Latest Articles from Nature Conservation Latest 2 Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:58:43 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ Distribution range and population viability of Emys orbicularis in Slovakia: a review with conservation implications https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/69644/ Nature Conservation 44: 141-161

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.44.69644

Authors: Enikő Horváth, Martina Martvoňová, Stanislav Danko, Peter Havaš, Peter Kaňuch, Marcel Uhrin

Abstract: The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is the only native freshwater turtle species in Slovakia. Due to watercourse regulations in the middle of the 20th century, its range became fragmented and, currently, there are only two isolated populations. From a total of 1,236 historical records in Slovakia, most observations (782 records) came from the area of the Tajba National Nature Reserve (NNR). Three of the population viability analysis models (‘baseline’, ‘catastrophe’, ‘nest protection during a catastrophe’) indicated the extinction of the population in Tajba, with the highest probability of extinction occurring during a catastrophic event (probability of extinction 1.00). We also evaluated information about the activity patterns of seven radio-tracked individuals and about the number of destroyed nests from the area. During the period 2017–2021, we recorded only two turtles leaving the aquatic habitat of Tajba. An alarming fact is the massive number of destroyed nests found in the area during the study period (Tajba 524; Poľany 56). Our results indicate that the population in the Tajba NNR require immediate application of management steps to ensure its long-term survival.

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Research Article Thu, 30 Sep 2021 13:27:56 +0300
Recreation effects on wildlife: a review of potential quantitative thresholds https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/63270/ Nature Conservation 44: 51-68

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.44.63270

Authors: Jeremy S. Dertien, Courtney L. Larson, Sarah E. Reed

Abstract: Outdoor recreation is increasingly recognised for its deleterious effects on wildlife individuals and populations. However, planners and natural resource managers lack robust scientific recommendations for the design of recreation infrastructure and management of recreation activities. We reviewed 38 years of research on the effect of non-consumptive recreation on wildlife to attempt to identify effect thresholds or the point at which recreation begins to exhibit behavioural or physiological change to wildlife. We found that 53 of 330 articles identified a quantitative threshold. The majority of threshold articles focused on bird or mammal species and measured the distance to people or to a trail. Threshold distances varied substantially within and amongst taxonomic groups. Threshold distances for wading and passerine birds were generally less than 100 m, whereas they were greater than 400 m for hawks and eagles. Mammal threshold distances varied widely from 50 m for small rodents to 1,000 m for large ungulates. We did not find a significant difference between threshold distances of different recreation activity groups, likely based in part on low sample size. There were large gaps in scientific literature regarding several recreation variables and taxonomic groups including amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles. Our findings exhibit the need for studies to measure continuous variables of recreation extent and magnitude, not only to detect effects of recreation on wildlife, but also to identify effect thresholds when and where recreation begins or ceases to affect wildlife. Such considerations in studies of recreation ecology could provide robust scientific recommendations for planners and natural resource managers for the design of recreation infrastructure and management of recreation activities.

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Review Article Fri, 28 May 2021 10:19:18 +0300