Spatial organization, behaviour and feeding habits of red squirrels: differences between an urban park and an urban forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Krauze‐Gryz ◽  
J. Gryz ◽  
M. Brach
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Red Squirrels

scholarly journals Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malle F Carrasco-Harris ◽  
Dale Bowman ◽  
Steve Reichling ◽  
Judith A Cole
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Agkistrodon Contortrix

Abstract Urban forests and parks are important for recreation and may serve as a natural corridor for commuters. The consequences of human-mediated disturbance in natural areas are documented for avian and mammalian species. Less is known about the consequences of human disturbance on reptile species, specifically snakes, residing in natural refuges within the urban matrix. Thus, we examined the spatial activity of copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) in regard to pedestrian trails within an urban forest. We used radio telemetry to track snakes during the active season and estimated distances moved in between relocations, distances to the nearest trail and home range size for individuals. We found sex and season, but not distance to the nearest trail, affected the distance snakes moved. In addition, we observed a weak, positive relationship between home range size and average distance to the trail. Sex, season and body condition did not explain snake distance to the trail, but individual patterns were variable for snakes compared to random locations generated from snake relocations. Our study indicates copperheads may be tolerant of low-level human disturbances found in an urban forest. Further work should be done to quantify levels of disturbance, such as trail use, and compare the behavior of reptiles across urban park types and locations.

scholarly journals Genetic Diversity and Spatial Genetic Structure of Stellaria Holostea Populations from Urban Forest Islands

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Wodkiewicz ◽  
Bożenna Gruszczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Clonal Diversity ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Ancient Forest ◽  
Forest Islands

Abstract Stellaria holostea is a clonal herb highly confined to well-established deciduous forests. This study examined whether its genetic diversity and spatial genetic organization in urban forest islands is similar to the values from well-established populations outside urban landscape. We studied four populations in Warsaw and two populations from well preserved forests outside the city. Genetic diversity was greater in populations from well-preserved forests than from forests heavily exploited in the past. High clonal diversity indices indicate that the studied populations did not lose the ability to reproduce sexually. The small populations in urban forests differed from the remaining sites in spatial organization. High overall FST (0.24) and the lack of correlation between genetic and geographic distance between the studied populations indicate limited gene flow. Urban forests may be of great value for conservation of S. holostea and other ancient forest species as they may still harbor substantial genetic variability despite their isolation.

scholarly journals Analysis of the feeding habits of the swallow-tailed hummingbird, Eupetomena macroura (Gmelin, 1788), in an urban park in southeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
MCB. Toledo ◽  
DM. Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Plant Part ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Territorial Defense ◽  
The City

The aim of this work was to observe and describe the feeding habits and available food resources of the swallow-tailed hummingbird, Eupetomena macroura. The study was carried out in a municipal park located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo. The observations took place between December 2003 and October 2004, recording the following variables: 1) the plant species visited for feeding and territorial defense; 2) the kinds of food resources; and 3) the kinds of flight to procure and obtain food. E. macroura visited 12 plant species. For territorial defense, Mangifera indica was the most visited, whereas Malvaviscus arboreus was most visited for feeding. The foliage was the plant part that received the most frequent visits. In order to obtain nectar, the only species visited was M. arboreus; to obtain arthropods, the species most visited were Mangifera indica and Hymenaea stilbocarpa. In the dry season, the hummingbirds visited flowers, whereas in the rainy season they visited leaves to acquire food. The arthropod groups most frequently found on leafy branches were Homoptera and Psocoptera. Finally, the results of the type of flight analysis showed that flight used to capture food was more often observed than were flights to search for food. In conclusion, these observations suggest that E. macroura shows plasticity in feeding behavior, which can help it to persist in urban areas.

scholarly journals Woody Species Composition, Diversity And Structure of Vegetation of Peri-Urban Park in Leo, Burkina Faso

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (43) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Ganaba Souleymane ◽  
Semdé Kadidia ◽  
Kagambèga Wenemi François ◽  
Dao Moussa
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Vitellaria Paradoxa ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Detarium Microcarpum ◽  
Piliostigma Thonningii

This work aims to fill a gap in knowledge of the Burkina Faso Southern Sudanese flora and vegetation. The woody vegetation of the forest park of the Scholl Complex in Léo comprises a total of 26 families, 63 genera and 81 species including native and introduced ones. The fallow is the unit that contains all families and genera and 93% of species. The most abundant species of units of the Park are Terminalia avicennioides (Combretaceae), Piliostigma thonningii (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae), Daniellia oliveri (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae), Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae), Detarium microcarpum (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae), Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae), Annona senegalensis (Annonaceae) and Pteleopsis suberosa (Combretaceae).The species that regenerate the most and that will ensure the sustainability of the peri-urban forest resources are Gardenia erubescens (Rubiaceae), Piliostigma reticulatum (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae), Vitellaria paradoxa, Annona senegalensis, Terminalia avicennioides (Combretaceae), Diospyros mespilifomis and Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae). The most threats on vegetation and flora of the School Complex are fraudulent human exploitation, parasitic pressure and progressive intrusion of Azadirachta indica.Peri-urban park resources conservation measures concern the replanting of vegetation in degraded areas and incentives for wood production for local populations. A management program for threatened or rare species, control of invasive alien plants and domestic animals and the development and improvement of habitat to create a future urban park.

scholarly journals Target Species and Other Residents—An Experiment with Nest Boxes for Red Squirrels in Central Poland

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Jakub Gryz ◽  
Tomasz Jaworski ◽  
Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Habitat Mosaic ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Occupancy Rates

The red squirrel typically nests in dreys and tree hollows, but also (when given an opportunity) in large nest boxes. We assessed the occupancy rate of nest boxes by red squirrel and non-target species (120 boxes in the continuous forest, habitat mosaic and urban park, checked annually for eight years). Habitat type explained the variability in the occupancy of nest boxes by different species/taxa. Red squirrels used nest boxes in all habitats but occupancy rates were highest in the urban park (>50% of the boxes at maximum) and lowest in the forest. This could be explained by high population density, competition for shelters and willingness to explore alternative sheltering opportunities by urban squirrels. The yellow-necked mouse inhabited nest boxes infrequently and mostly in habitat mosaic. Tits mostly occurred in the forest and least often in the park, which suggests limited availability of natural cavities in managed forest. Nest box occupancy by starlings increased with an anthropopression level, which reflects high densities of urban and rural populations of the species. Hymenoptera (mainly wasps) were present only in rural areas, which may be due to their persecution by humans or use of anti-mosquito pesticides in urban parks. Additionally, 24 insect species were found to inhabit squirrel dreys.

scholarly journals Genetic structure of urban and non-urban populations differs between two common parid species

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Markowski ◽  
Piotr Minias ◽  
Mirosława Bańbura ◽  
Michał Glądalski ◽  
Adam Kaliński ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Habitat Variation ◽  
Blue Tits

AbstractLandscape conversions induced by human activities can affect dispersal patterns of various bird species and, as a result, affect genetic structure of their populations. Genetic differentiation of bird populations may be enhanced by habitat variation, especially in urban-non-urban systems. The majority of population genetic studies focus on single species, which inflicts limitations for direct comparisons of genetic responses of avian populations to urbanization. Here, we used a set of microsatellite markers to examine genetic diversity, gene flow and population structure in two common parid species, great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus occupying three sites in habitats with contrasting urbanization level in central Poland. We found low but significant divergence of urban park population with both suburban and non-urban forest great tit populations, while no differentiation was found between suburban forest and non-urban forest populations. In contrast, no evidence for genetic differentiation was found between blue tit populations from the urban park, suburban forest and non-urban forest sites. We conclude that great tits and blue tits respond to urbanization-related changes in a different way, which may be a result of different rates of migration and/or dispersal, likely higher in blue tits. Some impact may be also induced by interspecific competition. We suggest that changing the focus of urban genetic research from single to multiple species may provide novel insights into how natural populations respond to the processes of urbanization.

scholarly journals The choice and handling of supplemental food by red squirrels in an urban park

2020 ◽  
Vol 178 ◽  
pp. 104153
Author(s):  
Agata Kostrzewa ◽  
Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Keyword(s):  
Urban Park ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Supplemental Food
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