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Abstract Understanding how large carnivores utilize space is crucial for management planning in human-dominated landscape and enhances the accuracy of population size estimates. However, Eurasian lynx display a large inter-population variation in the size of home ranges across their European range which makes extrapolation to broader areas of a species distribution problematic. This study evaluates variations in home range size for 35 Eurasian lynx in the Western Carpathians during 2011–2022 based on GPS telemetry and explains how intrinsic and environmental factors shape lynx spatial behaviour when facing anthropogenic pressure. The average annual home range size of lynx ranged from 283 (± 42 SE) to 360 (± 60 SE) km2 for males and from 148 (± 50 SE) to 190 (± 70 SE) km2 for females, depending on home range estimator (95% MCP, KDE and AKDE). Females with kittens had smaller annual and summer home ranges compared to non-reproducing females and subadults had smaller home ranges compared to adults. Lynx home range size was explained by availability of roe deer, except for summer, when alternative prey was likely available. We also found clear evidence of human-induced changes in lynx home range size, in particular, forest cover significantly decreased the home range size of male lynx during summer while road density led to an expansion of both annual and summer lynx home ranges. Lynx exhibited consistent fidelity to their home ranges throughout consecutive seasons, showing no seasonal variations. Strong territoriality was observed among competing males maintaining relatively low home range overlaps and considerable distances between centres of activity. The most pronounced tendency for association was observed between males and females, maintaining relatively close proximity year-round. The insights into lynx spatial requirements provided by our study will greatly enhance the accuracy of population size estimates and effectiveness of mitigation measures across the Western Carpathians.

Molecular methods are routinely used to estimate the effective size of populations (Ne). However, underlying model assumptions are frequently violated to an unknown extent. Although simulations can detect sources of bias and help to adjust sampling strategies and analyses methods, additional information from empirical data can also be used to calibrate methods and improve molecular Ne estimation methods. Here, we take advantage of long‐term genetic and ecological monitoring data of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Germany, and detailed population genetic studies in Poland, Spain and Portugal to improve Ne estimation strategies in this species, and species with similar life history traits. We first calculated Ne from average lifetime reproductive success and detailed census data from the German population, which served as a baseline to compare to molecular estimates based on linkage disequilibrium and sibship frequency. This yielded a robust Ne/Nc estimation that we used to calibrate molecular estimates of German, Polish and Iberian wolf populations. The linkage disequilibrium method was strongly influenced by spatial genetic structure, much more than the sibship frequency method. When Ne was estimated in local neighbourhoods, both methods yielded comparable results. Estimates of the metapopulation effective size seemed to correspond generally well with the sum of the estimates of local neighbourhoods. Overall, we found that the number of packs is a good proxy of the effective population size. Using this as a rule of thumb, we evaluated for all European wolf populations the Ne 500 indicator and concluded that half of the European wolf populations do not yet fulfil this criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious games have been gaining increasing attention in the field of digital game-based language learning (DGBLL). However, to incorporate serious games into foreign/second language (L2) classrooms, teachers must be prepared with requisite knowledge and skills. To this end, following PRISMA guidelines, this study conducted a systematic review of research on serious digital language learning games with two aims. The main objective of this study was to map out the issues pertaining to serious digital language learning games that are currently being addressed in empirical studies in the DGBLL area. The secondary objective was to leverage the findings to inform the development of a research-based framework of expertise for L2 teachers intending to incorporate serious digital game-based language learning (S-DGBLL) in their classrooms. Fifty articles published until April 2023 were analysed in terms of research methodologies, pedagogical characteristics, game design, and outcomes. The findings have implications for the proposal of an S-DGBLL teacher competence framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of drive count and pellet group counts for estimating the community structure and density of wild ungulates was assessed in the Roztocze National Park (south-east Poland) from 2003 to 2021. The estimates varied greatly among methods and years. The largest errors were found for assessing ungulate density using drive counts, mainly due to insufficient blocks. Errors for the pellet group counts were small for red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and moderate for wild boar (Sus scrofa). Therefore, it is suggested that the pellet group method should be given priority in surveys of ungulate population abundance in the Roztocze National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, we assess the impact of the regulatory framework on banks' funding models in the European Union in the period 2011–2018. We put particular emphasis on the capital requirements captured by two different types of regulatory measures: individual and sectoral. Moreover, we include a country‐level regulatory variable to assess if the overall lawmaking conditions impact banks' funding models. Our estimates indicate that after the Global Financial Crisis, all regulatory measures had a significant impact on the deposits to total assets ratio, which we assume to be the best proxy for banks' funding models. Having divided the sample of the EU banks into four subsamples according to their specialization (i.e. commercial, cooperative, savings, and investment banks), we identified significant differences in strength and direction of regulatory variables' impact on banks' funding model within selected subsamples. In particular, due to the specific nature of investment banks, prudential regulations contribute to a change in the funding model towards safer deposit funding. Moreover, our results indicate that in the case of the non‐euro area banking sector, the regulatory environment measured by the regulatory quality index has an adverse impact on the Deposits to total assets ratio in comparison with both the entire sample as well as the euro area banking sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]