Survival of Eurasian lynx in the human-dominated landscape of Europe.

Survival and cause-specific mortality rates are vital for evidence-based population forecasting and conservation, particularly for large carnivores, whose populations are often vulnerable to human-caused mortalities. It is therefore important to know the relationship between anthropogenic and natural mortality causes to evaluate whether they are additive or compensatory. Further, the relation between survival and environmental covariates could reveal whether specific landscape characteristics influence demographic performance.

Speciation and historical invasions of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus).

Animal translocations provide striking examples of the human footprint on biodiversity. Combining continental-wide genomic and DNA-barcoding analyses, we reconstructed the historical biogeography of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), a toxic commensal amphibian that currently threatens two biodiversity hotspots through biological invasions (Wallacea and Madagascar). The results emphasize a complex diversification shaped by speciation and mitochondrial introgression that comprises two distinct species.

Human Footprint and Forest Disturbance Reduce Space Use of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) Across Europe.

Three-quarters of the planet's land surface has been altered by humans, with consequences for animal ecology, movements and related ecosystem functioning. Species often occupy wide geographical ranges with contrasting human disturbance and environmental conditions, yet, limited data availability across species' ranges has constrained our understanding of how human pressure and resource availability jointly shape intraspecific variation of animal space use. Leveraging a unique dataset of 758 annual GPS movement trajectories from 375 brown bears (Ursus arctos) across the species' range in Europe, we investigated the effects of human pressure (i.

Night flight facilitates late breeding catch-up in a long-distance migratory seabird.

Long-distance migrants must optimise their timing of breeding to capitalise on resources at both breeding and over-wintering sites. In species with protracted breeding seasons, departing earlier on migration might be advantageous, but is constrained by the ongoing breeding attempt. Here we investigated how breeding timing affects migratory strategies in the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), a trans-hemispheric migratory seabird with large temporal variation in the onset of breeding.

Effects of experimental nest treatment with herbs on ectoparasites and body condition of nestlings.

Nest fumigation behavior involves the incorporation of fresh green plant fragments that contain ectoparasite-repellent volatile compounds into birds' nests. This behavior is relatively rare among bird species, and there is ongoing debate about whether it benefits parental breeding success. In this study, we experimentally tested whether the inclusion of aromatic-herbal plant fragments in the nests of great tits affects the physiological condition of nestlings, as indicated by blood levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, and body condition indices, such as weight and wing length.

Testing the Dispersal-Origin-Status-Impact (DOSI) scheme to prioritise non-native and translocated species management.

Assessing actual and potential impacts of non-native species is necessary for prioritising their management. Traditional assessments often occur at the species level, potentially overlooking differences among populations. The recently developed Dispersal-Origin-Status-Impact (DOSI) assessment scheme addresses this by treating biological invasions as population-level phenomena, incorporating the complexities affecting populations of non-native species.

The scent of habitat shift: Olfactory receptor evolution is associated with environmental transitions in turtles.

The transition between aquatic and terrestrial habitats leads to extreme structural changes in sensorial systems. Olfactory receptors (OR) are involved in the detection of odorant molecules both in water and on land. Therefore, ORs are affected by evolutionary habitat transitions experienced by organisms.

Long distance calls: Negligible information loss of little auk social vocalisations due to high frequency propagation losses.

How well does the information contained in vocal signals travel through the environment? To assess the efficiency of information transfer in little auk (Alle alle, an Arctic seabird) calls over distance, we selected two of the social call types with the highest potential for individuality coding. Using available recordings of known individuals, we calculated the apparent source levels, with apparent maximum peak sound pressure level (ASPL) of 63 dB re 20 μPa at 1 m for both call types. Further, we created a sound attenuation model using meteorological data collected in the vicinity of the little auk colony in Hornsund, Spitsbergen.

Invasion Risk of Established and Horizon Non-Native Ants in the Mediterranean: A Screening for Italy.

Over five hundred non-native ant species have spread worldwide, including many that have severe effects on biodiversity, are serious economic pests, or threaten human health and agriculture. The number of species in the Mediterranean is steadily increasing, with Italy being a prominent example. We provide risk screenings for non-native ant species in Italy using a Terrestrial Species Invasiveness Screening Kit using current climate conditions and future predictions.

Photoregulatory functions drive variation in eye coloration across macaque species.

Primates, the most colorful mammalian radiation, have previously served as an interesting model to test the functions and evolutionary drivers of variation in eye color. We assess the contribution of photo-regulatory and communicative functions to the external eye appearance of nine macaque species representing all the branches of their radiation. Macaques' well described social structure and wide geographical distribution make them interesting to explore.

Zooming in the plastisphere: the ecological interface for phytoplankton-plastic interactions in aquatic ecosystems.

Phytoplankton is an essential resource in aquatic ecosystems, situated at the base of aquatic food webs. Plastic pollution can impact these organisms, potentially affecting the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The interaction between plastics and phytoplankton is multifaceted: while microplastics can exert toxic effects on phytoplankton, plastics can also act as a substrate for colonisation.

Unravelling intermediate migration patterns in gull hybrids: insights from ring re-encounters.

Hybridization is a common phenomenon in birds, particularly between closely related species, when reproductive isolation mechanisms are insufficiently developed. Hybrids differ from the parental species in genetic, morphological, and behavioural traits. However, the migration patterns of hybrids have been scarcely studied.

Prioritising non-native fish species for management actions in three Polish rivers using the newly developed tool-dispersal-origin-status-impact scheme.

Background: Biological invasions are a major threat to global biodiversity, with freshwater ecosystems being among the most susceptible to the successful establishment of non-native species and their respective potential impacts. In Poland, the introduction and spreading of non-native fish has led to biodiversity loss and ecosystem homogenisation.

Methods: Our study applies the Dispersal-Origin-Status-Impact (DOSI) assessment scheme, which is a population-level specific assessment that integrates multiple factors, including dispersal mechanisms, origin, status, and impacts, providing a nuanced framework for assessing invasion risks at local and regional levels.

Impact of global environmental changes on the range contraction of Eurasian moose since the Late Pleistocene.

Climatic oscillations are considered primary factors influencing the distribution of various life forms on Earth. Large species adapted to cold climates are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to climate changes. In our study, we investigated whether temperature increase since the Late Pleistocene and the contraction of environmental niche during the Holocene were the main factors contributing to the decreasing range of moose (Alces alces) in Europe.

Behavioural responses of a trans-hemispheric migrant to climate oscillation.

Large-scale climatic fluctuations, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, can have dramatic effects on ocean ecosystem productivity. Many mobile species breeding in temperate or higher latitudes escape the extremes of seasonal climate variation through long-distance, even trans-global migration, but how they deal with, or are affected by, such longer phased climate fluctuations is less understood. To investigate how a long-lived migratory species might respond to such periodic environmental change we collected and analysed a 13 year biologging dataset for a trans-equatorial migrant, the Manx shearwater ().

Next-Generation Sequencing to Determine Changes in the Intestinal Microbiome of Juvenile Sturgeon Hybrid (♀ × ♂) Resulting from Sodium Butyrate, Β-Glucan and Vitamin Supplementation.

Background/objectives: The effect of sodium butyrate (NaB), β-glucan (βG) and vitamins in the diet on gut microbiome, cortisol level, lysozyme activity and growth parameters of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (♀ × ♂) was determined.

Methods: Sturgeon hybrids ( = 144) were divided into three groups with enriched feeding (mg/kg of feed): FQV1 (50 NaB; 20 βG; const. vitamins), FQV2 (150 NaB; 20 βG; const.

Seasonal changes in activity of hypothalamic thyroid hormone system in different winter phenotypes of Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).

Although the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is a seasonality model, it presents substantial variability in winter acclimation. In response to short photoperiod, some individuals express a suite of winter traits such as low body mass, regressed gonads, white fur, and daily torpor, while others develop only some adjustments or maintain a summer phenotype. Despite comprehensive research, the mechanisms underlying polymorphism of winter phenotype are still unknown.

Temperature and water availability induce chronic stress responses in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Animals initiate physiological mechanisms to re-establish homeostasis following environmental stress. To understand how bird physiology responds to abiotic stress, we quantified changes in haematological markers of chronic stress response and body condition of male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) acclimated for 18 weeks to hot and cool temperatures (daytime temperature: 40°C and 23°C) with water available ad libitum or restricted during half of the active phase. Ambient temperature induced greater chronic stress than restricted water availability.