The western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus is the most representative species among spiny Iberian hedgehogs. The Algerian hedgehog Atelerix algirus and the four-toed hedgehog Atelerix albiventris are other spiny hedgehogs that can be found on the Iberian Peninsula. Whereas A. algirus has a limited distribution in a narrow stretch of east Iberia and a doubtful native/introduced origin, A. albiventris

The brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) is an omnivorous large mammal that has an essential function in many ecosystems as a seed disperser. We studied the brown bear’s role as a seed dispersal agent in a mixed temperate forest in northern Anatolia, Turkey. We collected 197 fecal samples from the field during the brown bear’s active period for two consecutive years. We extracted seeds of 34 plant taxa from

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a semi-aquatic predator that lives in a wide range of aquatic habitats. Knowledge of the diet of predators is essential for the management and conservation of the species and their habitats. We assessed the diet of otters in fifty-three faecal samples (spraints) by morphological analysis of undigested prey remains and by DNA metabarcoding approaches with two different

The age of adult mammals is required for studies related to ontogeny patterns, growth rate, and life history. However, the reliable age determination from skulls with no canine teeth is generally inaccurate. This research aims to develop an age prediction model for adult male sea lions by measures of a particular skull section, which was validated by counting dentine growth layers in their upper canine

Understanding the food habits of mammalian carnivores is crucial for the comprehension of the role of apex-predators in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The puma is currently the most widespread top predator and the carnivore most frequently involved in conflicts with humans in the Americas. We analyzed puma diet in the South American temperate region, a vast area largely modified by humans, to assess

Body weight of common shrews was monitored for five years in free-living animals under mark-recapture technique. In young shrews of their first summer of life, the weight in June was significantly less at the first registration. Body weight of young shrews increased from June to August and dropped to the minimum in November. After wintering, body mass in males jumped following sexual maturation. No

In populations of wild felids, social status is one of the most important factors shaping home range size and spacing patterns. For female Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), we documented significant changes to the structure of home ranges and core areas during cub-rearing. We used VHF telemetry data collected over 18 years in Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, Russia, to assess the following: (1)

Interspecific interactions are key drivers in structuring animal communities. Sympatric animals may show such behavioural patterns as the differential use of space and/or time to avoid competitive encounters. We took advantage of the ecological conditions of our study area, inhabited by different ungulate species, to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of Capreolus capreolus, Dama dama

Anthropogenic landscape changes resulting in habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation might decrease connectivity and effective sizes of wild populations, threatening local biodiversity. Assumed large distributions of both species and habitats have probably discouraged studies correlating altered landscapes’ structure and composition to patterns of genetic diversity in the Neotropics. Yet, considering

Understanding how invasive predators impact native species is essential for the development of effective control strategies, especially in insular environments where alternative non-native prey species exist. We examined seasonal and spatial shifts in diet of feral cat Felis silvestris catus focusing on the predation on native streaked shearwaters, Calonectris leucomelas, and introduced rats, Rattus

One of the less studied positive interactions among organisms is facilitation. Facilitation may have significant impact on diversity of species especially in low productive environments. We studied the effects of well-known facilitator and ecosystem engineer, the North American beaver (Castor canadensis), on small mammal assemblages in the boreal zone. The small mammals, namely voles, mice, and shrews

European mustelids include the European polecat, Mustela putorius, and the steppe polecat, M. eversmanii. Both occur sympatrically in the Pannonian Basin, where M. eversmanii hungarica represents the westernmost part of the latter species and they allegedly hybridize. We investigated the morphological relationships in sympatric and allopatric populations of these mustelids with representative sampling

To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of brown bears (Ursus arctos) on Sakhalin Island in the Far East, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were analyzed for 27 ancient and five contemporary specimens of brown bears obtained from Sakhalin. We successfully determined partial sequences of the mtDNA control region (254–394 base-pairs) and identified six novel haplotypes. All sequences from bears

Re-introduction of large herbivores is increasingly used as a tool in nature management and for restoration of more biodiverse habitats. This study investigated the diet of recently introduced European bison, Bison bonasus, in a forest habitat in Bornholm, Denmark, with the purpose of evaluating its adaptation to the new habitat and assessing its potential for facilitating development towards a more

Strong mutual relationships exist between rodents and ecosystems. By modifying the structure and functioning of ecosystems, human activity can affect rodent behaviour and ecology. The yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis is widespread in Europe, and its spatial ecology has been studied in various habitats, but studies are lacking for Mediterranean forests often altered by forest management practices

Mean and maximum longevity (i.e., age-at-death) in free-ranging American bison (Bison bison) subject to natural selection is difficult to estimate in the wild; hence, data on age-at-death for free-ranging populations is sparse. I used a 20-year time series of age-at-death data from 1909 bison to estimate mean longevity of hunter-killed bison in a growing population. I tested the following predictions:

Golden jackal (Canis aureus) monitoring in central Europe generates more interest and becomes increasingly important with the species’ appearance in areas where it was previously unestablished. For genetic monitoring of golden jackals via scat collection, the distinction of jackal scats from those of related species such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is crucial: if done incorrectly, it can falsify

Brown rats are widespread in agroecosystems, but our understanding of factors affecting their activity is incomplete due to cryptic, nocturnal behaviours. Indirect monitoring methods include tracking plates and camera traps. Supplementary feeding of game birds may provide resources for rats away from farm buildings, allowing them to persist in winter when there is little other food available. Developing

Palms, like many plants, rely on frugivorous animals to disperse their seed. Large-scale human-mediated dispersal for their production and amenity values has seen the introduction of palms into a wide range of ecosystems where they subsequently have become naturalized. A wide range of native as well as exotic species has adapted to palm drupes as a food source and serve as dispersal vectors. Most canids

Schreiber’s bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii is a typical Mediterranean species. To date, the northern limit of its distribution range ran along the northern ends of Slovakia. This paper describes the first record of this species in Poland, at a more northerly site for this part of Europe. On October 7, 2015, an adult female of M. schreibersii was caught in the underground part of the New Castle

Globally, Sus scrofa is one of the most widely recognized species inhabiting earth alongside humans. Known by many names (wild boar, domestic swine, feral pig), S. scrofa is both an ecosystem engineer and an important agricultural species. Originating in Southeast Asia 5 million years ago, S. scrofa naturally expanded throughout Eurasia and into North Africa but now inhabits every continent, except

After having been extinct for approximately 200 years, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is currently being reintroduced in several European countries. However, it still occurs in several local, isolated populations. Given the patchy distribution of its forest habitat within a human-dominated landscape, the formation of population stepping-stones, i.e., small lynx occurrences between source populations

This study investigated the current distribution of otters (Lutrinae) in all states of Peninsular Malaysia. Four species of otters have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia in the past based on field survey methodology, namely the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). This study

The degree of relatedness and an interacting unifying central member can exacerbate disease transmission within a social group. The severity of the disease depends on the route, dose and frequency of infection. Group-living social mammals thus have the ability to exacerbate the spread of the disease. Lions Panthera leo are social carnivores with individuals interacting on a regular basis. We used observations

Accurate estimates of population dynamics play a major role in formulating conservation strategies for Gunnison’s prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) and other keystone species. Over 5 years (2014–2018) at Valles Caldera National Preserve in NM, USA, we used a portable ultrasound machine (PUM) to investigate the presence or absence of pregnancy, and to determine uterine litter size for 238 pregnant female

We evaluate the applicability of the microsatellite multiplex assay of 11 short tandem repeat loci for individual identification of sable and pine marten, taxonomic identification of Martes species, and assessment of inter-population separation of sable populations isolated by distance. Based on the screening, we detected 50 and 80–82 alleles in pine marten and two sable populations, respectively.

Animals partition their daily activities based on a variety of internal and external factors. For insectivorous bats, the availability of prey, weather conditions, moonlight and reproductive energy demands are proposed as the major influencers of temporal activity. This study investigated the temporal variation in activity of the subtropical cave-dwelling, migratory Natal long-fingered bat, Miniopterus

Free-ranging cats Felis silvestris catus are harmful to endemic species, especially on islands. Effective management practices require an understanding of their habitat use and population source at the landscape level. We aimed to identify the source of the free-ranging cat population on Tokunoshima Island, Japan, which harbors a variety of endemic organisms as well as human settlements. Trapping data

Temporal partitioning can allow sympatric carnivores to coexist, especially if overlap of other resources is high. Using camera trap data from 2013 to 2017, we investigated the temporal partitioning of a community of wild felids and a canid in Nam Et–Phou Louey National Protected Area, Laos, to determine the extent to which temporal avoidance might be facilitating coexistence of similarly sized carnivores

Martens (Martes spp.) occupy areas with complex forest structure that can exhibit patchy distribution, particularly in managed forest landscapes. These structures (e.g., downed wood) are often difficult to reliably sample so more easily acquired surrogates may better describe marten habitat. Recent advances in global positioning system (GPS) collars combined with integrated (i.e., imagery with geospatial

The black rat (Rattus rattus) is one of the most widespread rodents on islands worldwide, introduced over the last five centuries. However, reliable information concerning how biotic or abiotic factors influence key parameters of black rat population biology in insular contexts is currently unavailable. Here we aim to document the relative abundance of rat populations and evaluate how the age structure

We present an application of the random encounter model (REM) to estimate population density of a closed population of fallow deer (Dama dama). REM promises to be a powerful tool for providing density estimates for species which are not individually recognisable, but it still requires thorough testing to assess its limits and performance. In our study area, effective fencing prevents animals from migrating

The publisher regret that the presentation of Figure 3 in the original version of the above article was incorrectly presented. The data in the image were inadvertently omitted during publication process.

Habitat availability can affect important life-history traits such as survival; however, little information exists on how microhabitat characteristics found at parturition sites selected by dams and bed sites selected by their offspring differ from the surrounding area and from each other. Therefore, we assessed how vegetation affected maternal parturition and offspring bed site selection for white-tailed

The Amami rabbit Pentalagus furnessi is an endangered leporid species and is endemic to the two subtropical islands (Amami-Oshima Island and Tokunoshima Island) in the Ryukyu Archipelago in southwestern Japan. In total, 11 breeding burrows of this rabbit were detected from 1994 to 2017 in Amami-Oshima Island. Breeding was observed from November to December in most cases and in May in one case. The

Spatial ecology of red deer Cervus elaphus is shaped by both natural and anthropogenic factors. We used radio telemetry to investigate factors affecting habitat selection on two spatial scales, home range sizes and migratory behaviour of red deer (N = 8 individuals) in two mountain ranges of the western Carpathians in 2004–2007. The two study areas differed in terms of environmental conditions: Beskid

Tensions between humans and wolves have led to intensive worldwide studies of wolf feeding habits and their relative preference for domestic and wild ungulates. The aim of this study was to provide further insight into the diet composition of wolves in Croatia, based on stomach contents of dead wolves. We examined spatial variation in wolf diet and prey selection relative to availability of wild and

Polymorphism in innate immune genes in host populations can structure spatial variation in the prevalence of infectious diseases. In Europe, Borrelia afzelii is an important tick-borne pathogen of small mammals including the bank voles (Myodes glareolus). The Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is an innate immune receptor that is important for detecting Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato pathogens. The TLR2

The Siberian flying squirrel population is experiencing a continuous decline in Estonia and Finland. Hence, the flying squirrel is listed in Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitat directive and is regarded as a priority species for protection by the European Community. So far, only a limited number of genetic studies have been conducted on this species—all using invasively collected tissue samples and

Studies on the postnatal growth of free-ranging bats can be based on multiple recaptures of marked individuals of known age (longitudinal sampling) or derived from measurements of captured pups with unknown birth dates (cross-sectional sampling). We therefore used individuals of Geoffroy’s bat Myotis emarginatus in a case study to test the hypothesis that these two methods yield similar data on growth

In wolves Canis lupus, scent marking plays an important role in territory defence. In Europe, studies on patterns of scent marking in wolves have mostly been conducted in mountains or primeval forests, but since these areas are characterised by low human activity, the impact of people on this behaviour has been neglected. We conducted a study that combined genetic methods with an analysis of the spatial

Using remote tracking (GPS+GSM module) we documented long-distance natal dispersals of two yearling wolves (Canis lupus) from The Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia. From the arithmetic center of natal home ranges the collared male and female traveled the straight-line natal dispersal distance of 280 km and 332.8 km, over 82 days and 34 days, respectively. Minimum distances of the entire

Persian leopards Panthera pardus saxicolor have been extirpated from over 84% of their historic range and are now limited to rugged landscapes of West Asia and the Caucasus. Understanding and maintaining genetic diversity and population connectivity is important for preventing inbreeding and genetic drift, both of which can threaten population viability. All previous analyses of intraspecific genetic

Identifying factors promoting jaguar (Panthera onca) occupancy is crucial for planning effective conservation and management actions that can contribute to long-term population viability. We used camera-trapping and modeled factors affecting detection and occupancy for jaguars in Sonora at 149 sites during August–November 2008 and 2009. We measured 24 covariates presumed to affect detection (n = 6)

In spite of their potential important role in shaping small mammal population dynamics, weasel (Mustela nivalis) and stoat (Mustela erminea) are understudied due to the difficulty of detecting these species. Furthermore, their conservation status in many countries is unknown due to lack of monitoring techniques. There is thus an important need for a method to detect these small mustelids. In this study

Like many other animals, white-tailed antelope squirrels exhibit a bimodal daily pattern of activity in the field during the summer. Because seasons in the field involve not only changes in ambient temperature but also changes in photoperiod and food availability, the cause of the bimodal pattern is not known. In this study, behavioral activity of white-tailed antelope squirrels was studied under controlled

A range-wide phylogeographic study of the common shrew Sorex araneus was performed using the concatenation of cytb and ND2 mitochondrial genes. The data support two major lineages, one of which (European haplogroup) is distributed continuously from West Europe to West Siberia; the other (Siberian haplogroup) is found in two non-adjacent areas: in central Siberia and in southern Finland and Karelia

Mammals usually adjust behavioral patterns when exposed to disturbances. Elusiveness and low-risk time selection may reduce their stress in periods of highest risk. In Europe, brown bears (Ursus arctos) coexist with humans in densely populated and modified landscapes and, consequently, are exposed to human-caused disturbances during the daytime hours. Furthermore, intraspecific interactions might also

High polymorphism in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes plays an essential role in the adaptive immune system of vertebrates for defense against various pathogens. To further understand the evolution of MHC in wildlife, partial sequences of exon 2 in MHC class II DRB genes were determined and analyzed for the Japanese marten (Martes melampus), which is endemic to Japan. From 26 individuals

Phyllostomids (New World leaf-nosed bats) are the ecologically most diverse bat family and have undergone the most extensive adaptive radiation of any mammalian family. However comprehensive, multi-species studies regarding phyllostomid echolocation are scarce in the literature despite abundant ecological research. In this study, we describe the call structure and interspecific variation in call design

Mechanisms that decrease niche overlap, whether dietary, spatial, or temporal, are important in facilitating the coexistence of sympatric competitors. Since predators commonly partition resources via temporal segregation, we investigated whether it plays a significant role in mediating the coexistence of four common boreal predators: black bear (Ursus americanus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), wolverine

About 80% of the known breeding population of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in the USA occurs exclusively on private ranches in northern Willacy and Kenedy counties in South Texas. These private ranches support several large contiguous undisturbed patches of thornscrub, which is preferred by ocelots. Past studies have indicated ocelots in South Texas select for woody patches that contain extremely dense

The development of industry and agriculture and the continuous growth of human population on Earth have dramatically increased anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems and wildlife. As a result, fragmentation of the natural habitats and the decrease in genetic diversity in these populations increase the probability of reproduction with genetically closely related individuals (inbreeding). However

Variation in primary productivity has been described for an extensive range of natural systems and may lead to remarkable bottom-up effects on consumer communities at higher trophic levels. During a standardized sampling of the small mammal assemblage in the Reserva Florestal Morro Grande, SP, Brazil, we documented a bamboo blooming followed by an increase in abundance of small mammals. Here we described

Natal dispersal affects the gene flow, distribution, dynamics and social structure of a population. In many solitary mammals, dispersal is often male-biased, while females may remain philopatric. For the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), dispersal distances vary greatly and may be explained by sex or by habitat characteristics, such as fragmentation. Juvenile lynx habitat selection during dispersal has not

The Japanese badger (Meles anakuma) is an endemic species in Japan. Although it has been considered a forest-dwelling species, a recent study has shown that badgers use pastures intensively to feed on earthworms, suggesting that pastures comprise an important habitat for them. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution of this species’ setts (≥ 1 m deep) and couches (< 1 m deep) in a mosaic

Commercial farming of endangered wildlife has potential to reduce poaching pressure on wild populations. However, poached products can be laundered as farmed products. A method for separating farmed from wild products is therefore essential for effective law enforcement. Meat (skeletal muscle) is a wildlife product whose origin cannot be correctly determined. This short communication reports an epigenetic

The reference Hartman et al. 2015 should have been cited as Hartman et al. 2016. The reference information is presented correctly. The original article has been corrected.

The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained an error. The corrections are presented in this article.