental variables and by the number of observations required for their calibration. This is particularly true in the case of elusive animals. Here, we developed a SDM by combining three elements: a database of explanatory variables, mapped at a fine resolution; a systematic sampling scheme; and an intensive survey of indirect observations. Using MaxEnt, we developed the SDM for the population of the Asiatic wild ass ( Equus hemionus), a rare and elusive species, at three spatial scales: 10, 100, and 1000 m per pixel. We used indirect observations of feces mounds. We constructed 14 layers of explanatory variables, in five categories: water, topography, biotic conditions, climatic variables and anthropogenic variables. Woody vegetation cover and slopes were found to have the strongest effect on the distribution of wild ass and were included as the main predictors in the SDM. Model validation revealed that an intensive survey of feces mounds and high-resolution predictor layers resulted in a highly accurate and informative SDM. Fine-grain (10 and 100 m) SDMs can be utilized to: (1) characterize the variables influencing species distribution at high resolution and local scale, including anthropogenic effects and geomorphologic features; (2) detect potential population activity centers; (3) locate potential corridors of movement and possible isolated habitat patches. Such information may be useful for the conservation efforts of the Asiatic wild ass. This approach could be applied to other elusive species, particularly large mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Corridors are usually delineated as areas of minimum cumulative resistance to movement through a resistance surface and characterized by their effective distance (accumulated resistance along the least-cost path). The results of these assessments depend on resistance values, which are typically derived from the inverse of habitat suitability models or from presence data of individuals within their home ranges, rather than from data on dispersal or exploratory movements. Objective: Evaluate the extent to which corridor delineation and effective distance estimates may vary depending on whether home range locations or dispersal data are used to characterize species habitat selection and landscape resistance to movement. Methods: We analyzed a large telemetry dataset (GPS collars) for the endangered Iberian lynx. We modeled corridors and effective distances three ways: (1) considering only GPS locations within home ranges, (2) considering only locations in dispersal or exploratory movements outside home ranges, and (3) considering all locations together. Results: Delineated least-cost corridors followed similar trajectories and sometimes overlapped in the three models. The estimated effective distances were 42 % lower in the dispersal-based model than in the model based solely on home range use. Conclusions: Models derived exclusively from locations within home ranges may provide lower connectivity estimates than models derived from dispersal locations, affecting estimates of resistance to move between habitat areas, even when the most likely movement routes are similar. Although dispersal data are costly to gather, they potentially provide more realistic assessments of the actual isolation of populations in heterogeneous landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of invasion depends on the interacting environmental factors and biology of the invader. The effects of these interactions are contingent on their contexts and difficult to predict. Among the most successful plant invaders in Europe are the goldenrods ( Solidago and Euthamia genera). We assessed the roles of ecological niche differentiation and historical contingency on their distribution in Silesia (Central Europe, studied area approximately 32,000 km). The distributions of the two most common species ( S. gigantea and S. altissima) were clumped, and the species dominated different areas. The distribution was unrelated to ecological niche differences but originates rather from the history of invasion and subsequent density-dependent spread; the species that was first introduced occupied available habitats and prevented the establishment of other species. Solidago canadensis was distributed randomly throughout the entire region and did not differ from S. altissima in its ecology. Euthamia graminifolia differed from the other goldenrods in habitat preferences and environmental requirements. Its distribution was strongly spatially structured, clumping around initial infestation sites. The extents of the differences resulting from ecological niche differentiation and the limitation of long-range dispersal are unclear. We argue that the under-representation of E. graminifolia in abandoned fields originates from the inhibition of establishment in habitats already occupied by other goldenrods. The results underline that the effect of historical contingency can be more prominent than ecological niche differentiation on invasive species distribution and invasion effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use public records from 1980 to 2014 to analyse survival of the EU Annex IV species Aeshna viridis in Sweden, a dragonfly strongly associated with the plant Stratiotes aloides. We clustered localities with S. aloides based on assumed dispersal abilities of A. viridis, using a dispersing radius of 2-100 km, calculating the proportion of sites with S. aloides that A. viridis is able to reach. If mean dispersal capability is high (40 km or above) 92.6 % or more of the localities are connected. For a good disperser, the probability of long-time survival is good. We further analysed the species richness of other Odonata and aquatic plants at 98 localities from the dataset. A. viridis co-occurred with more Odonata in the presence of S. aloides and running water but not in lakes. S. aloides sites had a higher number of other aquatic plants. Area had no impact on the occurrence of the species. For the present situation we surveyed 32 localities with known occurrence of the species. Only half of the sites for S. aloides contained any specimens while A. viridis occurred in the same number of sites. The species co-occurred in only 8 of 32 sites. In four sites A. viridis larvae appeared among Menyanthes trifoliata, Phragmites australis, Potamogeton natans and Sphagnum spp., indicating that at high latitudes A. viridis breeds among other species. Indirect monitoring based only on S. aloides would underestimate the number of populations of the dragonfly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting and modeling of habitat preferences of fish is a very important issue for aquatic management. Classification trees (CTs) were used to predict the habitat preferences of the Caspian kutum ( Rutilus frisii kutum, hereafter kutum) in the southern Caspian Sea. The applied model was optimized with genetic algorithm (GA) and greedy stepwise (GS) to select the most explanatory variables for predicting the presence/absence of kutum. The suitability index was considered to determine the quality and suitability of fish habitat in the sea. The results of Paired Student's t tests showed that there was a significant difference between predictive performances of models before and after variable selection methods. Both optimizers improved the predictive power of CTs and resulted in a better understanding of CTs by making a selection of the sea characteristics that were used as inputs to the models. The results show that the effect of different seasons, sea depth, and photosyntheticaly active radiation were the main predictors affecting the habitat preferences of kutum in the Caspian Sea. Constructed trees in combination with GA and GS showed high capability when applied to predict the habitat preferences of this valuable commercial fish species. Determining the habitat needs of the target fish will enhance local fisheries performances and the long-term conservation planning of the fish to implement the ecosystem-based management in the Caspian Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less intensively managed semi-natural habitats, e.g., field and meadow margins like hedgerows, are thought to be crucial landscape components for maintaining biodiversity in highly disturbed and intensively managed agricultural landscapes. In this study, we focused on the effects of three meadow margin types on activity-density, species richness and species composition of carabid and staphylinid beetles recorded by pitfall traps in Central European landscapes dominated by intensively managed meadows. Carabid activity-density was significantly higher in meadows than in meadow margins and within meadow margins their activity-density increased from grassy meadow margins via shrubby ones to woody meadow margins. We found that recorded species richness of both carabid and staphylinid beetles was not significantly affected by habitat identity (meadow margin or neighbouring meadow) and meadow margin type. Recorded species composition of both investigated taxa was significantly affected by habitat identity and interaction between habitat identity and meadow margin type (i.e. it differed between particular meadow margin types). Assemblages inhabiting various meadow margin types were more dissimilar between each other than assemblages from neighbouring meadows. Meadow margins within grassland dominated landscapes maintain local species richness by hosting different species from those living in surrounding meadows. Dissimilarity of carabid and staphylinid assemblages from meadows neighbouring both sides of particular meadow margin did not differ between meadow margin types. Our results indicate that semi-natural habitats play an important role in maintaining biodiversity not only in agricultural landscapes dominated by arable fields, but also in those dominated by meadows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivorous zooplankton avoid size-selective predation by vertical migration to a deep, cold water refuge. Adaptation to low temperatures in planktonic poikilotherms depends on essential dietary lipids; the availability of these lipids often limits growth and reproduction of zooplankton. We hypothesized that limitation by essential lipids may affect habitat preferences and predator avoidance behavior in planktonic poikilotherms. We used a liposome supplementation technique to enrich the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus and the cyanobacterium Synecchococcus elongatus with the essential lipids, cholesterol and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and an indoor system with a stratified water-column (plankton organ) to test whether the absence of these selected dietary lipids constrains predator avoidance (habitat preferences) in four species of the key-stone pelagic freshwater grazer Daphnia. We found that the capability of avoiding fish predation through habitat shift to the deeper and colder environment was suppressed in Daphnia unless the diet was supplemented with EPA; however, the availability of cholesterol did not affect habitat preferences of the tested taxa. Thus, their ability to access a predator-free refuge and the outcome of predator-prey interactions depends upon food quality (i.e. the availability of an essential fatty acid). Our results suggest that biochemical food quality limitation, a bottom-up factor, may affect the top-down control of herbivorous zooplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While striving for 'global' species models of habitat selection, spatiotemporal variation in utilization patterns within a particular habitat and intraspecies variation in space use are still poorly understood. We addressed these challenges by exploring habitat use of domesticated reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus), focusing on factors that underlie ecological dynamics in habitat selection. We analyzed habitat selection of 15 (±2) female reindeer in southern Norway separately for (a) region and home range, (b) seasonality, and (c) each Global Positioning System (GPS)-collared reindeer. We explicitly evaluated spatiotemporal and intraspecies variability in habitat selection by applying multivariate ordination techniques based on the niche concept. In contrast to global assumptions, our results reveal a considerable and partly unpredictable amount of variation in habitat selection resulting from the interplay of spatial scale, time, and individual animal choice. Thus, we conclude that across-scale approaches describing animal space use facilitate better understanding of habitat selection instead of finding a single 'best' model that indicates the strongest species-habitat relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amur sleeper ( Perccottus glenii) is currently one of the most invasive fish species in Europe. This inspired our research to identify potential channels of emigration in two rivers, the Vistula and the Wieprz. Amur sleeper occurrence, abundance, population size structure and impact on indicators of diversity were examined in oxbow lakes of both rivers. Amur sleeper was recorded for the first time in floodplain areas located between two rivers, which may serve as main travel corridors. Amur sleeper was noted in four out of six oxbow lakes in each river. Its relative abundance varied depending on the oxbow lake, ranging from 0.002 to 1.60 ind. m in the basin of the Vistula River and from 0.04 to 0.35 ind. m in the basin of the Wieprz River. Percentage share in the dominance structure ranged from 2.42 to 100 % and from 40 to over 67 % in the oxbow lakes of the Vistula River and Wieprz River, respectively. The size structure of the Amur sleeper populations was dominated by young individuals (Tl < 50 mm), which is characteristic of developing populations. The presence of Amur sleeper did not significantly affect biodiversity indicators. Its occurrence was related to the amount of vegetative cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide important habitats to many bird species but are also under threat from human-caused degradation. The Kilombero Valley Floodplain Ramsar site in Tanzania has been subject to an increasing level of disturbance, but harbors the endemic Kilombero Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola and White-tailed Cisticola, as well as several other species of local, national and global importance. Using point counts over a year, we studied seasonal patterns in bird species richness, diversity and abundance, as related to habitat types in the riparian zone along the Kilombero River. Particular focus was on Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) 'trigger' species. Richness, abundance and diversity were highest in July, just after the wet season, and lowest in March when the water level started rising. The endemic Kilombero Weaver ( Ploceus burnieri) was by far the most common species. Reeds and grass-bush habitats had the highest bird diversity throughout, and all three endemic taxa showed a preference for these vegetation types. After decades of increasing human disturbance, Kilombero still qualify as an IBA. Large numbers of livestock have recently been evicted from the area, and this study could serve as a benchmark on how this change will affect bird populations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-duration (9.5-, 18-, and 28.5-day) deployments of pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) on blackfin tuna, Thunnus atlanticus Lesson 1831, were used to evaluate the applicability of external electronic tags on small tunas. Ten tunas (71.1-86.4 cm FL) were tagged in the northern Gulf of Mexico in April 2012 after being caught on typical recreational fishing gear. PSATs recorded point measurements of temperature, pressure (depth), and light level every 90 s ( n = 2 tags, deployment duration 9.5 days), 180 s ( n = 4, duration 19 days), or 270 s ( n = 4, duration 28.5 days). Nine fish survived for their respective full deployment periods; one fish died after only 5 h following release. Depths ranged from 0-217 m with a mean of 28 m (SD = 8.38 m) and temperatures ranged from 13.9-32.9 °C with a mean of 23.8 °C (SD = 1.3 °C) for all nine archived records. The nine blackfin spent 90 % of their time in depths from 0-57 m and 89 % of their time in temperatures from 21.9-26.6 °C. Over 87 % of the movements in the water column, either ascending or descending, were less than 12 m differences in depth between sequential short-duration data sampling. With appropriate concern regarding the matching of fish and PSAT sizes, these results suggest that external tags with fishery-independent reporting capabilities are an available option for smaller tuna species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many amphibian species spend part of their life cycle in terrestrial habitats. However, their exact requirements regarding terrestrial habitats have often remained enigmatic. We aimed to compare the terrestrial habitat use of a common (smooth newt) and a rare newt (great crested newt) species around their breeding ponds, to see whether habitat preferences are linked to the rarity of a species. We tested the effects of forest habitat characteristics on newt populations of seven ponds. The ponds were monitored with terrestrial drift fences at different distances and in different habitats surrounding seven ponds in southeastern Finland during 2 years. We fitted all models using a Poisson generalized linear mixed model. Both newt species distinctly favored forests with high understory vegetation cover. Captures were most numerous in the old forests directly adjacent to the ponds. Both the common species and the rare species showed similar habitat use, but there was an indication that the rare species avoided clear-cut areas and had more need for the shelter provided by canopy and field-layer vegetation, especially when the distance to pond increased. Based on our findings, the maintenance of sheltering vegetation around the ponds is very important, especially for the rare species. However, this requires the retention of both field-layer and canopy coverage, and specific management principles-such as avoiding clear-cuts-should be adopted to maintain favorable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subalpine forests are known as outstanding habitats due to co-existence of both temperate and alpine vegetation and are classic example of ecotonal zones. Limited but diverse physiognomy of trees inhabiting in subalpine forest results in variability within under-canopy habitat conditions. Studies were undertaken to assess population status, habitat preference and interferences to the trees and associated under-canopy herbs in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya. A total of 10 woody and 23 under-canopy herbs were recorded in the selected subalpine forest area. At each stand, the number of tree species and under-canopy herbs ranged from 2 to 4 and 8 to 10 respectively. Abies spectabilis, Acer caesium, Quercus floribunda, Q. semecarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum were key tree species in this area. The density of main woody species was 280 to 1190 individuals ha at different stands. Herbaceous plants with rosette and clump growth habits were observed to have higher values for total basal cover and importance value index. Presence of some under-canopy herbs like; Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Malaxis muscifera, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Polygonatum cirrhifolium and Skimmia laureola in the specific habitats also showed that they are habitat specific. However, the presence of Frageria nubicola and Viola sp. was common in the selected stands. Felling of trees for timber, construction of temporary huts, fuel wood and lopping for fodder were main interferences for trees. On the other hand, trampling driven damage due to grazing, habitats degradation and overexploitation were observed key threats for under-canopy herbs. Integrated analysis including population studies, habitats preference and interferences to the trees and under-canopy herbs in this sensitive and important ecosystem will be useful for determining the conservation plans and ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water voles have suffered large population declines in the United Kingdom due to habitat degradation and predation by invasive American mink. Habitat restoration of floodplain wetlands could help to reverse this decline, but the detailed habitat preferences of water voles in these environments have not been well studied, and the impacts of restoration practices on water vole populations are not known. This study investigated the habitat preferences of water voles in a reconnected lowland river floodplain. The results show that water voles preferred wider water bodies, and taller and more diverse vegetation. The impact of flooding on water voles was also investigated by comparing their occurrence between two survey periods which were separated by large flood events, and by comparing distribution patterns before and after restoration. Contrary to previous reports, there was no observed negative impact of flood events on water vole distribution, which has slightly expanded since the floodplain was reconnected to the river in 2009. Overall this study demonstrates that restored wetlands can provide suitable habitat for water voles, and provides guidance on some of the factors which should be considered when designing floodplains for water vole conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purse-web spiders Atypus spp. (Araneae: Atypidae) are the only representatives of the archaic spider infraorder Mygalomorphae in the Central European fauna. These burrow-dwelling spiders are red-listed in all Central European countries. Atypus muralis occurs on relics of continental steppes, Atypus piceus on dry submediterranean grassland and dry herb-rich forest fringes, while Atypus affinis inhabits sparse dwarf dry forests, usually those dominated by oaks. Long-term sustainability of their habitats in the relatively humid Central European climate was maintained by grazing. Since the 1950s, pasturing was terminated across most of Central Europe, which led to immediate overgrowth of pastures by aggressive grasses and woody plants. Grazing was later reinstated in some reserves, but in cases of poorly controlled grazing intensity, footsteps had immediate detrimental effects on the residual populations of purse-web spiders and other invertebrates. Therefore, grazing intensity needs to be regulated, considering its double-edge effects on the biota of xerothermophilic habitats. Nests of European Atypus species have never been found in habitats subject to recent or even regular distribution. Therefore, they may serve as reliable indicators of well preserved xerothermic habitats. Their nests are easy to detect, and the European Atypus spiders can be utilized as model species for monitoring impacts of conservation management. Monitoring population dynamics of Atypus requires establishing permanent study plots of uniform size, documentation of vegetation by phytocenological relevé, counting their density (number of purse-webs found in the plot) and age structure (diameter of purse webs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasion of native habitats by exotic plants often causes reductions in faunal diversity. However, there is little direct evidence of native fauna actively avoiding invaded habitat and few quantitative studies on the mechanisms underlying such avoidance. We quantified alterations made to the composition and physical structure of an Australian tropical savanna by grader grass ( Themeda quadrivalvis); an understudied invasive grass that is associated with reduced faunal abundance and diversity. We found that grader grass profoundly changed the physical structure and floral composition of tropical savanna, forming dense lawn-like monocultures unlike the native savanna. Second, we investigated the habitat preferences of small ectotherms in partially invaded habitat, using a rainbow skink ( Carlia schmeltzii) as a model system and discovered that they actively avoided grader grass. Finally, we experimentally tested predictions regarding mechanisms that may have driven the avoidance of grader grass. Predation rates and food availability were not likely the cause of grader grass avoidance, because experiments using models deployed in the field showed that predation rates were higher in native grass, and collection of invertebrates in both habitats indicated that prey availability was similar. However, mesocosm experiments on habitat selection in relation to vegetation structure, along with field measures of available operative environmental temperatures, suggested that small ectotherms probably avoid grader-grass-invaded savanna due to a suboptimal thermal environment and lack of appropriate habitat structural heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined habitat preferences of the Southern Altai subspecies of gray marmots ( Marmota baibacina baibacina) both at the small and large scale. Considerable differences in habitat use among the gray marmot (sub)species complex have been described; Marmota kastschenkoi possibly represents the only forest-dwelling Palearctic marmot. Our results show that habitat use in Southern Altai marmots is determined mainly by vegetation type. The Altai marmots preferred grasslands and shrublands and their distribution was limited to the alpine zone above timberline. Marmots clearly avoided woodlands, even the forest edges and forest-steppe areas with a tree cover greater than 10 %. Gray marmots occur rarely in habitats occupied by alpine pikas, whereas presence of ground squirrels had no effect on marmot distribution. Altai marmots preferred mesic habitats with permeable subsoil layers. Livestock grazing and human disturbance did not affect marmot occurrence. Habitat requirements of examined Altai subspecies M. baibacina baibacina differ from the forest-steppe M. kastschenkoi; nevertheless, the ecological factors to which the forest-dwelling species responds remain to be analyzed. A recent speciation process in gray marmot complex was followed by the evolution of ecological requirements resulting in adaptation to forest dwelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feral pigs ( Sus scrofa) occupy many different habitats worldwide. Their rooting foraging behaviour poses a serious threat to biodiversity as the resulting soil disturbance alters ecosystem structure and function. Understanding what characteristics are important in selecting rooting locations can be used to predict the impact of pigs on ecosystems. We investigated patch selection for rooting by feral pigs at two spatial scales: (1) habitat variables at a site level, and (2) dependency between observations in a spatial context. Seasonal influences on the modelled environmental variables were also examined. We applied a generalised linear modelling approach and model-averaging to explain the relative importance of variables, as measured by the standardised parameter estimates and unconditional variance. Soil texture, rock cover, soil compaction and sand texture were important explanatory variables in the presence of pig rooting. Soil compaction and distance to roads had a negative influence. The highest ranking model included seven explanatory variables with a 41 % chance that this is the Kullback-Leibler best model. Six of the 128 candidate models were in the 95 % confidence set indicating low model uncertainty. Although no differences in pig rootings were detected between seasons, most rooting (65.7 %) occurred during the dry season with soil and sand texture having the strongest effect. This study highlights how pig control programmes can focus limited resources on either the strategic positioning of control devices (e.g., traps and baits) to either reduce the number of pigs or help prioritise habitats of high conservation value for protection (e.g., exclusion fencing). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dikerogammarus haemobaphes is one of several Ponto-Caspian gammarids invading Europe in recent decades. Previously, it exhibited active preferences for habitats associated with another Ponto-Caspian alien, zebra mussel. Now we tested gammarid preferences for living mussels and their empty shells with biofilm and/or periostracum present or absent, to find the exact cues driving gammarid responses. We observed a strong preference of gammarids for biofilmed shells, even if the biofilm was relatively young (2-day old). However, the biofilm quality, related to the substratum on which it had developed (shells with or without the periostracum, or coated with nail varnish) did not affect their behaviour. In the absence of biofilm, gammarids positively responded to the shell periostracum. Furthermore, they clearly preferred living zebra mussels over old empty shells, independent of the presence or absence of biofilm, confirming the importance of a periostracum-associated cue in their substratum recognition. On the other hand, shells obtained shortly after mussels' death were preferred over living bivalves. Thus, the attractant is associated with fresh mussel shells, rather than with living mussels themselves. The ability of alien gammarids to locate sites inhabited by zebra mussels may contribute to their invasion success in novel areas inhabited by this habitat-forming bivalve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We aimed to examine whether habitat preferences of raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides and badgers Meles meles can be revealed by using a non-invasive method, latrine surveys. We searched for latrines of these carnivores with scat detection dogs in SW Finland. We compared the results of latrine surveys with the results of a radio-tracking study conducted simultaneously in the same area. Our results showed that latrine surveys and radio-tracking gave fairly similar results: both methods revealed that raccoon dogs favoured deciduous forests, open woodland and reed beds but avoided fields, and badgers favoured deciduous and pine forests but avoided fields, gardens and reed beds. Latrines of both species were often located in the core areas but also along home range borders. Latrine survey revealed possible competition for space between the native badgers and alien raccoon dogs. Latrine survey is a non-invasive method, which gives accurate location points of animals. It could be developed further by combining it with bait-marking and by training the dogs to show us other signs of animals besides latrines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wetlands are among the most threatened habitat types on our planet. Their decline will probably even intensify under climate change. Many biota are strongly dependent on wetlands, including a large number of invertebrate species. The populations of such hygrophilous species become increasingly disconnected due to the ongoing fragmentation of their habitats. This is particularly true for species with reduced dispersal capacities, such as flightless insects. We studied mobility, population size and microhabitat utilization in a population of an endangered grasshopper species, the Water-meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus montanus. Our mark-recapture study revealed that the cumulative movement distance of the adults was on average 23.5 m with a maximum of 104 m. The microhabitat analysis showed that both sexes of C. montanus preferred warmer patches with greater radiation than measured at control sites. Niche overlap among sexes was stronger than expected by chance, while niche overlap between insects and controls showed the opposite pattern. Our results suggest that C. montanus is strongly restricted to its habitat and is probably not able to cross larger distances through unsuitable vegetation. Hence, we assume that the populations of this flightless insect species are strongly isolated. However, the effect of the rare macropterous morph of C. montanus on gene flow remains unknown. Wetland restoration is crucial to reconnect the existing wetland patches in Central Europe and thereby reduce the negative effects of habitat fragmentation on wetland species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 23 ostracod taxa were found in 48 of 90 different water bodies (wetlands, springs, lakes, creeks, etc.) located at moderate to high elevation (530-1,095 m) in Diyarbakır province. The ecological tolerances and optimum values for environmental variables of 15 species were analyzed. Accordingly, maximum numbers of species were found between 700 and 800 m. Ostracod species and sampling sites along with seven environmental variables were ordinated with canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The first axis of CCA explained 72% of the relationship between species and environmental variables. Of these, water temperature, redox potential and altitude were the most influential ( P < 0.05) factors for species. Based on habitat similarities, an unweighted pair group mean average dendrogram divided species into four clustering groups. Among the species, Potamocypris arcuata, Candona neglecta and Psychrodromus fontinalis had the highest optimum estimates for altitude, whereas P. arcuata, Herpetocypris brevicaudata and P. fontinalis exhibited the highest tolerances to altitude. While most species revealed unique tolerances and optimum values for different ecological variables, species with cosmopolitan characteristics had wider ranges of ecological tolerances and distribution amid the variety of habitats along elevational gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reef fish larvae actively select preferred benthic habitat, relying on olfactory, visual and acoustic cues to discriminate between microhabitats at settlement. Recent studies show exposure to elevated carbon dioxide (CO) impairs olfactory cue recognition in larval reef fishes. However, whether this alters the behaviour of settling fish or disrupts habitat selection is unknown. Here, the effect of elevated CO on larval behaviour and habitat selection at settlement was tested in three species of damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) that differ in their pattern of habitat use: Pomacentrus amboinensis (a habitat generalist), Pomacentrus chrysurus (a rubble specialist) and Pomacentrus moluccensis (a live coral specialist). Settlement-stage larvae were exposed to current-day CO levels or CO concentrations that could occur by 2100 (700 and 850 ppm) based on IPCC emission scenarios. First, pair-wise choice tests were performed using a two-channel flume chamber to test olfactory discrimination between hard coral, soft coral and coral rubble habitats. The habitat selected by settling fish was then compared among treatments using a multi-choice settlement experiment conducted overnight. Finally, settlement timing between treatments was compared across two lunar cycles for one of the species, P. chrysurus. Exposure to elevated CO disrupted the ability of larvae to discriminate between habitat odours in olfactory trials. However, this had no effect on the habitats selected at settlement when all sensory cues were available. The timing of settlement was dramatically altered by CO exposure, with control fish exhibiting peak settlement around the new moon, whereas fish exposed to 850 ppm CO displaying highest settlement rates around the full moon. These results suggest larvae can rely on other sensory information, such as visual cues, to compensate for impaired olfactory ability when selecting settlement habitat at small spatial scales. However, rising CO could cause larvae to settle at unfavourable times, with potential consequences for larval survival and population replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]