1
|
Testing artificial nestbox designs for in-situ conservation of tamarins. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
2
|
Gazzard A, Baker PJ. What makes a house a home? Nest box use by West European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) is influenced by nest box placement, resource provisioning and site-based factors. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13662. [PMID: 35811826 PMCID: PMC9261924 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial refuges provided by householders and/or conservation practitioners potentially represent one mechanism for mitigating declines in the availability of natural nest sites used for resting, breeding and hibernating in urban areas. The effectiveness of such refuges for different species is, however, not always known. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of UK householders to identify factors associated with the use of ground-level nest boxes for West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a species of conservation concern. Overall, the percentage of boxes used at least once varied with season and type of use: summer day nesting (35.5-81.3%), breeding (7.2-28.2%), winter day nesting (20.1-66.5%) and hibernation (21.7-58.6%). The length of time the box had been deployed, the availability of artificial food and front garden to back garden access significantly increased the likelihood that a nest box had been used for all four nesting types, whereas other factors related to placement within the garden (e.g., in a sheltered location, on hardstanding such as paving, distance from the house) and resource provisioning (bedding) affected only some nesting behaviours. The factors most strongly associated with nest box use were the provisioning of food and bedding. These data suggest, therefore, that householders can adopt simple practices to increase the likelihood of their nest box being used. However, one significant limitation evident within these data is that, for welfare reasons, householders do not routinely monitor whether their box has been used. Consequently, future studies need to adopt strategies which enable householders to monitor their boxes continuously. Ultimately, such studies should compare the survival rates and reproductive success of hedgehogs within artificial refuges versus more natural nest sites, and whether these are affected by, for example, the impact of nest box design and placement on predation risk and internal microclimate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gazzard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bae HK, Lee JK, Eom TK, Lee DH, Rhim SJ. Ecological factors influencing the selection of sett location by the Asian badger Meles leucurus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Kyoung Bae
- H.-K. Bae, J.-K. Lee, T.-K. Eom, D.-H. Lee and S.-J. Rhim (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-1148) ✉ , School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ., Ansung, South Korea
| | - Jae-Kang Lee
- H.-K. Bae, J.-K. Lee, T.-K. Eom, D.-H. Lee and S.-J. Rhim (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-1148) ✉ , School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ., Ansung, South Korea
| | - Tae-Kyung Eom
- H.-K. Bae, J.-K. Lee, T.-K. Eom, D.-H. Lee and S.-J. Rhim (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-1148) ✉ , School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ., Ansung, South Korea
| | - Dong-Ho Lee
- H.-K. Bae, J.-K. Lee, T.-K. Eom, D.-H. Lee and S.-J. Rhim (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-1148) ✉ , School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ., Ansung, South Korea
| | - Shin-Jae Rhim
- H.-K. Bae, J.-K. Lee, T.-K. Eom, D.-H. Lee and S.-J. Rhim (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-1148) ✉ , School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ., Ansung, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Silva M, Rosalino LM, Alcobia S, Santos-Reis M. Sett Use, Density and Breeding Phenology of Badgers in Mediterranean Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Systems. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092663. [PMID: 34573629 PMCID: PMC8471938 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Understanding carnivores social structure variation is pivotal for properly addressing conservation challenges and solutions. The European badgers is a social carnivore for which most of the available information regarding how this species is socially organized derives from central west populations. This article describes the group composition, den use patterns and breeding phenology of a Mediterranean population of badgers. We showed that badger live in low density, in relatively small groups, composed by 2–4 adult animals and ca. 2 cubs, born in winter. These patterns, representing a variation of what was described for other populations, show that badgers take advantage of the landscape context, where human-related resources and mild environmental conditions allow badger to reach higher densities than in many southern populations, and to reproduce earlier than their northern counterparts. Abstract Carnivores social organization varies widely, from strongly social to solitary predators. European badgers are facultative social carnivores that also shows a geographical variation in social structure. These patterns derive mainly from central/west European regions, with an under-representation of Mediterranean populations that face different conservation challenges, especially regarding group composition, sett use patterns and breeding phenology. We addressed these traits topics for a population inhabiting a Portuguese agro-silvo-pastoral system. Based on monthly monitoring of 34 setts and continuous camera-trapping surveys of 12, we showed that setts surrounded by diversified vegetation and located in sandy sites are more used, a pattern probably linked to food availability and ease of sett excavation and maintenance, respectively. Badgers followed a general pattern regarding group size (2–4 adults), but showed an intermediate population density (0.49–0.73 badgers/km2), with values higher than those estimated for other Mediterranean environments, but lower than for central-western populations. This, together with the breeding (November/January) and cub emergence (1.8 cubs/sett; March/April) periods, indicates an ecological adaptation to the landscape context, where human-related resources and mild environmental conditions allow badger to reach higher densities than in many southern populations, and to reproduce earlier than their northern counterparts.
Collapse
|
5
|
Albery GF, Newman C, Ross JB, MacDonald DW, Bansal S, Buesching C. Negative density-dependent parasitism in a group-living carnivore. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202655. [PMID: 33323092 PMCID: PMC7779509 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals living at high population densities commonly experience greater exposure to disease, leading to increased parasite burdens. However, social animals can benefit immunologically and hygienically from cooperation, and individuals may alter their socio-spatial behaviour in response to infection, both of which could counteract density-related increases in exposure. Consequently, the costs and benefits of sociality for disease are often uncertain. Here, we use a long-term study of a wild European badger population (Meles meles) to investigate how within-population variation in host density determines infection with multiple parasites. Four out of five parasite taxa exhibited consistent spatial hotspots of infection, which peaked among badgers living in areas of low local population density. Combined movement, survival, spatial and social network analyses revealed that parasite avoidance was the likely cause of this negative density dependence, with possible roles for localized mortality, encounter-dilution effects, and micronutrient-enhanced immunity. These findings demonstrate that animals can organize their societies in space to minimize parasite infection, with important implications for badger behavioural ecology and for the control of badger-associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julius Bright Ross
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David W. MacDonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shweta Bansal
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christina Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Irving K. Barber Faculty of Sciences, Okanagan Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kurek P, Nowakowski K, Rutkowski T, Ważna A, Cichocki J, Zacharyasiewicz M, Błoszyk J. Underground diversity: Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) from European badger (Meles meles) nests. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 82:503-513. [PMID: 33098499 PMCID: PMC7686195 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00563-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Badgers can gather huge quantities of organic material to build their nests for winter time and to rear their cubs. Moreover, badger burrows (setts) are characterized by specific microclimate with quite stable temperature and humidity. Their fauna is poorly studied, especially in respect of saprobiontic Uropodina mites. In 2018-2019, we monitored 94 badger setts to search for nest material that had been thrown away during cleaning of the chambers after mating and winter sleep. In the collected material from 32 badger nests, we found 413 Uropodina mites of 16 species, in various stages of development (adults, protonymphs, and deutonymphs). The community was dominated by three mite species: Trematura patavina (22.5%, n = 93), Oodinychus ovalis (17.2%, n = 71), and Olodiscus minima (15.5%, n = 64). Other nidicolous-i.e., nest-dwelling-species included: Nenteria oudemansi (14.8%, n = 61), Phaulodiaspis borealis (7.0%, n = 29), Phaulodiaspis rackei (4.6%, n = 19), Uroseius hunzikeri (1.7%, n = 7), Uropoda orbicularis (1.5%, n = 6), and Apionoseius infirmus (1.0%, n = 4). The most frequent species were: Oodinychus ovalis (62.5%, 20 nests), N. oudemansi (46.9%, 15 nests), and Olodiscus minima (40.6%, 13 nests). Detrended correspondence analysis indicated that the Uropodina community from badger nests differed from that of mole nests, studied earlier. In setts, the Uropodina community included T. patavina and N. oudemansi, which were for the first time recorded from underground badger nests. This is the first record of N. oudemansi from Poland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Kurek
- Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Protection, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Nowakowski
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Tomasz Rutkowski
- Natural History Collections, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ważna
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Jan Cichocki
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Michał Zacharyasiewicz
- Department of General Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jerzy Błoszyk
- Natural History Collections, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
- Department of General Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sugianto N, Newman C, Macdonald D, Buesching C. Extrinsic factors affecting cub development contribute to sexual size dimorphism in the European badger (Meles meles). ZOOLOGY 2019; 135:125688. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
8
|
Tsunoda M, Newman C, Buesching CD, Macdonald DW, Kaneko Y. Badger setts provide thermal refugia, buffering changeable surface weather conditions. J Therm Biol 2018; 74:226-233. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
9
|
Tammeleht E, Kuuspu M. Effect of competition and landscape characteristics on mesocarnivore cohabitation in badger setts. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Tammeleht
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - M. Kuuspu
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gould MJ, Harrison RL. A novel approach to estimating density of American badgers (Taxidea taxus) using automatic cameras at water sources in the Chihuahuan Desert. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
11
|
Ward AI, Finney JK, Beatham SE, Delahay RJ, Robertson PA, Cowan DP. Exclusions for resolving urban badger damage problems: outcomes and consequences. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2579. [PMID: 27761352 PMCID: PMC5068413 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing urbanisation and growth of many wild animal populations can result in a greater frequency of human-wildlife conflicts. However, traditional lethal methods of wildlife control are becoming less favoured than non-lethal approaches, particularly when problems involve charismatic species in urban areas. Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) excavate subterranean burrow systems (setts), which can become large and complex. Larger setts within which breeding takes place and that are in constant use are known as main setts. Smaller, less frequently occupied setts may also exist within the social group’s range. When setts are excavated in urban environments they can undermine built structures and can limit or prevent safe use of the area by people. The most common approach to resolving these problems in the UK is to exclude badgers from the problem sett, but exclusions suffer a variable success rate. We studied 32 lawful cases of badger exclusions using one-way gates throughout England to evaluate conditions under which attempts to exclude badgers from their setts in urban environments were successful. We aimed to identify ways of modifying practices to improve the chances of success. Twenty of the 32 exclusion attempts were successful, but success was significantly less likely if a main sett was to be excluded in comparison with another type of sett and if vegetation was not completely removed from the sett surface prior to exclusion attempts. We recommend that during exclusions all vegetation is removed from the site, regardless of what type of sett is involved, and that successful exclusion of badgers from a main sett might require substantially more effort than other types of sett.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alastair I Ward
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom; National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jason K Finney
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency , York , North Yorkshire , United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Beatham
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency , York , North Yorkshire , United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency , Woodchester Park , Gloucestershire , United Kingdom
| | - Peter A Robertson
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom; School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David P Cowan
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency , York , North Yorkshire , United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Périquet S, Mapendere C, Revilla E, Banda J, Macdonald D, Loveridge A, Fritz H. A potential role for interference competition with lions in den selection and attendance by spotted hyaenas. Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
13
|
Noonan MJ, Newman C, Buesching CD, Macdonald DW. Evolution and function of fossoriality in the Carnivora: implications for group-living. Front Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
14
|
Noonan MJ, Markham A, Newman C, Trigoni N, Buesching CD, Ellwood SA, Macdonald DW. A new Magneto‐Inductive tracking technique to uncover subterranean activity: what do animals do underground? Methods Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Noonan
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| | - Andrew Markham
- Department of Computer Science University of Oxford Wolfson Building Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3QD UK
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| | - Niki Trigoni
- Department of Computer Science University of Oxford Wolfson Building Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3QD UK
| | - Christina D. Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| | - Stephen A. Ellwood
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House Abingdon Road, Tubney Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kaneko Y, Kanda E, Tashima S, Masuda R, Newman C, Macdonald DW. The socio-spatial dynamics of the Japanese badger (Meles anakuma). J Mammal 2014. [DOI: 10.1644/12-mamm-a-158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|