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Although rodents are recognized as pests, they are still an important part of agricultural ecosystems. In 2018–2020, we snap-trapped small mammals in Lithuania in 18 commercial orchards (apple and plum orchards, currant and raspberry plantations) and in adjacent control habitats. We aimed to discover whether the litter size of the six most abundant rodent species depended on season, on female body mass and/or on fitness. Litter size in common and root voles was smaller in habitats with a higher intensity of agricultural practices. Compared to summer, observed litter size in autumn significantly decreased in common voles (from 5.6 to 4.8) and yellow-necked mice (from 5.8 to 4.6). In autumn, litter size and female body mass was positively correlated in all rodent species, while in summer this was characteristic to root voles (r = 0.67, p < 0.05, 45% of variation of the litter size explained) and yellow-necked mice (r = 0.53, p < 0.005, 27% respectively) only. Female body condition index and litter size correlations were weak. Potential litter size exceeded the observed rate and breeding failures were observed in all species, with the highest percentage in root, bank and common voles.

1. Primary objectives of national parks usually include both, the protection of natural processes and species conservation. When these objectives conflict, as occurs because of the cascading effects of large mammals (i.e., ungulates and large carnivores) on lower trophic levels, park managers have to decide upon the appropriate management while considering various local circumstances. 2. To analyse if ungulate management strategies are in accordance with the objectives defined for protected areas, we assessed the current status of ungulate management across European national parks using the naturalness concept and identified the variables that influence the management. 3. We collected data on ungulate management from 209 European national parks in 29 countries by means of a large-scale questionnaire survey. Ungulate management in the parks was compared by creating two naturalness scores. The first score reflects ungulate and large carnivore species compositions, and the second evaluates human intervention on ungulate populations. We then tested whether the two naturalness score categories are influenced by the management objectives, park size, years since establishment, percentage of government-owned land, and human impact on the environment (human influence index) using two generalized additive mixed models. 4. In 67.9% of the national parks, wildlife is regulated by culling (40.2%) or hunting (10.5%) or both (17.2%). Artificial feeding occurred in 81.3% of the national parks and only 28.5% of the national parks had a nonintervention zone covering at least 75% of the area. Furthermore, ungulate management differed greatly among the different countries, likely because of differences in hunting traditions and cultural and political backgrounds. Ungulate management was also influenced by park size, human impact on the landscape, and national park objectives, but after removing these variables from the full model the reduced models only showed a small change in the deviance explained. In areas with higher anthropogenic pressure, wildlife diversity tended to be lower and a higher number of domesticated species tended to be present. Human intervention (culling and artificial feeding) was lower in smaller national parks and when park objectives followed those set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 5. Our study shows that many European national parks do not fulfil the aims of protected area management as set by IUCN guidelines. In contrast to the USA and Canada, Europe currently has no common ungulate management policy within national parks. This lack of a common policy together with differences in species composition, hunting traditions, and cultural or political context has led to differences in ungulate management among European countries. To fulfil the aims and objectives of national parks and to develop ungulate management strategies further, we highlight the importance of creating a more integrated European ungulate management policy to meet the aims of national parks.

Alces alces, Asia, distribution, Eurasian elk, Europe, GIS, harvest, moose, population density Moose (Alces alces) may be among one of the most susceptible big game species to climate change. Development of long-term circumpolar databases of this species’ densities and distributions, combined with biological, ecological, and management-related metrics, can help guide research and future international management strategies. We emulated methodology previously used to summarize North American moose population and harvest densities for Eurasian countries with free-ranging moose populations. From these data, we created a GIS layer that summarized the circumpolar distribution and density of moose. The following summary analysis of these data indicates that moose have both expanded and contracted along their southern range boundary in recent decades – with losses along the southern range in eastern Asia, particularly China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. In contrast, we documented distributional gains along the western and southwestern range in Europe (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia). In total, 21 countries have free-ranging moose populations; 8 with sustainable populations and hunting seasons, 5 with sustainable populations but no hunting season, and 8 with vagrant individuals occasionally sighted. A region of high-density moose populations spans from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries into the Russian oblasts of Perm and Sverdlovsk. Distributions ca. 2010 indicated that moose occupied an area of about 16,712,600 km2 in Eurasia. Primary range (management units with ≥0.11 moose per km2) composed only 18% of the occupied range while supporting more than 66% of the estimated 1.2 million moose in Eurasia. Additionally, 47% (149,860) of the moose harvested were taken on 10% (1,722,660 km2) of the range. The 2010 circumpolar moose population was estimated to be more than 2.2 million and occupied a range of 26,205,000 km2. Time-series analyses can offer a simple and cost-effective approach to monitor the status of moose populations across large geographical regions and might be particularly insightful given the current and predicted future influences of climate change on moose. Other analyses might address population dynamics, habitat, environmental constraints, and harvest management, among other issues. We encourage jurisdictions to cooperate strategically in implementing and coordinating GIS analyses to monitor, assess, and manage moose populations around the world. We believe these maps can serve as a useful tool for educating the public and policy makers about the importance of habitat and land use practices with respect to maintaining sustainable populations of moose and other species that are dependent upon boreal, temperate broadleaf, and mixed forests.

Table S1. Composition of vegetation in meadow (M), young (YF) and advanced (AF) forest in sites of Human Induced (HS) and Natural (NS) succession. Notation according Braun-Blanquet: + − plant sparse, cover up to 1% of area; 1 - plants cover up to 5%; 2 - up to 25%; 3–25–50%; 4–50–75% area. Table S2. Projection of various cover types, cover damages and usage in meadow (M), young (YF) and advanced (AF) forest in sites of Human Induced (HS) and Natural (NS) succession. HS site had slightly better coverage by shrubs and young trees (up to 6 m height). Tree density is higher in the HS site. After thinning, some stumps were left in the HS site. However, grass coverage is similar in both, HS and NS sites. (DOCX 39 kb)

The aim of this work was to perform analysis of the skull morphology of red fox and raccoon dog and to examine their frontal sinuses (sinus frontalis) with the help of the methods of comparative anatomy and computed tomography. A total of 71 skulls of adult animals were used, 38 of red fox (22 male and 16 female) and 33 of raccoon dogs (21 male and 12 female). The most distinct morphological features were found in cranium bones, especially in frontal and occipital bones. The mandible was found to have four distinctive morphological features concentrated in the mandibular ramus (ramus mandibulae). The frontal sinuses in raccoon dog, unlike in red fox, occupy the entire surface of the zygomatic processes and are divided into small cavities by well-developed osseous partitions that are very thin in red fox. Computed tomography performed for the sagittal skull area revealed two prominent osseous partitions in the median part of the frontal sinuses in raccoon dogs and one partition in red fox. The maximum length, width and height of the frontal sinus cavity are larger in red fox than in raccoon dog (p < 0.001). Šio darbo tikslas-atlikti rudųjų lapių ir usūrinių šunų kaukolių morfologinę analizę, ištirti kaktikaulio ančius (sinus frontalis) palyginamosios anatomijos ir kompiuterin ės tomografijos metodais. Viso tyrimui panaudota 71 suaugusių žvėrelių kaukolių kaukolė, rudųjų lapių 38 (patinų 22, patelių 16), usūrinių šunų 33 (patinų 21, patelių 12). Atlikus morfologinę analizę ryškiausi ypatumai nustatyti kiaušo kauluose, ypač pakauškaulio ir kaktikaulio kauluose. Apatinis žandikaulis turi keturis ryškius morfologinius ypatumus, esančius apatinio žandikaulio šakoje (ramus mandibulae). Usūriniams šunims kaktikaulio ančiai užima beveik visą skruostinių ataugų plotą, rudosioms lapėms kaktikaulio ančiai į šiasataugas neįsiterpia. Usūriniams šunims kaktikaulio ančius į nedideles ertmes suskirsto gerai išreikštos kaulinės pertvaros, rudųjų lapių šios pertvaros labai plonos. Sagitalinėje kaukolės plokštumoje padarytos kompiuterin ės tomogramos usūriniams šunims parodė dvi, rudosioms lapėms vieną ryškią pertvarą kaktikaulio ančių vidurinėje dalyje. Išmatavus kaktikaulio ančių ertmės didžiausią ilgą, aukštį ir plotį, rudųjų lapių visi šie matmenys yra didesni nei usūrinių šunų (p < 0,001).

The aim of research was to evaluate long-term wildlife–vehicle collision (WVC) patterns and assess mitigation measures in Lithuania. Roadkill data was evaluated, habitat suitability based wildlife movement models were developed, WVC hotspot locations and temporal roadkill patterns were identified, effectiveness of mitigation measures was assessed, roadkill-data-based habitats were identified and ranked by attractiveness to wildlife and risk severity to the drivers. Road traffic accident database underestimates the impact of WVC on wild mammal diversity and smaller species roadkills. The wildlife movement models, accurately represented the most probable pathways and road crossings. Large part of wildlife pathways and WVC hotspots are not permanent. Highest risk of WVC are during twilight hours within the WVC hotspots and in vicinity of habitat patches that are most attractive to wildlife and pose highest risk for the drivers. Increased amounts of wildlife fencing reduce the number of WVC on main roads characterised with highest traffic and shift WVC towards the lower category roads. Efforts to reduce WVC on higher category roads shall focus on fencing with permanent crossing structures. Efforts to reduce WVC on lower category roads should focus on driver trainings and dynamic warning systems. Ex-Post mitigating WVC without Ex-Ante analysis of WVC, the habitat isolation and roadkill mitigation costs may be amplified without any positive effect to the drivers and wildlife., Tyrimo tikslas ištirti ilgalaikius laukinių gyvūnų susidūrimus su transportu (GST) dėsningumus ir įvertinti GST mažinimo priemonių efektyvumą Lietuvoje. Buvo įvertinti GST duomenys, sukurti gyvūnų judėjimo modeliai, identifikuotos GST vietos, laikas ir avaringiausi kelių ruožai, įvertintos GST mažinimo priemonės, GST duomenų pagrindu nustatytos buveinės išreitinguotos pagal buveinių patrauklumą laukiniams gyvūnams ir keliamą riziką vairuotojams. Eismo įvykių registre yra neįvertinama laukinių gyvūnų įvairovė ir mažesnės jų rūšys. Buveinių tinkamumu pagrįsti gyvūnų judėjimo modeliai parodė labiausiai tikėtinas gyvūnų takų susikirtimo su keliais vietas. Didžioji dalis laukinių gyvūnų takų ir avaringų ruožų nėra nuolatiniai. Didžiausia GST rizika yra prieblandos metu, avaringuose kelių ruožuose, šalia buveinių kurios patraukliausios laukiniams gyvūnams ir pavojingiausios vairuotojams.Padidėjęs tvorų kiekis gali sumažinti GST skaičių aukštesnės kategorijos keliuose, kuriuose yra didžiausias eismo intensyvumas, tačiau padidina GST žemesmės kategorijos keliuose. Aukštesnės kategorijos keliuose tvoros turėtų būti įrangtos kartu su gyvūnams skirta kelių perėjimo infrastruktūrą. Žemesnės kategorijos keliuose tikslingiau naudoti dinamiškas perspėjimo sistemas ir vairuotojų mokymus. Ex-post GST mažinimo priemonių įrengimas neatliekant gyvūnų elgsenos Ex-ante analizės, padidina buveinių izoliaciją, GST mažinimo kaštus ir neturi poveikio vairuotojams bei gyvūnijos populiacijų išsaugojimui.

Small mammals are indicators of forest ecosystem sustainability and play an important role in many other ecosystems worldwide. Diversity, abundance, dominance, sex and age structure, and other indicators of the small mammal community are influenced by environmental conditions. Changes in the structure of vegetation, undergrowth, composition of tree crown cover or forest litter affect small mammals communities. Colonies of great cormorants are probably the fastest and most strong environmental factor in our climatic zone. Complex environmental effects of great cormorants lead to enormous ecosystem transformation. In this work the effects of cormorants on mammals were scientifically evaluated for the first time. We found, that the initial positive effects of cormorant colonies on the ecological and biological parameters of small mammals are changed to negative when colony size reaches a critical level. Influence of cormorants on the accumulation of heavy metals and other chemical elements in mammalian tissues was evaluated, and a stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon and nitrogen was performed. Novelty of our investigation was in evaluating the immediacy of the impact of the cormorant colony on small mammals. The results for the first time showed how fast biogenic pollution is transferred and what its consequences are to small mammal ecology. We also observed changes in seasonal and daily activity patterns of mammals in the colonies of cormorants during bird breeding time.

The aim of the work was to investigate small mammal community changes due to early forest succession (meadow – forest plantation – forest stand) and to assess the effect of the non-vegetative period of the year on small mammal communities in Lithuania. The small mammal community changes in early forest succession stages, analysed in this work contribute to the understanding of small mammal community changes in forests of different age, the effect of forest cover enlargement on small mammals and on predators preying on them. Investigations carried out in non-vegetative periods of the year contribute to the knowledge of the impact of the non-vegetative period on small mammals and of changes in small mammal community indices in the course of the year and allows comparing the data from different seasons within the same geographical region. Investigation showed that: (1) in the process of succession when a meadow through forest plantation develops into a forest stand, biological indices of a small mammal community change: the number of species decreases, the order of species dominance changes, relative abundance increases, meadow species disappear due to transformation of the forest plantation to the forest stand. (2) Biological indices of small mammal communities differ between natural and human-induced succession. (3) The species diversity of small mammals does not change in the non-vegetative period of the year and decreases only in the beginning of spring. The breeding of some species takes place in winter. (4) Changes in small mammal diversity due to meadow-to-forest stand succession do not cause reduction in the abundance and biomass of small mammals; therefore, feeding conditions for predators preying on them do not become worse.

The aim of the work was to investigate small mammal community changes due to early forest succession (meadow – forest plantation – forest stand) and to assess the effect of the non-vegetative period of the year on small mammal communities in Lithuania. The small mammal community changes in early forest succession stages, analysed in this work contribute to the understanding of small mammal community changes in forests of different age, the effect of forest cover enlargement on small mammals and on predators preying on them. Investigations carried out in non-vegetative periods of the year contribute to the knowledge of the impact of the non-vegetative period on small mammals and of changes in small mammal community indices in the course of the year and allows comparing the data from different seasons within the same geographical region. Investigation showed that: (1) in the process of succession when a meadow through forest plantation develops into a forest stand, biological indices of a small mammal community change: the number of species decreases, the order of species dominance changes, relative abundance increases, meadow species disappear due to transformation of the forest plantation to the forest stand. (2) Biological indices of small mammal communities differ between natural and human-induced succession. (3) The species diversity of small mammals does not change in the non-vegetative period of the year and decreases only in the beginning of spring. The breeding of some species takes place in winter. (4) Changes in small mammal diversity due to meadow-to-forest stand succession do not cause reduction in the abundance and biomass of small mammals; therefore, feeding conditions for predators preying on them do not become worse.

Nuolat besikeičiančios aplinkos sąlygos lemia naujų tyrimų poreikį. Nemažai žinių apie Lietuvos vilkus yra pasenusios ir nebeatitinka dabartinės būklės. Moksliniam vilko populiacijos valdymo pagrindimui Lietuvoje reikia atnaujinti kai kuriuos duomenis bei atlikti papildomus tyrimus. Dalis šių darbų yra būtini, planuojant populiacijos valdymą ir apsaugą. Tikslas ir uždaviniai. Šio darbo tikslas – išsiaiškinti, kokią įtaką Lietuvos vilkų populiacijai daro aplinkos veiksniai, bei pateikti duomenis, reikalingus vilkų populiacijos valdymo planavimui. Tyrimo tikslui pasiekti išsikelti šie uždaviniai: 1. išsiaiškinti Lietuvos vilkų populiacijos kokybę pagal bioindikatorius; 2. iširti vilkų grynarūšiškumą; 3. įvertinti abiotinių, biotinių bei antropogeninių veiksnių įtaką vilkų pasiskirstymui pagal gausą biotopuose; 4. išaiškinti svarbesnius veiksnius, lemiančius vilkų teritorijos pasirinkimą. Naujumas ir originalumas. Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje įvertintas populiacijos grynumas pagal morfologinius požymius ir pagal juos nustatyti pavieniai vilko ir šuns hibridai. Pagal vilkų sumedžiojimo vietas, pirmą kartą Lietuvoje GIS technologijų pagalba išnagrinėti įvairūs abiotiniai, biotiniai ir antropogeniai veiksniai, galintys įtakoti vilkų biotopinį pasiskirstymą šalyje. Pasiūlyta, bendrą (skiriamą visai šaliai) sumedžiojimo limitą skirstyti regionais, priklausomai nuo vilkų daromos žalos, bei leisti trumpalaikę medžioklę žalos padarymo vietovėje ne medžioklės sezono laikotarpiu. Mokslinė ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] A considerable amount of the data on wolves in Lithuania is out of date and is not representative of the current situation. To ensure that management of the wolf population in Lithuania is underpinned by a scientific methodology, some data needs to be updated and additional research conducted. This is a prerequisite to planning the management of the population and its protection. The objective and tasks. The objective of this work is to discover what influence environment factors have on the population of wolves of Lithuania and to present the data necessary for planning the management of the wolf population. To achieve this objective, the following tasks shall be tackled: To discover the true condition of the wolf population in Lithuania according to bio-indicators; To examine the purity of the species; To evaluate the influence of abiotic and biotic factors, as well as anthropogenic factors, on the distribution of wolves in terms of abundance in the biotopes; To discover additional important factors that influence the selection of wolf territories. Novelty and originality. An evaluation of the purity of the wolf population based on morphological features was conducted and single crosses between wolf and dog were detected for the first time in Lithuania. In areas of wolf hunting, different abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors that may influence the biotopic distribution of wolves were analysed with a help of GIS technologies for the first time in Lithuania. A... [to full text]

Large mammals attract attention, fascinate, and at the same time cause fear or even anger for damage they make. Large mammal conservation without public support is inefficient and creates conflicts. From surveys participated by over 8000 respondents this study analyse public attitudes towards European bison, brown bear, wolf and lynx. Irrespective of positive attitudes and recognition of wildlife right to exist, many respondents expressed willingness to see these animals far from their living places. Difference in opinion can be attributed to demographical factors, different knowledge of the species in question and value orientations. The choice of measures for management of large carnivore populations was mostly related with possible behaviour of carnivores and amount of perceived losses. Attitudes displayed by officers of lower administrative level (heads of sub-municipalities and foresters) differed from opinion of other respondent groups. The study presents data on wolf damage in northwest Lithuania and proposes how to lower it. Lithuanians’ opinion about carnivores is analysed within the context of neighbouring countries (Estonia, Latvia and Poland). The public was found to show greatest trust in information obtained from scientists and foresters. The study gives recommendations what target groups of the public should be focused seeking to increased public tolerance of carnivores. The study contributes to fulfilment of Lithuania’s international environmental commitments.

Paper is summary of doctoral dissertation nominated to set important environmental factors for habitat use and population status of the internationally protected bird of prey - Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in the north western periphery of the distribution range. Mostly analyzed aspect - species habitat use and their spatio-temporal variation, presented and summarized data on most important attributes of the population: productivity and change in abundance. Also presented data on hybridization with the another eagle species - Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga). Analysis of the habitat use demonstrated, that birds habitat preferences and avoidances depend on both environmental conditions and different birds reaction to the similar environmental conditions. This demonstrate that locally based bird*habitat model could be misleading when applying to the broader geographical context. In the work was also found that habitat use of the Lesser Spotted Eagle changed within several decades, implicating that old data usage for nature conservation decisions concerning rare species could be ineffective. Population of the Lesser Spotted Eagle decreased contrary to estimated previously, however, productivity is close to the typical value for species in other part of the distribution range. The pairs of eagles differ in productivity, thought this was not related with the habitat characteristics. Results show that Lesser Spotted Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle form mixed pairs... [to full text] Disertacijos santraukoje pateikiama erelio rėksnio (Aquila pomarina), tarptautiniu mastu saugomos plėšriųjų paukščių rūšies, gyvenamosios aplinkos poreikių ir populiacijos būklės įvertinimas arealo šiaurės vakarų periferijoje. Darbe daugiausiai analizuotas erelio rėksnio buveinių pasirinkimas, svarbūs aplinkos elementai, buveinių pasirinkimo variacijos priklausomybė nuo laiko ir kraštovaizdžio sąlygų. Apibendrinti duomenys apie esminius populiacijos būklės parametrus: produktyvumą ir jo svyravimą bei gausos pokytį. Taip pat aptariami erelio rėksnio tarprūšiniai ryšiai su didžiuoju ereliu rėksniu (Aquila clanga) hibridizacijos kontekste. Buveinių pasirinkimo erdvinės variacijos analizė rodo, jog buveinių pasirinkimas priklauso tiek nuo vietos kraštovaizdžio savybių, tiek nuo skirtingos erelių reakcijos į panašias kraštovaizdžio savybes. Tai rodo, kad lokaliai gautų paukščių ir jų buveinių pasirinkimo dėsningumų tiesioginis taikymas dideliame geografiniame regione gali būti klaidingas. Nustatyta, kad erelių buveinių pasirinkimas kito laike, todėl senų duomenų naudojimas gamtosaugos sprendimas priimti gali būti ne efektyvus. Erelio rėksnio populiacija ženkliai sumažėjo, nors produktyvumas būdingas esančiam kitose arealo vietose. Ereliams rėksniams būdingas disproporcinis indėlis į populiacijos produkciją, tačiau aukšto produktyvumo erelių porų užimamos buveinės nesiskyrė nuo mažesnio produktyvumo porų buveinių nei mitybos, nei perėjimo plotų gausumu. Surinkti duomenys rodo, kad... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacija skirta erelio rėksnio (Aquila pomarina), tarptautiniu mastu saugomos plėšriųjų paukščių rūšies, gyvenamosios aplinkos poreikių ir populiacijos būklės įvertinimui arealo šiaurės vakarų periferijoje. Darbe daugiausiai analizuoti erelio rėksnio buveinių pasirinkimui svarbūs aplinkos elementai, buveinių pasirinkimo variacijos priklausomybė nuo laiko ir kraštovaizdžio sąlygų. Apibendrinti duomenys apie esminius populiacijos būklės parametrus: produktyvumą ir jo svyravimą bei gausos pokytį. Taip pat aptariami erelio rėksnio tarprūšiniai ryšiai su didžiuoju ereliu rėksniu (Aquila clanga) hibridizacijos kontekste. Buveinių pasirinkimo erdvinės variacijos analizė rodo, jog buveinių pasirinkimas priklauso tiek nuo vietos kraštovaizdžio savybių, tiek nuo skirtingos erelių reakcijos į panašias kraštovaizdžio savybes. Tai rodo, kad lokaliai gautų paukščių ir jų buveinių pasirinkimo modelių taikymas dideliame geografiniame regione gali būti klaidingas. Nustatyta, kad erelių buveinių pasirinkimas kito laike, todėl senų duomenų naudojimas gamtosaugos sprendimas priimti gali būti ne efektyvus. Erelio rėksnio populiacija ženkliai sumažėjo, nors produktyvumas būdingas esančiam kitose arealo vietose. Ereliams rėksniams būdingas disproporcinis indėlis į populiacijos produkciją, tačiau aukšto produktyvumo erelių porų užimamos buveinės nesiskyrė nuo mažesnio produktyvumo porų buveinių nei mitybos, nei perėjimo plotų gausumu. Surinkti duomenys rodo, kad erelis rėksnys sudaro poras su... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] Dissertation nominated to set important environmental factors for habitat use and population status of the internationally protected bird of prey - Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in the north western periphery of the distribution range. Mostly analyzed aspect - species habitat use and their spatio-temporal variation, presented and summarized data on most important attributes of the population: productivity and change in abundance. Also presented data on hybridization with the another eagle species - Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga). Analysis of the habitat use demonstrated, that birds habitat preferences and avoidances depend on both environmental conditions and different birds reaction to the similar environmental conditions. This demonstrate that locally based bird*habitat model could be misleading when applying to the broader geographical context. In the work was also found that habitat use of the Lesser Spotted Eagle changed within several decades, implicating that old data usage for nature conservation decisions concerning rare species could be ineffective. Population of the Lesser Spotted Eagle decreased contrary to estimated previously, however, productivity is close to the typical value for species in other part of the distribution range. The pairs of eagles differ in productivity, thought this was not related with the habitat characteristics. Results show that Lesser Spotted Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle form mixed pairs and rise hybrid nestlings.

SMULKIŲJŲ ŽINDUOLIŲ RŪŠINĖ SUDĖTIS IR MIGRACIJA NEMUNO DELTOS REGIONINIO PARKO UŽLIEJAMOSE PIEVOSE Agnė Janonytė Nemuno deltos regioninis parkas – vienintelis gamtinis kompleksas Lietuvoje ir visame Baltijos jūros regione, pasižymintis didele biotopų įvairove gana nedidelėje teritorijoje. Europinės svarbos buveinės – tai šiame parke esančios užliejamos pievos, turinčios unikalių biotos ir kraštovaizdžio elementų. Per Nemuno deltą eina Arktikos-Europos-Rytų Afrikos paukščių migracijos kelias, todėl didelė paukščių įvairovė patraukia ornitologų dėmesį, o smulkieji žinduoliai šiame regione mažai ištirti. Tyrimai buvo vykdomi nuo 2004 m. iki 2006 m. Rusnės saloje ir Žalgirių miške. Iš viso sugautas 621 individas, priklausantis 10 rūšių. Absoliutus dominantas buvo pelkinis pelėnas (M. oeconomus) kuris sudarė 55% visų individų. 2006 m. pelkinių pelėnų (M. oeconomus) bendras vados dydis buvo didesnis neužliejamose pievose – 6.20±0.38 (3–10) embrionai, palyginus su užliejamomis – 5.87±1.10 (2–11) embrionai. Jis priklausė nuo sezono. Pavasarį (gegužės mėn.) buvo didesnis užliejamose pievose, nei neužliejamose, atitinkamai: 10.0±1.0 ir 7.75±0.63 embrionai. Kiekvienais metais dalis Rusnės salos pievų užliejamos, o vandeniui atslūgus rekolonizuojamos. Rekolonizacija – laipsniškas procesas. Be to, smulkieji žinduoliai pasižymi skirtingomis šlapios pievos rekolonizacijos strategijomis. Pirmieji į šlapią pievą migruoja pelkiniai pelėnai (M. oeconomus) – tipiški drėgnų pievų gyventojai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] THE SPECIFIC STRUCTURE AND MIGRATION OF SMALL MAMMALS IN THE FLOODED MEADOWS OF THE NEMUNAS DELTA Agnė Janonytė The Nemunas Delta Regional Park (W. Lithuania) is characterized by exceptional habitat diversity. Flooded meadows on Rusnė Island border with non-flooded meadows and are separated by channels and dikes. Birds are well known in the area, as the site is enlisted as a habitat of the European importance and Ramsar site, but small mammals were scarcely investigated to date. Small mammals were trapped from June 2004 to October 2006. The total catch in both flooded and non-flooded meadows was 621 specimens. They belong to 10 species. The absolute dominant was root vole (M. oeconomus), with the share of 55% in the whole area. For the first time in Lithuania, the data on breeding of M. oeconomus were collected (32 cases). We found litter size differences according to the season and habitat. Totally, litter size of M. oeconomus in flooded meadows was 5.87±1.10 (2–11), while that in non-flooded meadows – 6.20±0.38 (3–10) embryo. In May, litter size was higher in flooded meadows – 10.0±1.0 vs. 7.75±0.63 embryo. Each year a part of the meadows is flooded and re-colonized. Migration is an inevitable process in small mammal ecology. Recolonization was found to be a progressive process, resulting in heterogeneous distribution of small mammals in the floodplain. From summer to autumn densities increased and specimens could be observed on larger distances from the non-flooded areas... [to full text]

Per pusantrų metų 26 km ilgio kelyje Vilnius–Dūkštos užregistruota 378 žuvę gyvūnai, iš jų 44 žinduoliai (6 laukinių ir 3 naminių gyvūnų rūšys), 1 paukštis ir 333 varliagyviai (rudosios Rana genties varlės). Rastas 21 suvažinėtas baltakrūtis ežys, 8 katės, 4 šunys, 4 akmeninės kiaunės, 2 rudosios žiurkės, 2 geltonkaklės pelės, 1 lapę, 1 pilkasis kiškis ir 1 karvė. Varliagyviai masiškai žūva migruodami iš žiemojimo vietų į nerštavietes. Tiek 2005, tiek 2006 metais masinis rudųjų varlių žuvimas kelyje Vilnius–Dūkštos užregistruotas balandžio pirmąjį dešimtadienį. Daugiausia žinduolių ant kelio buvo suvažinėta šiltuoju metų laiku – rugpjūčio, gegužės ir rugsėjo mėnesiais. Kadangi gyvūnai ant kelių registruojami rytą, dauguma jų suvažinėjami tamsiu paros metu. Daugiausia žinduolių (27%) suvažinėta tose vietose, kur kelią supa krūmynai, 23% - gyvenvietėse ir miesteliuose, 20% – keliui einant pievomis ir 18% – pamiškėse. Kitų biotopų reikšmė gyvūnų žuvimui kelyje Vilnius–Dūkštos buvo nedidelė – miške užregistruota tik 9% žuvusių žinduolių. Ežiai ir varliagyviai suvažinėjami visame Vilnius–Dūkštos kelio ruože: varliagyviai – ties grioviais, upeliais, laukų pelkutėmis ir ten, kur kelią supa šlapi krūmynai, ežiai – kai kelias eina pievomis ir krūmuotomis vietomis. Ištirtoje kelio atkarpoje trūksta apie susidūrimą su gyvūnais perspėjančių kelio ženklų, pavojingose vietose nėra ribojamas greitis. Šios priemonės leistų sumažinti gyvūnų žuvimą. Animal roadkills on the road were partly conditioned by overspeeding and insufficient number of the road signs. Our results show, that animal roadkills are quite big compared to the short road segment. In the foreign countries problems of the animal roadkills receive more attention, as except damage done to the nature, there are problems of safety, material losses and possible charges to a road service if warning road signs were absent. Object of this investigation were animals, killed on the road Vilnius–Dūkštos (segment length – 26 km). Aim this work was to evaluate species composition of the killed animals, seasonality and influence of the surrounding habitats. Investigation was done while driving this segment twice per day and registering animals killed. Rules of the road were obeyed – no stops under sign or interrupting other vehicles, thus, not all of the killed animals were collected or pictures taken. Places of the roadkills were mapped. In the period of 2004.11.01–2006.05.01number of killed animals was 378; out of these 44 mammals, 1 bird (young Tawny Owl) and 333 amphibians (common/moor frogs). Biggest number of mammal roadkills was done in the dark period of the day and in August–September, while that of amphibians – in April. No kills were registered in January and February. Species composition of mammals: 21 hedgehogs, 4 stone martens, 2 yellow-necked mice, 2 brown rats, 1 fox, 1 brown hare, 8 cats and 4 dogs. According our results and literature analysis... [to full text]

Magistriniame darbe aptariamas elninių populiacijos dinamika Ukmergės rajono Šešuolių girioje. Savo tyrimams aš pasirinkau 3 rūšis, t.y. briedį, taurųjį elnią ir stirną. Visos jos svarbios kaip medžiotinos rūšys, todėl jas būtina tinkamai valdyti. Šiuo tikslu aš atlikau apskaitą Ukmergės rajono Šešuolių girioje nuo 2004 - 2008. Apskaitos buvo atliekamos ketverius metus. Šiais metais apskaita buvo pakartota tam kad būtų galima apskaičiuoti šių kanopinių pasiskirstymą ir gausumą. Buvo nustatyta, kad 2007 – 2008 m. populiacijos tankumas buvo 46 stirnos, 14 elnių, 7 briedžiai; 2006 - 2007 populiacijos tankumas buvo 42 stirnos, 11 elnių, 6 briedžiai, 2005 – 2006 m. buvo 53 individai stirnų, 14 individų elnių, 10 individų briedžių; 2004 – 2005 m. buvo 58 individai stirnų, 14 individų elnių, 8 individai briedžių. Vidutinis briedžių tankumas siekė 2,9 ±0,3 ind. /1000ha, tauriųjų elnių 4,8 ± 0,3 ind./1000ha, stirnų 19,1 ±1,3ind/ 1000ha. Akivaizdu kad tirtų rūšių būklė yra nevienoda. Palyginus pastaruosius dvejus metus, briedžių populiacija sumažėjo, tauriųjų elnių populiacijos tankis nepasikeitė, tačiau stirnų – padidėjo. Gaila, kad kanopinių skaičius mažėja dėl nuolatinio medžiojimo ir brakonieriavimo. Populiacijos modeliavimas padeda kontroliuoti daugelį faktorių, kurie keičia populiacijos būklę. Rekomenduojam, kad apskaitos būtų papildomai tikrinamos, kompiuterizuotos ir jų duomenys būtų prieinami visiems. Netikslumus sumažinti padėtų ir tikslesni apskaitų metodai. Cervides population dynamic in Šešuolių forest in Ukmergė distict is rewied in diploma paper. Moose (Alces alces), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) were cowered by this investigation.. They are important as hunting species. For this purpose I have made survey of these ungulates in Šešuoliai forest. Surveys were continued four years from 2004 till 2008. Results were compared between years to find changes in abundance. It was found that the density of population in 2007 – 2008 was 46 individuals of Roe Deer, 11 individuals of Red Deer, 7 individuals of Moose; in 2006 – 2007 years the density of population was 42 individuals of Roe Deer, 11 individuals of Red Deer, 6 individuals of Moose; in 2006 – 2005 was was 53 individuals of Roe Deer, 14 individuals of Red Deer, 10 individuals of Moose ; in 2005 – 2004 was was 58 individuals of Roe Deer, 14 individuals of Red Deer, 8 individuals of Moose. Average density of Moose was 2,9 ±0,3 ind. /1000ha, that of Red Deer 4,8 ± 0,3 ind./1000ha, and Roe Deer - 19,1 ±1,3ind/ 1000ha. Obviously that the status of investigated species was not stable. In comparison the last two years population of Moose decreased, the density of Red Deer did not change, but the density of Roe Deer increased. Number of cervids is decreasing because of constant hunting and poaching. Modelling of the population allows to assess and control of the influence of various factors, which change number of individuals in real populations. It is... [to full text]

Šio darbo tikslas buvo įvertinti pasiutligės situaciją Lietuvoje ir Vilniaus mieste. Gyvūnų pasiutligė paplitusi visoje šalyje. Lietuvoje 1994 – 2003 m. pagrindinis pasiutligės viruso gamtinis šaltinis buvo laukiniai gyvūnai (67,38%). Naminių gyvūnų infekuotumas mažesnis (32,62%). Šiuo laikotarpiu daugiausiai pasiutligės atvejų užfiksuota Lazdijų, Klaipėdos, Panevėžio ir Tauragės rajonuose. Per 2004 – 2005 metų laikotarpį pasiutligės atvejų nesumažėjo. Per visus 2005 metus buvo nustatyti 1652 jos atvejai, tai 544 atvejais daugiau nei 2003 metais ir 1099 atvejais daugiau nei 2004 metais. Vilniaus mieste pasiutligės situacija taip pat išlieka nepalanki. Nuolat registruojami nauji atvejai. Per 1991 – 2003 m. laikotarpį Vilniaus mieste daugiausiai tarp pasiutligės virusu infekuotų naminių gyvūnų yra šunų - 329 atv., karvių – 148 atv., kačių – 138 atv., o tarp laukinių gyvūnų - lapių 187 atv., mangutų – 101 atv. Nuo 2001 metų iki šios dienos iš 21 Vilniaus seniūnijos 12 bent kartą buvo paskelbtos pasiutligės grėsmės zona. Dažniausiai per pastarąjį penkmetį pasiutligės židiniu buvo skelbtos Antakalnio (9 kartus), Panerių (8) Naujosios Vilnios (3), ir Verkių (4) seniūnijos. The aim of this study was to investigate situation of rabies in Lithuania and Vilnius City. Rabies currently is spread through all the country. In 1994 – 2003 the main reservoir of rabies in Lithuania was wild animals (67,38%). Rabies among domestic animals was spread in less extent (32,62%). During that period most rabies cases were detected in Lazdijai, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Tauragė districts. In 2004 – 2005 rabies situation did not become better. Through 2005 1652 cases have been detected. It is 544 cases more than in 2003 and 1099 more than in 2004. In Vilnius City rabies situation is still unfavourable. Number of infection cases is constantly increasing. In 1991 – 2003 the most frequently infected domestic animals were: dogs – 329 incidents, cows – 148, cats – 138; wild animals: foxes – 187, raccoon dogs – 101 incidents. Since 2001 12 of 21 municipalities of Vilnius City have been declared as rabies threat zone at least once. During the last five years the most frequently as rabies thread zone were declared Antakalnio (9 times), Panerių (8) Naujosios Vilnios (3), and Verkių (4) municipalities were declared.

Darbe apžvelgiami Lietuvos įstatymai reglamentuojantys gyvūnų aptvarų įsteigimą bei priežiūrą. Pristatomos organizacijos, susijusios su laukinių gyvūnų laikymu aptvaruose. Išnagrinėti literatūroje rekomenduojami dažniausiai Lietuvoje laikomų gyvūnų aptvarų įrengimo reikalavimai. Susisteminta ir išanalizuota informacija apie Lietuvos aptvarus bei palyginta su ankstesniais duomenimis iš Lietuvos. Taigi šiuo metu Lietuvoje yra 50 aptvarų, kuriuose laikomi 30 rūšių žinduoliai, 16 rūšių paukščiai ir 1 rūšies moliuskai. Tai beveik 5 kartus daugiau nei buvo 1998 metais. Dažniausi vidutinio dydžio ūkiai, kuriuose laikoma nuo 1 iki 50 stuburinių gyvūnų ir iki 50 000 vynuoginių sraigių. Aptvarai įkuriami dėl įvairių priežasčių: savininko hobis ar estetiniai poreikiai, turizmas, reaklimatizacija, pagalba sužeistam gyvūnui, medžiojamosios faunos gausinimas, trofėjų gerinimas, medžioklė, šunų dresūra, pelnas, tradicinės žemės ūkio krypties keitimas į ekologinį ūkį, netgi naujų veislių išvedimas. Pelno atžvilgiu dauguma aptvarų neutralūs. Nors perspektyva ateičiai yra, tačiau ji priklauso nuo laikomų gyvūnų rūšies. In this work are presented legislations which regulate the establishment and care about the animal enclosures in Lithuania and the organizations which are associated with possession of the wild animals in the enclosures. Furthermore, there are analysed the recommendations of the literature about the requirements essential to set the enclosures of the most often kept animals in the Lithuania. The information about Lithuania's enclosures is analysed and systematized and it is compared with the previous data from Lithuania. So, there are 50 enclosures in which are kept 30 species of mammalians, 16 species of birds and 1 species of mollusc in Lithuania now. It's almost 5 times more than in 1998 year. The most favourite are the medium size farms in which from 1 to 50 vertebrate animals and till 50 000 edible snails are kept . The enclosures are established for the different reasons: the hobbi or aesthetical demands of the owner, tourism, reaclimatisation, the help for the injured animal, multiplication of the fauna which is hunted, developement of the trophy hunting, the training of the dogs, the profit, the changing of the traditional agriculture tendency to the ecological one, even the breeding of the new kindes. Most of farms are neutral in the aspect of profit . However the perspectives for the future are, but they depend on the sort of animals kept.

There are lots of investigations of small mammal communities not only in Lithuania, but in other countries as well. But that is to say, majority of these researches are made in vegetative season of the year and winter data on small mammal communities are lacking. The aim of this investigation was to investigate seasonal changes in small mammal community in non – vegetative season in Zarasai district. Objectives of the research were to analyze published data of similar research from Lithuania and other countries as well, snap-trap and examine small mammals from study area in non-vegetative season, evaluate the abundance of small mammal populations, frequency of detection, the composition of age and sex, to estimate changes in small mammal community structure using Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) and Simpson’s dominance index (c), to analyse the influence of snow cover depth and air temperature on small mammals abundance and to investigate, whether mandibular and maxillary measurements in shrews, mise and voles differ between winter and non-winter periods. In current investigation small mammals were snap-trapped all winter season (from October to the end of April) of 2004–2005 and 2005 – 2006 in the East Lithuania, Zarasai district, near lake Ilgelis, in the former farmstead territories. Total number of the trap-days in 13 (2004/05) and 19 (2005/06) trapping sessions was 3295 and 427 individuals of nine small mammal species were trapped: common shrew (Sorex araneus), pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), house mouse (Mus musculus), yellow – necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), pygmy field mouse (A. uralensis), striped field mouse (A. agrarius), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), common vole (Microtus arvalis) and root vole (M. oeconomus). Results showed, that the dominant species was bank vole, comprising 54,5% of 2004/05 and 49,4% of 2005/06 of the total catch. Decrease of abundance in most species was observed in March and especially April, except the common vole, which became dominant in spring in both years of research. Shannon-Wiener index showed the highest species diversity in March (H=2.12) and November (H=1,672), in most sessions one to three species (maximum five) were trapped. According to Simpson’s index, small mammal community became monodominant in spring of 2005 and in research time of 2005/06 the index saltatory fluctuated. The beginning of breeding of small mammals – of common vole, to be more specific – was registered on the first decade of April of 2005 (the average size of litter was 4.3 embryos per one female) and on the second decade of March of 2006. That is to say, reproduction of bank vole started later – the second decade of April of 2005. It was observed, that there was a tenuous positive correlation between air temperature abundance of small mammals and a significant negative correlation between depth of snow cover and small mammal abundance. Cranial mensuration showed, that despite the fact, that average body weight of bank voles in winter decreased in all age groups, growth of the skull was continuing: three characters were bigger in adult group, seven – in subadults and ten characters – in the group of young voles. In subadults of common voles cranial measurements in winter do not differ from those in autumn. In adult common voles most of cranial measurements in winter were significantly shorter, thus, growth in this species is inhibited. Data for 10 winter-caught yellow-necked mice show uninterrupted growth, especially of subadults, in which most of cranial measurements were longer than in autumn. Our results contribute to insufficient data on small mammal winter data and on craniometry of small mammals in Lithuania, as current publications involve a few cranial measurements of adult shrews, mice and voles without paying attention to their correlation with body weight and seasonal peculiarities of growth.