Linear infrastructure and associated wildlife accidents create an ecological trap for an apex predator and scavenger.

Animals may fall into an 'ecological trap' when they select seemingly attractive habitats at the expense of their fitness. This maladaptive behavior is often the result of rapid, human-induced changes in their natal environment, such as the construction of energy and transportation infrastructure. We tested the ecological trap hypothesis regarding human-created linear infrastructure on a widely distributed apex predator and scavenger-the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), whose range spans the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Trophic fate and biomagnification of organic micropollutants from staple food to a specialized predator.

The environmental burden of organic micropollutants has been shown in aquatic ecosystems, while trophic fate of many compounds in terrestrial food chains remains highly elusive. We therefore studied concentrations of 108 organic micropollutants in a common European mammal, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), and 82 of the compounds in a specialized predator, Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus) relying to >90 % on voles as its prey. We studied compounds in whole voles (n = 19), pools of 4-8 bank voles (n = 4), owl blood (n = 10) and in owl eggs (n = 10) in two regions in Sweden.

Taking the beat of the Arctic: are lemming population cycles changing due to winter climate?

Reports of fading vole and lemming population cycles and persisting low populations in some parts of the Arctic have raised concerns about the spread of these fundamental changes to tundra food web dynamics. By compiling 24 unique time series of lemming population fluctuations across the circumpolar region, we show that virtually all populations displayed alternating periods of cyclic/non-cyclic fluctuations over the past four decades. Cyclic patterns were detected 55% of the time ( = 649 years pooled across sites) with a median periodicity of 3.

Exploring the influence of host community composition on the outbreak potential of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.

In large parts of the northern hemisphere, multiple deer species coexist, and management actions can strongly influence wild deer communities. Such changes may also indirectly influence other species in the community, such as small mammals and birds, because deer can have strong effects on their habitats and resources. Deer, small mammals and birds play an important role in the dynamics of tick-borne zoonotic diseases.