Search

Disturbance events between wild animals and visitors of a recreational area are an excellent example to study interaction movement patterns. This paper presents computational movement analysis methods for studying disturbance dynamics, especially when both animals and visitors are tracked. The first method combines trajectory segmentation with animal homeranges aiming at detecting flight events. The second method formalizes the sequence pattern “disturbance-flight-seek cover”. The pattern is then applied searching for differences between different disturbance categories.

Actuellement, 99 espèces de mammifères vivent à l’état sauvage en Suisse et au Liechtenstein. L’Atlas des mammifères de Suisse et du Liechtenstein présente ces espèces de manière scientifique et dans un langage accessible à tout public. Les portraits d’espèces comprennent des textes portant sur leur biologie, leur distribution, leurs habitats, ainsi que leur conservation et leur gestion. Des cartes de distribution, de nombreuses photos attractives et des diagrammes informatifs illustrent ces thèmes. Pas moins de 15 chapitres « sous la loupe » présentent des aspects particuliers à certaines espèces. Il s’agit entre autres de la réintroduction d’espèces éteintes, de la gestion des grands Carnivores, du suivi de la faune sauvage ou des mesures exemplaires de conservation. Des spécialistes avérés tout comme de nombreux amateurs ont contribué à cet Atlas des mammifères de Suisse et du Liechtenstein, notamment par le biais de projets de science participative. Il en résulte une vue d’ensemble de la situation actuelle des mammifères sauvages de Suisse et du Liechtenstein en 2020.

Ab etwa Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts kommt der Rothirsch im Wallis in nennenswerten Beständen vor. Trotz intensiver Bejagung nehmen die Bestände seither stetig zu und führen teilweise zu Konflikten, insbesondere im Wald und in der Region Aletsch-Goms. Über die Raumnutzung und das Wanderverhalten der Rothirsche in dieser Region lagen bislang einige Einschätzungen und Vermutungen, jedoch kaum gesicherte Fakten vor. Mit dem im Jahr 2017 initiierten Rothirschprojekt Aletsch-Goms wurden bedeutende Wissenslücken für einen fachlich fundierten Umgang mit dieser anspruchsvollen Wildtierart nun geschlossen.

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) assumes that herbivores cope with the trade-off between digestibility and biomass in forage by selecting vegetation at intermediate growth. The green wave hypothesis (GWH) extends the FMH to suggest how spatiotemporal heterogeneity in plant quality shapes migratory movements of herbivores. Growing empirical support for these hypotheses mainly comes from studies in vast landscapes with large-scale habitat heterogeneity. It is unclear, however, to what extent ungulates surf green waves in human-altered landscapes with small-scale heterogeneity in terms of land use and topography. We used plant phenological proxies derived from Sentinel 2 satellite data to analyze the habitat selection of 93 collared red deer (Cervus elaphus) in montane and alpine habitats. Using a step selection analysis, we investigated how plant phenology, that is, the instantaneous rate of green-up (IRG) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and a set of variables describing topography and human presence influenced red deer resource selection in open habitats. We learned that red deer selected areas with high biomass at green-up and avoided habitats with possible exposure to human activity. Additionally, landscape structure and topography strongly influenced spatial behavior of red deer. We further compared cumulative access to high-quality forage across migrant strategies and found migrants gained better access than residents. Many migratory individuals surfed the green wave, and their surfing behavior, however, became less pronounced with decreasing distance to settlements. Within the constraints of topography and human land use, red deer track spring green-up on a fine spatiotemporal scale and follow the green wave across landscapes in migration movements. Thus, they benefit from high-quality forage even in human-dominated landscapes with small-scale heterogeneity and vegetation emerging in a heterogenic, dynamic mosaic.

Predictive models are central to many scientific disciplines and vital for informing management in a rapidly changing world. However, limited understanding of the accuracy and precision of models transferred to novel conditions (their 'transferability') undermines confidence in their predictions. Here, 50 experts identified priority knowledge gaps which, if filled, will most improve model transfers. These are summarized into six technical and six fundamental challenges, which underlie the combined need to intensify research on the determinants of ecological predictability, including species traits and data quality, and develop best practices for transferring models. Of high importance is the identification of a widely applicable set of transferability metrics, with appropriate tools to quantify the sources and impacts of prediction uncertainty under novel conditions.

In addition to being the main habitat of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), forests provide diverse and outstanding settings for recreational activities such as hiking, horse riding and mountain biking (Jacsman, 1990). The effects of new patterns of recreational use such as night rides with bright floodlights are hotly discussed topics associated with the management of recreational forests. Animal ecology so far has mainly focused on spatio-temporal behaviour of individuals in undisturbed remote areas, while research on human behaviour mainly focused on visitor conflicts in highly frequented recreational forests (Arnberger, 2006). Therefore, our knowledge about the effects of new recreational activities on wildlife is currently insufficient. We studied the effects of mountain biking events on the immediate spatio-temporal reaction and subsequent habitat use of roe deer. Furthermore, we compared the effect of on-trail mountain bike events with other disturbance events that occurred off-trail such as hunting, orienteering and on site observations.

The size and spatial arrangement of habitat patches are important predictors of the persistence of threatened species living in fragmented habitats. If conservation biology succeeds to accurately quantify these predictors, we can use them to identify priority areas for conservation. To study the large-scale relationship between the distribution of distinct habitat patches and the occurrence of the threatened Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, we developed a patch occupancy model for the species in the Swiss Alps. Thereto, we first confirmed the existence of a local population for 55% of the patches in the field. Logistic regression was then used to predict patch occupancy as a function of patch area, isolation, connectivity, relative altitude and biogeographic region. The probability of a patch being occupied increased with patch size and increasing altitude, and decreased with increasing distance to the next occupied patch. A sensitivity analysis revealed that patch size and isolation were the most and second most important predictors of the model, respectively. The model is a useful tool to designate priority areas, additional smaller patches with a high probability of being inhabited and stepping stones within a regional network designed to conserve Capercaillie in a landscape with fragmented habitat.

Several research projects significantly contributed to the reputation of Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus as flagship of conservation goals in mountain forest ecosystems. In this article, we summarise, synthesise and evaluate the major findings of the projects presented in this journal’s issue. All publications concern Capercaillie studies conducted in Switzerland during the last decade. We concentrate on the results that are particularly important for the conservation of the species and influence conceptual decisions of a Capercaillie action plan. Based on our results, we recommend to plan conservation at the large scale and to consider (i) the ecological potential of a landscape as Capercaillie habitat, (ii) the recent distribution of local populations, (iii) the forest stand mosaic of each habitat patch, and (iv) the limiting factors of each regional population for the development and implementation of a national action plan. Conservation measures should aim to increase the carrying capacity of suitable habitat, support a population network and the exchange of individuals among populations, and reduce the impact of human disturbance. Thus, conceptual decisions need to be taken at the large, national scale whereas concrete measures should consider regional peculiarities.

Wildtiere und Menschen leben im dicht besiedelten Mitteleuropa nahe beieinander. Diese Koexistenz ist nicht immer konfliktfrei: Die Lebensraumqualität zahlreicher Tierarten wird durch menschliche Aktivitäten vielfach beeinflusst, und das natürliche Verhalten in Raum und Zeit unterliegt zahlreichen Störungen. Andererseits bereiten Verbissschäden in Wäldern, Biberstaudämme in Bächen oder 'Problembären' in Gebirgstälern den Menschen Sorgen. Um sowohl den Ansprüchen der Menschen als auch den Bedürfnissen der Wildtiere gerecht zu werden, ist ein zeitgemäßes Wildtiermanagement gefragt. Ausgehend von einer vertieften Problemanalyse und Zieldefinition zeigt die vorliegende Publikation, welche Strategien und Maßnahmen Konflikte zwischen Mensch und Wildtier verhindern, beseitigen oder wenigstens minimieren können. Besonderes Gewicht kommt dabei den Förder- und Konfliktarten zu sowie der Einrichtung von Großschutzgebieten und den Strategien zur Vermeidung von Störungen besonders empfindlicher Arten und Areale.

Eine Publikation der Fachstelle Wildtier- und Landschaftsmanagement WILMA.

Eine Veröffentlichung der Forschungsgruppe WILMA. Bericht für die AbteilungFischerei und Jagd des Kantons Luzern.

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) populations in Switzerland declined seriously in the past decades. The national capercaillie action plan defines actions to improve forest structure and composition in order to further the populations of the largest grouse species. These habitat measures should focus on improving summer habitat for hens with chicks, because winter habitats are available in good quality and quantity. However, our knowledge on reproduction habitats in alpine conditions is limited. In this study, we investigated microclimatic conditions, i.e. plant wetness, and movement ability of barn fowl chicks in seven characteristic field layer types in the northern Swiss Lower Alps. In the experiment on movement ability, we worked with barn fowl instead of capercaillie chicks for methodological reasons. In the bilberry-dominated vegetation, we measured a significantly lower quantity of water than in the vegetation types without bilberry. In the movement experiment, we found no significant differences between the vegetation types. As a qualitative result, we observed that the chicks moved easily even in high (> 30 cm) and close bilberry vegetation. Our results suggest that bilberry-dominated vegetation provides better conditions for grouse chicks than wet meadows and pastures, because less water adheres to the bilberry plants. Thus, the chicks get less wet in bilberry vegetation, which probably has a positive influence on the survival of the chicks. Even tall and dense vegetation seems not to impede the movement of the chicks. The results of our experiment may not be directly transferable to the demands of capercaillie chicks. Nevertheless, our study provides further evidence for the importance of bilberry as capercaillie chick habitat, especially in regions with high precipitations.

Die Auerhuhnvorkommen in den Schweizer Gebirgswäldern sind stark gefährdet. Um den Rückgang zu stoppen, wird aktuell viel in forstliche Aufwertungen investiert. Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg liegt in einer gut funktionierenden Fortpflanzung. Nur: Welche Faktoren beeinflussen den Aufzuchtserfolg? Welche Vegetationstypen sind für Auerhennen mit Küken ideal? Zu diesen Fragen läuft derzeit ein Forschungsprojekt an der Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Wädenswil ZHAW.

Eine Veröffentlichung der Forschungsgruppe WILMA.

Eine Veröffentlichung der Fachstelle Wildtier- und Landschaftsmanagement WILMA im Auftrag der Abteilung Natur, Jagd und Fischerei / lawa Luzern.

Eine Veröffentlichung der Forschungsgruppe WILMA zum Präventionsprojekt Neuenburgersee. Bericht im Auftrag des Bundesamts für Umwelt BAFU.

A major conclusion of studying metapopulation biology is that species conservation should favor regional rather than local population persistence. Regional persistence is tightly linked to size, spatial configuration and quality of habitat patches. Hence it is important for the management of endangered species that priority patches can be identified. We developed a predictive model of patch occupancy by capercaillie, a threatened grouse species, based on a single snapshot of data. We used logistic regression to predict patch occupancy as a function of patch size, isolation, connectivity, relative altitude, and biogeographical area. The probability of a patch being occupied increased with patch size and increasing altitude, and decreased with increasing distance to the next occupied patch. Patch size was the most important predictor although occupied patches varied considerably in size. Our model only uses data on the number, size and spatial configuration of habitat patches. It is a useful tool to designate priority areas for conservation, i.e. large core patches with high resilience in habitat quality, smaller island‐patches that still have high probability of being inhabited or becoming recolonised, and patches functioning as “stepping stones”. If capercaillie is to be preserved, habitat suitability needs to be maintained in a functional network of patches that account for size and inter‐patch distance thresholds as found in this study. We suggest that similar area‐isolation relationships are valid for almost any region within the distribution range of capercaillie. The thresholds for occupancy are however likely to depend on characteristics of the respective landscape. The outcome of our study emphasises the need for future investigations that explore the relationship between patch occupancy, matrix quality and its resistance to dispersing individuals.

The Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus occupies a broad fundamental ecological niche as long as some criteria are fulfilled regarding structural characteristics of forest stands. We studied these characteristics at the small scale in forest ecosystems that differed in landscape characteristics, tree species composition and ground vegetation. The studies were performed in the Prealps and Central Alps of Switzerland, respectively. Forest stand characteristics were assessed with a set of variables that describe the composition and structure of tree, shrub and ground vegetation and the number and type of forest gaps and edge elements. Logistic regression was used to compare study plots of used areas versus available habitat for Capercaillie in winter and/or summer. Intermediate canopy cover in combination with a good abundance of forest aisles and a minimal amount of basal-branched single trees were the most important predictors of habitat choice of Capercaillie at the scale of a forest stand, independent of the study area. From the edge variables, free-standing, basal-branched trees of Norway spruce Picea abies were the preferred hiding elements for resting Capercaillie. The type and composition of ground vegetation showed distinct differences among the study areas. Surprisingly, the proportion of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus cover was not a significant predictor in the analyses. We conclude that forestry has a major responsibility for the conservation of Capercaillie because forest measures have a significant effect on both, the structure and composition of forest stands.

Eine Veröffentlichung der Forschungsgruppe WILMA. Bericht für die Abteilung Fischerei und Jagd des Kantons Luzern und die Dienststelle Jagd und Fischerei des Kantons Schwyz.