Observations on marking behaviour in a low-density population of European badgers (Meles meles)

We studied the socio-spatial organization of Eurasian badgers (or European badgers), Meles meles (L., 1758), in a low-density population (estimate 1.8 badgers/km2) inhabiting a semi-rural area of western Switzerland. For this purpose, 8 badgers (5 males and 3 females) were caught at 5 different main setts and were radio-tracked between May 1994 and November 1996. The size of individual home ranges varied from 0.27 to 3.74 km2 (1.69 ± 1.33 km2 (mean ± SD), n = 8, 100% MCP), seemingly according to local variations in habitat productivity. Individual home ranges were spatially stable, but their size decreased significantly during winter (0.26 ± 0.42 km2, n = 7, 100% MCP). Badger social units consisted of 1–5 adults and (or) subadults (2.2 ± 1.5 animals, n = 9) and their yearly offspring. Group-range size varied from 0.57 to 3.74 km2 (2.12 ± 1.30 km2, n = 4) and seemed to be influenced by the spatial distribution pattern of food resources. Indeed, each group range encompassed approximately the same surface of agricultural land (about 0.60 km2). Territories were not well marked, some group ranges partly overlapped. Latrines, which were not numerous and principally located inside rather than along borders of group ranges, were only used irregularly or sporadically. This prompts us to encourage the reconsideration of the role of territorial behaviour in promoting group formation in Eurasian badgers.

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The avoidance of farmyards by European badgers Meles meles in a medium density population

Applied Animal Behaviour Science ◽

10.1016/j.applanim.2015.08.021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 171 ◽

pp. 170-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Enda Mary Mullen ◽

Teresa MacWhite ◽

Peter K. Maher ◽

David J. Kelly ◽

Nicola M. Marples ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meles Meles ◽

Medium Density ◽

European Badgers ◽

Density Population

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Ability of Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to Parasitize Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) after Switching Hosts

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12070613 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 613

Author(s):

Yuan Zheng ◽

Zi-Wei Song ◽

Yu-Ping Zhang ◽

Dun-Song Li

Keyword(s):

Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽

Low Density ◽

Type Ii ◽

Emergence Time ◽

Functional Responses ◽

Parasitism Rate ◽

Spalangia Endius ◽

Pupal Parasite ◽

Density Population

We studied the parasitism capacity of Spalangia endius as a pupal parasite of Bactocera dorsalis after switching hosts. We used pupae of B. dorsalis and M. domestica as the hosts and studied parasitism by S. endius in the laboratory. The parasitism capacities were compared at different host densities and different parasitoid ages. The two functional responses of S. endius fitted a Holling Type II equation. More M. domestica were parasitized than B. dorsalis at all the densities. The ability of S. endius to control M. domestica was α/Th (parasitism capacity) = 32.1950, which was much stronger than that of control B. dorsalis, which was α/Th = 4.7380. The parasitism rate of wasps that had parasitized B. dorsalis had decreased by the emergence time of parasitoids. These results suggest that the parasitoid-pest ratio should be 1:25 to maintain a relatively stable parasitism rate for control of B. dorsalis. The S. endius colony reared on M. domestica successfully controlled a low-density population of B. dorsalis in the lab. We provide evidence suggesting that the parasitism capacity of S. endius needs to be improved.

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MHC class II-assortative mate choice in European badgers (Meles meles)

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1111/mec.13217 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (12) ◽

pp. 3138-3150 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Yung Wa Sin ◽

Geetha Annavi ◽

Chris Newman ◽

Christina Buesching ◽

Terry Burke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mate Choice ◽

Mhc Class Ii ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Class Ii ◽

European Badgers

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Validity of genus Perostrongylus Schlegel, 1934 with new data on Perostrongylus falciformis (Schlegel, 1933) in European badgers, Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758): distribution, life-cycle and pathology

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-018-3124-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Georgiana Deak ◽

Andrei Daniel Mihalca ◽

Joerg Hirzmann ◽

Vito Colella ◽

Flaviu Alexandru Tăbăran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Meles Meles ◽

European Badgers

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Encounters between two sympatric carnivores: red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and European badgers (Meles meles)

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1017/s0952836904005400 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 263 (4) ◽

pp. 385-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

D. W. Macdonald ◽

C. D. Buesching ◽

P. Stopka ◽

J. Henderson ◽

S. A. Ellwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Sympatric Carnivores ◽

European Badgers

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A fencing experiment on a high-density population of Microtus townsendii

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z77-151 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 55 (7) ◽

pp. 1166-1175 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Rudy Boonstra ◽

Charles J. Krebs

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Population Regulation ◽

Control Area ◽

High Density ◽

Low Density ◽

Vole Population ◽

Sharp Decline ◽

Density Population ◽

Microtus Townsendii

If dispersal is prevented, a low-density vole population will increase to unusually high densities. A mouse-proof fence was constructed around a vole population that had already reached high density and both this population and one on a control area were live-trapped from January 1975 to November 1975. The population on the control remained at peak densities. The enclosed population increased to even higher density once the breeding season had started and had a higher survival rate than the control population. By midsummer the enclosed population had severely overgrazed the vegetation and went into a sharp decline. Dispersal losses from the control were estimated at 32% for males and 31% for females in these high-density populations. Microtus townsendii populations thus responded to a fence in a manner similar to that of other species that have been studied. This experiment indicates the importance of dispersal to population regulation in voles even at peak densities.

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Anatomy and physiology of Cattail as related to different population densities

Planta Daninha ◽

10.1590/s0100-83582015000100001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 01-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

F.F. CORRÊA ◽

R.H. MADAIL ◽

S. BARBOSA ◽

M.P. PEREIRA ◽

E.M. CASTRO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

High Density ◽

Root Anatomy ◽

Low Density ◽

Typha Angustifolia ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Shoot Ratio ◽

Root Shoot Ratio ◽

Apoplastic Barriers ◽

Density Population

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the population density of Typha angustifolia plants in the anatomical and physiological characteristics. Plants were collected from populations of high density (over 50% of colonization capacity) and low density (less than 50% of colonization capacity) and cultivated under controlled greenhouse conditions. Plants from both populations were grown in plastic trays containing 4 L of nutritive solution for 60 days. At the end of this period, the relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, net assimilatory rate, root/shoot ratio, leaf anatomy, root anatomy, and catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were evaluated. Plants from high density populations showed increased growth rate and root/shoot ratio. Low density populations showed higher values of stomatal index and density in leaves, as well as increased palisade parenchyma thickness. Root epidermis and exodermis thickness as well as the aerenchyma proportion of high density populations were reduced, these plants also showed increased vascular cylinder proportion. Only catalase activity was modified between the high and low density populations, showing increased values in low density populations. Therefore, different Typha angustifolia plants show differences in its anatomy and physiology related to its origins on high and low density conditions. High density population plants shows increased growth capacity related to lower apoplastic barriers in root and this may be related to increased nutrient uptake capacity.

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