European Journal of Wildlife Research - Cover Gallery
Welcome to the Journal Cover Gallery of the European Journal of Wildlife Research
You are invited to contact Dr. Christian Gortázar, Editor-in-Chief, at Christian.Gortazar@uclm.es if you would like to submit a photo for consideration as the journal cover.
Volume 69/4 (this opens in a new tab) With increasing levels of urbanization and human encroachment into natural areas, understanding the spatial ecology of large predators provides critical information for wildlife conservation and management planning. In this issue, Brooke E. Crowley and co-authors used non-invasive tools to study jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (Belize). They applied molecular scatology to assign scats to genetically distinct individuals and combined this with fecal isotope values to gain additional insight into their foraging areas. This combination could applied to other systems to further illuminate landscape use and movement ecology, as well as assess reliance on domesticated animals or anthropogenic subsidies in areas of conservation concern and conflict. Photo: jaguar (Panthera onca). Author: Brooke E. Crowley and co-authors. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 69/3 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue, Jo Jorem Aarseth from the Department of Wildlife and Rangelands, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), presents an experiment on Greylag goose (Anser anser) crop-damage management in northern Norway, where the populations have increased substantially. In this region, farm fields are mainly used for growing grass, a vital feed for the local livestock during the winter months. Lethal scaring is shown in this study to be very effective to prevent crop damage by Greylag Geese. If hunting is conducted every 3rd–7th day on a field, this protective measure can last an entire growing season. Photo: Greylag Geese (Anser Anser). Author: Jo Jorem Aarseth. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 69/2 (this opens in a new tab) Elisavet Georgopoulou and co-authors studied Dalmatian pelicans, large soaring waterbirds distributed from Montenegro to China. This issue of the European Journal of Wildlife Research presents important information on DP spatial ecology in eastern Europe. Continuous intersite movements are characteristic of the species. Individuals from different colonies overlap in the use of wetlands away from their capture sites. The conservation of the breeding populations of DPs in SE Europe depends on a wide network of water bodies and transboundary conservation efforts are needed. Photo: Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus). Author: Elisavet Georgopoulou Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 69/1 (this opens in a new tab) Spain is home to two native and sympatric hedgehog species: the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and the Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus). In this issue of EJWR, Hector Gago and co-authors from the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Valencia report on hedgehog spatial behavior in suburban Valencia City. They find that both hedgehog species cohabit without apparent spatial competition, selecting cover habitats with relatively low human disturbance. The study evidences the need to monitor young individuals and their dispersal behavior in fragmented habitats. Photo: Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus). Author: Hector Gago. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/6 (this opens in a new tab) Managing species like the wolf (Canis lupus), which evokes conflicts while being vulnerable to various human activities, requires reliable population assessment methods. In this issue, Samu Mäntyniemi and co-authors used Bayesian inference to pool the information contained in different data sets including point observations, noninvasive genetics, and known mortalities for estimating the number of territories occupied by wolf packs in Finland. Photo: Wolf (Canis lupus). Author: C. Gortázar. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/5 (this opens in a new tab) A snake, in this case a Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica), made it to this October 2022 cover. The reason is the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) that can impact on natural populations of ophidian reptiles. Fungal pathogens are an emerging concern for wildlife. For example, mycotic diseases caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans, and Pseudogymnoascus destructans are often fatal for amphibians and cave-dwelling bats. There are fewer data regarding reptile populations. The review article by Di Nicola and co-authors portraits the global distribution of Oo in snake species and categorizes this information using new classification parameters. Photo: Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica), one of the European species susceptible to ophidiomycosis and able to shed the fungus in the environment. Author: Matteo R. Di Nicola. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/4 (this opens in a new tab) Detailed knowledge on bird migration phenology is needed for huntingand wildlife management-regulatory purposes. In this issue of EJWR, Alessandro Andreotti and co-authors from the ISPRA in Ozzano Emilia, Italy, used hunting bag data to study spatial and temporal variations in harvest records of the song thrush, Turdus philomelos, a short-distance migrant passerine. They found that the observed increase in January harvesting is not due to wintering displacements induced by cold spells, but to regular movements that are predictable in time and direction, typical of migrating birds. The study evidences that hunting statistics can be used to study bird migration. Photo: Song thrush (Turdus philomelos). Author: Simone Pirello. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/3 (this opens in a new tab) Telemetry provides wildlife researchers with valuable data on animal ecology, behavior and conservation. However, attaching telemetry devices can be challenging for animals with unique body anatomy such as the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). As featured in this issue, Alessandra Bertassoni and her team from the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil studied 74 giant anteaters and found no severe adverse effects of harness-attached GPS tracking devices for this species. This data supports the continued use of telemetry for monitoring free-ranging or captive giant anteaters. Photo: Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Author: Alessandra Bertassoni. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/2 (this opens in a new tab) Accurate harvest design and implementation remains a significant challenge in wildlife management. In this issue, Piia M. Kukka and co-authors used 27 years of wolverine harvest data (1988–2014) to examine harvest patterns in the Yukon (Canada). Harvest numbers and remained variable with no clear trend since 1988 and was concentrated in ecoregions that included human settlements and greater road access. The study finds that ensuring sustainable harvest in the future will require continued stewardship by local trappers, improvements to harvest monitoring, and possibly establishing harvest quotas in areas of concern. Harvest refugia and the persistence of wilderness regions are important for sustaining wolverine populations. Photo: Wolverine (Gulo gulo). Author: Peter Mather Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 68/1 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue of EJWR, Mallé Gueye and co-authors present the humanwildlife conflict around large carnivores in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal, West Africa. The spotted hyena is responsible for 87% of livestock predation around the park. Current hyena populations in this area are lower than previous estimates, but the trend of the number of attacks by large carnivores on livestock is increasing. Livestock is mainly attacked at night and during the rainy season. The most impacted local communities tend to have larger livestock herds and reside closer to the park. This information might contribute to establish targeted mitigation schemes. Photo: Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Author: Christian Gortázar. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/6 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue of EJWR, Ancuta Fedorca and team from the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry study the movement and establishment of new beaver territories in Romania, aided by genetic markers, and discuss future management strategies. In the upcoming issue (February 2022) Roger E. Auster and colleagues from Exeter University (UK) use social-science methods for conflict management and identify and define ‘Renewed Coexistence’ as a new term that draws on pre-existing coexistence knowledge but identifies the unique elements that relate to governing coexistence with reintroduced species. Photo: Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). Author: Roger Auster. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/5 (this opens in a new tab) Camera traps are used in a wide range of zoology, ecology, and conservation biology studies. In this issue, Krešimir Kavčić and co-authors used ‘random encounter models (REM)’ to estimate densities of a mountain-dwelling ungulate, the Balkan chamois. REM produced results comparable to visual counts and have therefore potential for estimating ungulate density in rugged and inaccessible mountainous areas with low detectability, where other approaches are less suitable. Photo: Balkan chamois (Rupicapra r. balcanica). Author: Krešimir Kavčić. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/4 (this opens in a new tab) How do amphibians persist within landscapes fragmented by urbanization? István Kiss and colleagues implemented a capture-recapture study of an isolated population of the fire salamander in Hungary, observing high longevity (>20 years) and adequate recruitment despite habitat fragmentation. However, isolated populations require monitoring to detect future habitat disturbances. Photo: Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra). Author: István Kiss. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/3 (this opens in a new tab) Over the years, whether as the result of deliberate introduction or natural colonization, a significant number of non-native species have become established outside their historical distribution range. Where these species spread widely and may have significant ecological or economic impacts, they are termed ‘invasive’ and individual countries and the European Union have sought to deliver appropriate action in relation to containment of these species and their impacts, or actual eradication. This issue includes a small collection, five papers, on the management of Reeves’ muntjac, an invasive alien species. The small collection on muntjac is the starting point for a broader Topical Collection “Management of Alien Game Species”. Photo: Reeves’ muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). Author: Norma Chapman. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/2 (this opens in a new tab) Our cover features the red deer (Cervus elaphus), a keystone wild ungulate and one of the most relevant large game species in many parts the northern hemisphere and locally in the south. In this issue, two articles use population genetics to gain knowledge on deer management. Gerald Reiner and co-authors assessed population fragmentation and effective population size in 19 metapopulations using microsatellite markers. The study urges for efforts to sustainably preserve genetic diversity by ensuring genetic connectivity. Another study, by Cornelia Ebert and co-authors, developed and tested a non-invasive genetic method to estimate red deer population size, density and sex-ratio based on feces. Photo: Red deer hind (Cervus elaphus). Author: Gerald Reiner Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 67/1 (this opens in a new tab) Intermediate in size between wolves and foxes, golden jackals (Canis aureus) are expanding in Europe. In this issue, Aldin Selimovic and co-authors investigated the presence and distribution of golden jackals in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where knowledge on the species’ distribution and habitat use is still scarce. Using bioacoustic stimulation as a non-invasive tool to gather data on golden jackal presence, they estimated a minimum relative group density of 3.5 territorial groups per 100 km2. Habitat analysis identified shrub vegetation and pastures as structures with a significant effect on the presence of resident golden jackals. Photo: Golden jackal (Canis aureus). Author: J. Hatlauf. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/6 (this opens in a new tab) Camera traps are used in a wide range of zoology, ecology, and conservation biology studies. In this issue, Esther Sebastian-Gonzalez and co-authors tested several baits to attract vertebrates to camera-traps for characterizing the vertebrate animal community in a highly diverse forest in in the Brazilian Cerrado. Sardines detected the largest number of species overall. However, the most appropriate bait depends tremendously on the target species or community, as the same bait may perform very differently even for similar species. Photo: Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Author: Esther Sebastian-Gonzalez. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/5 (this opens in a new tab) The lions pictured on this month’s cover illustrate Bakker and co-authors work on footprint density monitoring in Cameroon, a low-cost, easy to implement, multi-scale and effective tool for the identification of both regional and range-wide carnivore conservation hotspots. It is also a means of illustrating the global scope of the European Journal of Wildlife Research. Photo: Lions (Panthera leo). Author: Elise Bakker. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/4 (this opens in a new tab) This issue of EJWR contains two new articles on the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). First, Ulrich Voigt and Ursula Siebert assessed the survival of preweaning leverets detected by thermography and radio-tagged. Daytime shelter is key for improving the observed survival rate of only 0.35 in the first month of life. The second article, by Luca Canova and co-authors, shows that surveillance (in addition to habitat heterogeneity) contributes to drive hare density in protected breeding areas. Photo: European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) leverets. Author: Ulrich Voigt. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/3 (this opens in a new tab) Emerging infectious diseases are a threat for the survival of amphibians. In the North-West of the Iberian Peninsula, declines related to infection by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have been described and Ranavirus infections also caused mass mortalities and population declines. As reported in this issue, Ayres and co-authors found the first report of triple co-infection of Lissotriton newts by Bd, Ranavirus, and Cystidium. The co-occurrence of these three pathogens could represent a new threat to amphibians. Photo: palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus). Author: Cesar Ayres. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/2 (this opens in a new tab) The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is a protected steppe bird characteristic of cereal farmland areas, whose populations have decreased by 48% in Spain during the last decade. Xabier Cabodevilla and co-authors documented the spatio-temporal dynamics of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) releases for hunting purposes and assessed whether these releases were associated with changes in the local little bustard population. They compared population changes of little bustards between hunting estates characterized by different levels of releasing intensity. The authors found that little bustard abundance remained stable only in hunting estates with high intensity of partridge releases. Photo: Male little bustard (Tetrax tetrax). Author: José David Gómez. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 66/1 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue, also part of our ongoing Road Ecology Topical Collection, a review paper by Amy L.W. Schwartz and co-authors describes the many uses of roadkill monitoring. The number of wildlife-vehicle collisions has an obvious value in estimating mortality due to vehicle collisions. There is, however, much wider ecological knowledge that can be gained by monitoring wildlife roadkill, from population trends to passive disease surveillance. Photo: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) roadkill. Author: Amy L.W. Schwartz. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/6 (this opens in a new tab) Reviews allow making a stop in urgent research to assess existing knowledge and think about future goals in specific areas. Alessandra Bertassoni and Milton Cezar Ribeiro identified research priorities in giant anteater (Myrmecophagatridactyla) spatial ecology: these include the need of studies at different spatial scales; dispersal patterns; movement patterns; territoriality; and habitat selection in humanmodified landscapes. Photo: Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) at Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Author: Alessandra Bertassoni. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/5 (this opens in a new tab) This issue of EJWR contains an inspiring example of how habitat improvement can benefit keystone species. Darius Weber and co-authors managed one part of each of four experimental areas in order to improve leveret (Lepus europaeus) survival and used the remaining part as control. This experiment shows that brown hare populations in agricultural landscapes with previously low hare densities can be considerably increased by offering a total area of about 3% wider-sown winter cereals or wildflower patches within the agriculturally used area. Photo: European Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) leverets; Author: Nicolas Martinez Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/4 (this opens in a new tab) Monitoring is essential in wildlife management, both for decision making and for assessing the effects of interventions. In this issue, Nicholas J. Aebisher, from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, uses game bags to assess temporal trends and evaluate changes over 50 years for 30 bird and 15 mammal species in the UK. Declining trends in species like grey partridge, ptarmigan or brown hare contrast with increases in others, including most cervids. Photo: Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus); Author: C. Gortazar Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/3 (this opens in a new tab) This issue of EJWR contains two articles addressing the European pine marten, Martes martes. In the first one, Josh Twining and co-authors investigated diet and trophic niche plasticity of the pine marten revealing that this opportunistic species is likely to be resilient to environmental and habitat changes in the future. In a second marten paper, Elizabeth Croose and co-authors compare the efficacy of three methods forestimating marten abundance. They find that a combined sampling approach comprising hair tubes and scats for noninvasive genetic sampling maximizes the number of detections and provides a viable alternative to invasive live trapping. Photo: European pine marten (Martes martes); Author: Joshua P. Twining Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/2 (this opens in a new tab) The red deer is the first case to repeat an EJWR cover (see February issue). However, several articles deal with this ungulate in the current issue, too. These include a timely review on chronicwasting disease and its potential implications for European ungulates; a methods paper questioning pellet counts as an accurate monitoring tool where similar-sized species coexist; and two articles on the population genetics of red deer. Photo: Red deer (Cervus elaphus); Author: Gerald Reiner. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 65/1 (this opens in a new tab) Long-term studies are of exceptional value in wildlife management. In this issue of EJWR, Rory Putman and coauthors present an analysis of carcass data of red deer that shows that deliberate reduction in density in resource-restricted populations results in increases in male and female body weight and in some aspects of female fecundity, but that these changes are not symmetrical with responses observed with increasing density. Photograph: Red deer (Cervus elaphus); Author: Rory Putman. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/6 (this opens in a new tab) This issue of EJWR includes collaborations from very different regions,worldwide. The cover highlights a research on the group pattern of Marco Polo sheep in the Chinese Pamir plateau by Muyang Wang and co-authors. Marco Polo sheep formed larger groups as an effective antipredator strategy in seasons when forage amounts allowed them to do so, though human activities also had a significant impact on group patterns, forcing out wild sheep to aggregate on remnants of suitable pastures. Photo: Large group of Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii); Author: Muyang Wang Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/5 (this opens in a new tab) Conflicts with wildlife emerge wherever a species valuable for human beings is intensely affected by wildlife – and interventions are needed to provide solutions. Rubén Moreno-Opo and co-authors found that European beeeaters (Merops apiaster) negatively affect honey bee activity and honey production, mainly during their migratory season (August). However, there were no negative effects on the survival and viability of the hives. Fortunately, preventive measures such as installing shading meshes around the apiary to prevent bee predation offered promising results. Photo: European bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Photographer: Juan Carlos Núñez Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/4 (this opens in a new tab) The Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) is a threatened Iberian endemism of damp grassland patches. Two articles by the same Portugal-based team at CiBio published in this issuse on Cabrera voles to investigate the efficacy of genetic non-invasive sampling (gNIS). For small mammals, this is where faeces (this study), hair or owl pellet remains are genetically typed, without animal capture. Sabino-Marques and colleagues (article 44) compare population density estimates through gNIS and through capture; Ferreira and colleagues (article 46) compare genetic diversity, kinship and dispersal, and overall costeffectiveness, between non-invasive methods and capture-based ones. gNIS performed excellently, and these unusually detailed analyses showed its effectiveness for monitoring and studying rare and elusive small mammals, avoiding disturbance due to live-capture. Photo: Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae). Photographer: Soraia Barbosa. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/3 (this opens in a new tab) This time the cover photo illustrates the first Topical Collection of the European Journal of Wildlife Research: Road Ecology. The purpose of this discipline is to understand the interactions among roads, traffic and the surrounding environment. This Topical Collection aims to develop general principles and applications, and to provide a forum for collaborative dialogue on Road Ecology. Read more information on this Topical Collection in the editorial. Photo: Red deer (Cervus elaphus); Author: Jacinto Román. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/2 (this opens in a new tab) Hunters can contribute valuable samples to study wildlife population trends. This is evidenced by a study on Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope) published in this issue. Wigeons are widespread migratory dabbling ducks, breeding in northern Eurasia. Hannu Pöysä and Veli-Matti Väänänen report on the long term trends in the proportion of first-year birds in wigeon wing samples. The study shows a consistent long-term decline, probably indicating an overall decrease in breeding success. This variation was not associated with weather or climatic variables for the breeding and wintering periods. Hence, the role of habitat deterioration as a global driver of breeding success should receive more attention. Photo: Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope); Author: Veli-Matti Väänänen. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 64/1 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue, Davaa Lkhagvasuren and co-authors use abundant collection material to describe the population structure of the Asiatic wild ass in its main range, the Mongolian Gobi. The mean age was 7.7 years and the maximum age 29 years. The study revealed low annual mortality rates of about 15% in the most productive age classes of 5–10 years. This is the first insight into the structure of the largest remaining Asiatic wild ass population and can be used as a benchmark for future monitoring and population viability modeling. Photo: Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus). Author: Petra Kaczensky. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/6 (this opens in a new tab) Poisoning is still a major cause of death among endangered raptors. In this issue, two papers deal with raptor poisoning in Europe. Oliver Krone and his colleagues from the IZW in Berlin report that secondary carbofuran poisoning in White-tailed Sea-eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) indicates the threat to non-target species from illegal use. Carbofuran poisoning is also recorded among red kites (Milvus milvus) by Fieke M. Molenaar and coauthors from the ZS London, along with other substances such as rodenticides. Poisoning was diagnosed in one third of the studied kites belonging to a resource intensive and expensive reintroduction program. Both studies evidence that thorough forensic examinations including toxicology are essential to monitor wildlife fatalities. Photo: White-tailed Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla); Author: Oliver Krone. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/5 (this opens in a new tab) Top-down and bottom-up controls are hypothesized to regulate population structures in many ecosystems. However, few studies have had the opportunity to analyze both processes in the natural environment. In this issue, Leroy Soria-Díaz, Mike S. Fowler and Octavio Monroy-Vilchis show that that seasonal per capita changes in cougar abundance is best explained by bottom-up control and intraspecific feedback, while per capita changes in prey abundance were significantly affected by cougar abundance, indicating top-down control. Hence, both routes are in effect in the surveyed Mexican study site. Photo: Cougar (Puma concolor); Author: Octavio Monroy-Vilchis. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/4 (this opens in a new tab) The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is a keystone species of Eurasian agricultural ecosystems. This farmland lagomorph is widespread but declining and is therefore of conservation concern. Volume 63 of the European Journal of Wildlife Research has already published two articles dealing with this species. In the first one (Article 49, June 2017), Silviu O. Petrovan and co-authors studied the use by brown hares of bioenergy crops, revealing that benefits and limitations of this novel habitat are scale-dependent and require attention. In this issue (Article 62, August 2017), Luigi Esposito and co-authors used hair cortisol levels as an indicator of stress in captive brown hares, showing that a short period of adaptation in a low-stress environment reduces the stress status of hares during their release. Such indicator could be useful for non-invasive stress monitoring in this and other wildlife. Photo: European brown hare (Lepus europaeus); Author: Silviu O. Petrovan. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/3 (this opens in a new tab) Estimation of demographic parameters is of fundamental interest to life history theory and population ecology, and is also critical for animal conservation and management. In this issue, Jiapeng Qu and co-authors present data on the dynamics of a population of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) from Tibet. Pika density and precipitation had negative effects on reproductive success, while temperature showed consistently positive effects. Hence, pika density and climate regulate together the population dynamics of plateau pikas. Photo: Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae); Author: Jiapeng Qu Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/2 (this opens in a new tab) The European mink is a small semi-aquatic andsolitary living carnivore which mainly inhabitsfresh water bodies such as riverbanks, brooksand wetlands. To examine the occurrence ofindividual specialisation, Marianne Haage andco-authors performed a feeding experiment oncaptive bred European minks in a translocationprogramme. By using animals reared in acontrolled environment with identical feedingroutines, the authors examined whether or notindividual specialisation is affected by innatepreferences and learning, by including novelprey species and investigating learning times.They conclude that both innate preferencesand learning seem to be of importance fordietary preferences in European mink,suggesting that this behavioural plasticitycould be of concern in conservation. Photo: European mink (Mustela lutreola); Author: Tiit Maran. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 63/1 (this opens in a new tab) The European bison became extinct in the wild in the XIX Century due to overhunting. However, after successful captive breeding and re-introductions, nowadays there are freeranging populations in several European countries. In this issue, a paper by Linas Balčiauskas and co-authors addresses the human-wildlife conflicts linked to the reestablishment of this large mammal, and the role of public awareness therein. Bison are also mentioned in a second article, by Orłowska and co-authors, on tuberculosis in southern Poland. This evidences the health implications as another important aspect of bison recovery. Photo: European bison (Bison bonasus) by Rafał Kowalczyk. Rafał Kowalczyk published an article on bison parasites (Kołodziej-Sobocińska, M., Demiaszkiewicz, A.W., Pyziel, A.M. et al. Eur J Wildl Res (2016) 62:781. doi:10.1007/s10344-016-1037-6). Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/6 (this opens in a new tab) The development and evaluation of a reliable noninvasive genetic sampling is a crucial step towards accurately estimating population size for the long-term monitoring of wildlife species. In this issue, Maik Rehnus and Kurt Bollmann investigated the feasibility of noninvasive genetic sampling data for capturerecapture analyses of the mountain hare. They used microsatellite markers to genotype the samples that were collected according to a systematic and an opportunistic sampling design. The systematic sampling revealed reliable population density estimates whereas the opportunistic sampling resulted in higher numbers of recapture and increased the spatial resolution of the data. The study informs wildlife ecologists and managers about suitable survey techniques for the monitoring of lagomorph populations and addresses important principles of reliable survey methods for other elusive wildlife species. Picture: Mountain hare (Lepus timidus). Photographer: Rolf Giger. The article on Bonelli’s eagle habitat selection by Beatriz Martínez-Miranzo and co-authors, originally scheduled for issue 5/2016, is published in this issue 6/2016. We apologize for not including the article along with the corresponding cover picture in issue 5/2016. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/5 (this opens in a new tab) Integrating modern tracking tools and classical census methods provides high-quality data in wildlife research. In this issue, Beatriz Martínez-Miranzo and co-authors study the habitat selection of 14 Bonelli’s eagles (Aquila fasciata) equipped with satellite tracking devices. Using a multi-scale approach, the study found that at a regional scale, eagles select heterogeneous habitat with crops, scrub and forest. At a smaller scale however, habitat structure plays a key role and selection is conditioned by the presence of potential prey. Given the scarcity of typical prey such as rabbits and partridges, Bonelli’s eagleswill surprisingly prefer urban habitats to hunt pigeons. Because habitat selection differs at different scales, understanding the effects of this plasticity is necessary to implement appropriate habitat management actions, eventually including humanized habitats. Picture: Adult Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata). Photographer: Alberto Portero Garcés. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/4 (this opens in a new tab) Bats are one of the largest mammalian orders, representing about one fifth of all known mammal species. Therefore, and because of the ecological relevance of bats, EJWR often includes publications on bat management. In this issue, a study by E. Kühnert and coauthors shows that the structure of woodland bat communities is influenced by the availability of suitable roosts. Radio-tracking evidenced clear species-specific roost preferences. These results provide guidance for bat-friendly forest management. Photo: Barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus); Author Philippe Christe Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/3 (this opens in a new tab) Michaela Skuban and colleagues studied the effects of agricultural and game management policies on the feeding and behavior of brown bears. Recently, anthropogenic food became more accessible for bears in Slovakia, due to supplementary feeding of ungulates and due to agricultural crops. In Europe, game feeding has negative consequences in form of ungulate population overgrowth, but could also influence bear behavior. Photo: Brown bear, by Tibor Pataky. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/2 (this opens in a new tab) In this issue, three articles deal with conflicts surrounding wolf (Canis lupus) conservation and management. The study by Marino Agnese and co-authors shows that ex post and insurancebased compensation fail to increase tolerance for wolves in semi-agricultural landscapes of central Italy; a second study from Iran by Nader Habibzadeh identifies the determinants of humanwolf conflicts in East Azerbaijan; and in a third one Bjørn Kaltenborn and Scott Brainerd suggest that poaching can inadvertently contribute to increased public acceptance of wolves in Scandinavia. Photo: two Iberian wolves. Author: SaBio-IREC. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
Volume 62/1 (this opens in a new tab) The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a relevant wildlife species in relation to disease control at the interface with livestock. In this issue of EJWR, three articles address the field of wildlife-livestock interaction. Two of them, by Payne and coauthors and Carrasco and coauthors, focus on wildlife visits to farm facilities, assessed by camera traps. A third one, by Cowie and coauthors, investigates direct contact rates among a matrix of wild and domestic mammals using data-loggers. Together, these three articles provide a complete insight into the most likely indirect mechanisms of infection transmission between wild boar and livestock. Click here to enlarge the image (this opens in a new tab)
