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Emergency‐line calls as an indicator to assess human–wildlife interaction in urban areas. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
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2
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Pop MI, Dyck MA, Chiriac S, Lajos B, Szabó S, Iojă CI, Popescu VD. Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mihai I. Pop
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity (ACDB) Focșani Romania
| | - Marissa A. Dyck
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio USA
| | | | - Berde Lajos
- Covasna Environmental Protection Agency Sf. Gheorghe Romania
| | - Szilárd Szabó
- Harghita Environmental Protection Agency Miercurea Ciuc Romania
| | - Cristian I. Iojă
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
| | - Viorel D. Popescu
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio USA
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Neagu AC, Manolache S, Rozylowicz L. The drums of war are beating louder: Media coverage of brown bears in Romania. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.50.86019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The increasing demand for resources to meet the needs of our society has transformed the environment and increased the likelihood of human-wildlife interactions. Romania has the highest density of brown bears in Europe, with more than 7000 individuals populating the Carpathian Mountains and neighboring areas. The large brown bear population in Romania inhabits ever-increasing human-dominated landscapes, which frequently results in conflict with humans. The means and frequency by which the media communicates information to the readership influence the public perception of human-wildlife conflicts. This research is intended to contribute to the existing knowledge on human-brown bear coexistence in Romania by (1) exploring how the Romanian media depicts human-brown bear interactions in terms of the main themes discussed, framing of issues (emotions and key messages), and likely impacts on public perception; (2) analyzing the changes in reporting on human brown-bear interactions following the transition of the legal status of the brown bear from game to strictly protected species; and (3) investigating suggested policy and management solutions. The results indicate that news stories related to brown bears became common in Romanian mass media after 2016, when a provisional one-year ban on culling was instated, after which it increased abruptly in 2021, following the whistleblowing of an alleged trophy hunting event. The focus on human-bear interaction and hunting/poaching themes has not changed; however, the position of the media toward brown bears has become increasingly negative, even when presenting news stories covering human-bear interactions that incur no harm. To facilitate human-brown bear coexistence in Romania, scientists and practitioners should communicate with media representatives and provide a supplementary context for news stories. Evidence-informed news can help authorities better understand conflicts and create bottom-up pathways toward an optimistic future for brown bears and Romanian society.
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Online Environment as a Tool to Push Forward the Research: An Example for Landscape Disservices. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have had to find different resources in order to continue their research and the use of online information can represent a temporary solution. Our research is mainly focusing on a landscape which offers services and disservices. Recently, numerous studies that rely on landscape disservices have appeared. We associate wildlife-human-interactions (WHI) and human-wildlife-interactions (HWI) as part of landscape disservices. More precisely, in the first category (WHI) we have included the interaction of the wild animals with human and in the second category (HWI) we have created a database with animals attacked or/and killed by human. In order to sustain this analysis, we have selected data from local newspapers and Facebook groups, which supports our hypothesis that online resources could provide valuable data. The study area is represented by the Southern and Eastern Carpathians. The most affected mammals for this type of interactions (HWI) are bears, followed by wild boars and red deer, while WHI has intensified in the last five years. Based on the analysed data we can conclude that the animals who generate the most disservices to humans are bears and wild boars. The solutions we have identified, which also include online sources, for both HWI and WHI are relocation, rescue, capturing of the animals in reservations or, as a last resort, euthanasia. In order to reduce these types of interactions it is important to promote ecological education, development and promoting of certain attitudes and behaviour that have a visible impact upon HWI and WHI.
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De Angelis D, Huber D, Reljic S, Ciucci P, Kusak J. Factors affecting the home range of Dinaric-Pindos brown bears. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Studying how animals interact with their environment is fundamental to informing conservation and management efforts, especially when examining large, wide-ranging carnivores in human-dominated landscapes. We hypothesized that the home ranges of bears are configured to exploit supplemental food (corn) and avoid people. In 2004–2016, we tracked 10 brown bears from the Dinaric-Pindos population using GPS telemetry, then used Brownian bridge movement models to estimate their home ranges. We related seasonal home range size to circadian period and density of supplemental feeding sites using generalized linear mixed-effect models. We also used ecological-niche factor analysis to study habitat composition within home range core areas in study areas characterized by different levels of human encroachment. We found that home range size was inversely related to density of supplemental feeding sites, and bears had larger home ranges at night (x̅ = 103.3 ± 72.8 km2) than during the day (x̅ = 62.3 ± 16.6 km2). Our results also revealed that bears living in more human-influenced areas concentrated their use far from human settlements and agricultural lands but stayed close to supplemental feeding sites. Our data suggest that bears alter their space-use patterns at the home range level in response to anthropogenic land use and food availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele De Angelis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Universita` 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza Av. 33, 31120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Slaven Reljic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Universita` 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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6
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De Angelis D, Kusak J, Huber D, Reljić S, Gužvica G, Ciucci P. Environmental and anthropogenic correlates of seasonal migrations in the Dinaric‐Pindos brown bear population. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele De Angelis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” Sapienza University of Rome Roma Italy
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Goran Gužvica
- Oikon Ltd. Institute of Applied Ecology Zagreb Croatia
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” Sapienza University of Rome Roma Italy
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Fedorca A, Popa M, Jurj R, Ionescu G, Ionescu O, Fedorca M. Assessing the regional landscape connectivity for multispecies to coordinate on-the-ground needs for mitigating linear infrastructure impact in Brasov – Prahova region. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Iosif R, Pop MI, Chiriac S, Sandu RM, Berde L, Szabó S, Rozylowicz L, Popescu VD. Den structure and selection of denning habitat by brown bears in the Romanian Carpathians. URSUS 2020. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-18-00010.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Iosif
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University Ovidius Constanta, 1 Aleea Universitatii, Building B, Constanţa, 900470 Romania
| | - Mihai I. Pop
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, 1 N. Balcescu, Bucharest, 010041 Romania
| | - Silviu Chiriac
- Vrancea Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Dinicu Golescu St., Focsani, 620106 Romania
| | - Radu M. Sandu
- Vrancea Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Dinicu Golescu St., Focsani, 620106 Romania
| | - Lajos Berde
- Covasna Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Grigore Balan St., Sf. Gheorghe, 520082 Romania
| | - Szilárd Szabó
- Harghita Environmental Protection Agency, 43 Márton Áron St., Miercurea Ciuc, 530211 România
| | - Laurenţiu Rozylowicz
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, 1 N. Balcescu, Bucharest, 010041 Romania
| | - Viorel D. Popescu
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, 1 N. Balcescu, Bucharest, 010041 Romania
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Fedorca A, Russo IRM, Ionescu O, Ionescu G, Popa M, Fedorca M, Curtu AL, Sofletea N, Tabor GM, Bruford MW. Inferring fine-scale spatial structure of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Carpathians prior to infrastructure development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9494. [PMID: 31263171 PMCID: PMC6602936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45999-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape genetics is increasingly being used in landscape planning for biodiversity conservation by assessing habitat connectivity and identifying landscape barriers, using intraspecific genetic data and quantification of landscape heterogeneity to statistically test the link between genetic variation and landscape variability. In this study we used genetic data to understand how landscape features and environmental factors influence demographic connectedness in Europe’s largest brown bear population and to assist in mitigating planned infrastructure development in Romania. Model-based clustering inferred one large and continuous bear population across the Carpathians suggesting that suitable bear habitat has not become sufficiently fragmented to restrict movement of individuals. However, at a finer scale, large rivers, often located alongside large roads with heavy traffic, were found to restrict gene flow significantly, while eastern facing slopes promoted genetic exchange. Since the proposed highway infrastructure development threatens to fragment regions of the Carpathians where brown bears occur, we develop a decision support tool based on models that assess the landscape configuration needed for brown bear conservation using wildlife corridor parameters. Critical brown bear corridors were identified through spatial mapping and connectivity models, which may be negatively influenced by infrastructure development and which therefore require mitigation. We recommend that current and proposed infrastructure developments incorporate these findings into their design and where possible avoid construction measures that may further fragment Romania’s brown bear population or include mitigation measures where alternative routes are not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ancuta Fedorca
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Brasov, 500040, Closca Street 13, Romania. .,Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania.
| | - Isa-Rita M Russo
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Ovidiu Ionescu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Brasov, 500040, Closca Street 13, Romania.,Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Georgeta Ionescu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Brasov, 500040, Closca Street 13, Romania.,Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Marius Popa
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Brasov, 500040, Closca Street 13, Romania.,Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Mihai Fedorca
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea, Brasov, 500040, Closca Street 13, Romania.,Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Alexandru Lucian Curtu
- Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Neculae Sofletea
- Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, 500123, Beethoven Lane 1, Romania
| | - Gary M Tabor
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation, 303 W Mendenhall St #4, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Michael W Bruford
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
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Rozylowicz L, Bodescu FP, Ciocanea CM, Gavrilidis AA, Manolache S, Matache ML, Miu IV, Moale IC, Nita A, Popescu VD. Empirical analysis and modeling of Argos Doppler location errors in Romania. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6362. [PMID: 30723631 PMCID: PMC6360076 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Advances in wildlife tracking technology have allowed researchers to understand the spatial ecology of many terrestrial and aquatic animal species. Argos Doppler is a technology that is widely used for wildlife tracking owing to the small size and low weight of the Argos transmitters. This allows them to be fitted to small-bodied species. The longer lifespan of the Argos units in comparison to units outfitted with miniaturized global positioning system (GPS) technology has also recommended their use. In practice, large Argos location errors often occur due to communication conditions such as transmitter settings, local environment, and the behavior of the tracked individual. Methods Considering the geographic specificity of errors and the lack of benchmark studies in Eastern Europe, the research objectives were: (1) to evaluate the accuracy of Argos Doppler technology under various environmental conditions in Romania, (2) to investigate the effectiveness of straightforward destructive filters for improving Argos Doppler data quality, and (3) to provide guidelines for processing Argos Doppler wildlife monitoring data. The errors associated with Argos locations in four geographic locations in Romania were assessed during static, low-speed and high-speed tests. The effectiveness of the Douglas Argos distance angle filter algorithm was then evaluated to ascertain its effect on the minimization of localization errors. Results Argos locations received in the tests had larger associated horizontal errors than those indicated by the operator of the Argos system, including under ideal reception conditions. Positional errors were similar to those obtained in other studies outside of Europe. The errors were anisotropic, with larger longitudinal errors for the vast majority of the data. Errors were mostly related to speed of the Argos transmitter at the time of reception, but other factors such as topographical conditions and orientation of antenna at the time of the transmission also contributed to receiving low-quality data. The Douglas Argos filter successfully excluded the largest errors while retaining a large amount of data when the threshold was set to the local scale (two km). Discussion Filter selection requires knowledge about the movement patterns and behavior of the species of interest, and the parametrization of the selected filter typically requires a trial and error approach. Selecting the proper filter reduces the errors while retaining a large amount of data. However, the post-processed data typically includes large positional errors; thus, we recommend incorporating Argos error metrics (e.g., error ellipse) or use complex modeling approaches when working with filtered data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurentiu Rozylowicz
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Cristiana M Ciocanea
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Steluta Manolache
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius L Matache
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iulia V Miu
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Andreea Nita
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Viorel D Popescu
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.,Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
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