scholarly journals The Borki Primeval Forest as an important forest bird area

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-107
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Rąkowski

Abstract This paper presents an overview of bird research carried out in the Borki Primeval Forest during the last 30 years. The Borki Primeval Forest can be considered as one of the most important forest bird sites in Poland. Its avifauna comprises 139 breeding species, including 11 rare and endangered species listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals as well as 30 species listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Despite its relatively small area, the Borki Primeval Forest holds at least 1% of Polish breeding population of as many as 12 bird species. For seven out of these species it is one of the most important breeding sites in the country. The avifauna of the Borki Primeval Forest consists mostly of typical forest birds including 24 indicator species which are associated with natural forests. The richness of bird species in the Borki Primeval Forest and the abundance of several valuable groups of breeding species are the result of a high landscape and habitat diversity as well as a relatively small anthropopression combined with a high degree of naturalness of forest stands.

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel O.A. Asibey ◽  
J. G. K. Owusu

Implementation of a conservation policy of preserving representative samples of all the natural ecosystems in the country has led to the establishment, from 1974, of two high-foresi national parks, namely the Bia and the Nini-Suhien, of an area now totalling 252 square kilometres or 0.3% of the original high-forests of Ghana. Continuing pressures to permit logging and other forms of exploitation for short-term cash benefits suggest that, unlike the national parks in the savanna zone, the need for high-forest national parks is yet to be fully appreciated.High-forest national parks are vital as:– A reference-base for scientific studies and for comparison with forests that have been modified through logging, sylviculture, and farming; they may thus provide data for decisions on the most desirable future management of high-forest areas;– A genetic bank for the most important timber trees and for rare and endangered species and other taxa of fauna and flora;– A focal point for the breeding and spreading of wild animals which are widely exploited for meat throughout Ghana;– As a tourist and recreational asset; the high-forest itself is the chief tourist resource within the high-forest zone, providing a unique atmosphere for relaxation and outdoor recreation; and– As an educational, cultural, ecological, and scientific, heritage of the greatest importance.Internally, therefore, the policy of creating and maintaining high-forest national parks needs to be strengthened against political and economic pressures, with pursuit of a vigorous effort at educating decision-makers and the general public to an understanding of the many intangible values of natural forests. Externally, a common habitat-conservation policy for the West African subregion is urged—not only to prevent smuggling of protected, rare, and endangered, species across national borders, but also because the environmental consequences of the abuse of Nature recognize no such national frontiers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-192
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Kopij

Abstract Niemodlin countryside (c. 300 km2) is situated in the south-western part of Opole Silesia, SW Poland. Forests occupy c. 40%, arable grounds – 1/3, and meadows and pastures – 7%. There are 31 fish-ponds with a total diked surface of 663 ha. The paper presents results of field investigations carried out during the years 2002-2007 and an analysis of changes in the breeding avifauna over the last 56 years. During the years 2002-2007, 123 breeding and 11 probably breeding bird species were recorded in this area. During the years 1962-2007 151 species were recorded as breeding residents; and additional five species – as probably breeding resident. The following species were recorded as breeding for the first time in 1962-2007: Haliaeetus albicilla, Larus canus, Motacilla cinerea, Saxicola torquata, Locustella luscinioides, Ficedula albicollis, Corvus corax and Carpodacus erythrinus. In the same period the following species became extinct: Podiceps nigricollis, Anas clypeata, Milvus milvus, and Tringa glareola. The following species increaed in numbers in 1962-2007: Coturnix coturnix, Grus grus, Columba oenas, Apus apus, Dryocopus martius, Dendrocopos medius, Motacilla cinerea, Saxicola torquata and Corvus corax. In the same period, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps grisegena, Ciconia ciconia, Aythya nyroca, Perdix perdix, Gallinago gallinago, Larus ridibundus, Tyto alba, Alcedo atthis, Picus viridis, Riparia riparia and Corvus cornix decreased in numbers. The areas with the highest concentration of rare and endangered species are postulated to be protected as nature reserves, landscape parks and other spatial forms of nature conservation.


Author(s):  
Chunyan Wu ◽  
Yongfu Chen ◽  
David GrenierHéon

A comprehensive understanding of allelopathy and resource availability mechanisms is critical for protecting rare and endangered species, biodiversity and ecosystems. We treated 20 major plant species with a gradient of three aqueous extracts of Dacrydium pierrei litter and irrigation/nutrients to compare the relative importance of allelopathy and resource availability on roots, stem growth and seed germination using bioassays. The results showed that the height, ground diameter and aboveground biomass of individuals increased more quickly in the early stage, and rate of increase tends to slow down in the later. The allelopathy was species specific (inhibitory, neutral or promotive), and the survival rate and growth rate of saplings changed significantly along a resource treatment gradient (P< 0.05), indicating that the native species diversity was reduced by lower or higher resource availability in natural forests. The effect of allelopathy on trees was relatively weak during the treatments, and that of resource availability was relatively strong. Resource availability is relatively more important than allelopathy in mediating the reduction in plant biodiversity. Therefore, water and nutrient availability and the species and number of allelochemicals released by plants have substantial influences on the survival and growth of plant species in a natural Dacrydium forest.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Subir Sarker ◽  
Ajani Athukorala ◽  
Timothy R. Bowden ◽  
David B. Boyle

Emerging viral diseases have become a significant concern due to their potential consequences for animal and environmental health. Over the past few decades, it has become clear that viruses emerging in wildlife may pose a major threat to vulnerable or endangered species. Diphtheritic stomatitis, likely to be caused by an avipoxvirus, has been recognised as a significant cause of mortality for the endangered yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) in New Zealand. However, the avipoxvirus that infects yellow-eyed penguins has remained uncharacterised. Here, we report the complete genome of a novel avipoxvirus, penguinpox virus 2 (PEPV2), which was derived from a virus isolate obtained from a skin lesion of a yellow-eyed penguin. The PEPV2 genome is 349.8 kbp in length and contains 327 predicted genes; five of these genes were found to be unique, while a further two genes were absent compared to shearwaterpox virus 2 (SWPV2). In comparison with penguinpox virus (PEPV) isolated from an African penguin, there was a lack of conservation within the central region of the genome. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses of the PEPV2 genome positioned it within a distinct subclade comprising the recently isolated avipoxvirus genome sequences from shearwater, canary, and magpie bird species, and demonstrated a high degree of sequence similarity with SWPV2 (96.27%). This is the first reported genome sequence of PEPV2 from a yellow-eyed penguin and will help to track the evolution of avipoxvirus infections in this rare and endangered species.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Jan Myšák ◽  
Jitka Horáčková

Altogether, 78 terrestrial mollusc species were recorded on 31 plots in a stretch of the Tichá Orlice River valley between the cities Choceň and Letohrad (East Bohemia, Czech Republic) in 2007 and 2009. This region harbours 46% of the total terrestrial mollusc fauna of the Czech Republic. The fairly high species richness corresponds to a high habitat diversity and species pool of the region that includes Alpine and Carpathian elements. Of prime conservation importance is a high share of rare and endangered species (EN-2, VU-9, NT-14 species) and species mostly having an isolated population there from the main distribution range. This region is a real hotspot of forest gastropods in Transalpine Europe.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslav Dravecký ◽  
Štefan Danko ◽  
Ján Obuch ◽  
Ján Kicko ◽  
Boris Maderič ◽  
...  

Diet of the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Slovakia In the period 1964-2007, data on 1472 ex. of prey was acquired from whole Slovakia. It was confirmed that the location of the breeding population on the foothills and mountains of the Carpathian Arc has a cardinal contribution to diet diversity. The breeding sites and hunting-grounds were found from 100 to 1 000 meters above sea level. The dominant part of the diet created mammalian species (88.11 %, 19 species and Sorex sp., Apodemus sp., undetermined Artiodactyla). Birds were less represented but with higher diversity of species (6.25 %, 24 species and Columba sp., undetermined Passeriformes). In comparison with birds, the share of Amphibia, Reptilia and Pisces together (4.89 %, 5 species and Rana sp., Lacerta sp., undetermined Serpentes and Reptilia) was lower. Pisces constituted only 0.007 % with 1 ex. of prey species Cyprinus carpio. Evertebrata constituted 0.75 % and species from orders Orthoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera were found. The dominant prey of A. pomarina in Slovakia was Microtus arvalis (69.57 %), followed by Arvicola terrestris (5.16 %) and Microtus agrestis (3.94 %) constituting significantly lower proportion. These three species from the category small rodents composed 75.67 % of diet. Less abundant species in range 2.24-1.00 % were Talpa europaea (2.31 %), Rana temporaria (2.24 %), Cricetus cricetus (1.70 %), Phasianus colchicus (1.15 %), and Lepus europaeus (1.09 %). In lesser extent (1.0-0.5 %) also other mammalian species such as Apodemus flavicollis (0.88 %) and Mustela nivalis (0.88 %) were represented. The most frequently encountered birds were Galliformes such as P. colchicus (1.15 %), Gallus gallus domesticus (0.48 %), and Coturnix coturnix (0.54 %). Other more abundant prey bird species were Alauda arvensis (0.48 %), Columba sp. (0.48 %), and Crex crex (0.34 %). From the class Reptilia relatively high share of Anguis fragilis (0.95 %) and Lacerta sp. (0.68 %; most probably Lacerta agilis) were recorded. Other species with representation lower than 0.3 % were a random prey of A. pomarina.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 56-62
Author(s):  
Jan Myšák

Altogether, 78 mollusc species were recorded in the Hemže-Mýtkov Nature Reserve (East Bohemia, Czech Republic) during 2005–06. This locality harbours 32% of the total mollusc fauna of the Czech Republic at only 29 ha. This fairly high species richness corresponds to a high habitat diversity and species pool of the region that consists of a mixture of Alpine and Carpathian elements. Of prime conservation importance is a high share of rare and endangered species and species mostly having an isolated population there from the main distribution range. These species are East-Alpine Aegopis verticillus, Cochlodina commutata and Itala ornata, and the East-Alpine-Carpathian Bythinella austriaca. Carpathian species represents Faustina faustina. Except mentioned species there are several other rare and sensitive species such as Daudebardia brevipes, Perpolita petronella, Platyla polita, Pupilla sterri, Vertigo alpestris, and Vertigo antivertigo. Although, forest species prevailed, there were also representatives of other ecological groups such as synanthropic, steppe, water, and wetland species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
László Bozó

Abstract The Fieldfare is a bird species widely distributed in the Palearctic region. In Hungary, the species is considered as a rare breeder and common, sometimes abundant migrant in autumn and spring, and also as winter visitor. It is prone to invasion, since northern breeding populations leave the breeding sites in large numbers only when the available food is inadequate or inaccessible to the birds. Most populations follow a southern-southwestern migration pattern, and in the course of their movement they also migrating through the Carpathian Basin. In this study, we examined the migration and wintering of the species in an area of southeast Hungary between 2004 and 2019. Data were collected between the beginning of October and the middle of April and during that period we saw Fieldfares a total of 416 times. In addition to the description of migration, the effect of weather on bird numbers was also investigated. According to our results, the species appears in the area in October and disappears in late March and the first half of April. The individuals that migrate in October are likely belonging to the Central European breeding population, while from November the Scandinavian birds can be seen. The maximum number of birds observed during the different years showed significant differences, as did the patterns of movements within the seasons. The relationship between the local weather and the number of birds has been demonstrated over several seasons, which is typical of species with an escape migration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 319-324
Author(s):  
Victor K. Uteshev ◽  
Edith N. Gakhova ◽  
Ludmila I. Kramarova ◽  
Natalia V. Shishova ◽  
Svetlana A. Kaurova ◽  
...  

In modern biology, a search for efficient and safe ways of long-term storage of animal genomes is vital for the survival of rare and endangered species. To date, the only reliable method of prolonging the preservation of genome is deep freezing of somatic and reproductive cells, including spermatozoa. Here we overview the current state of reproductive technologies and present the cryopresevation strategies of genetic material of selected amphibian species. These strategies were developed at the Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia. Cryopreservation could help managing the threatened populations of amphibian species through genome storage and mediate the production of healthy animals from the stored material.


2019 ◽  
pp. 42-44
Author(s):  
I.V. GUSAROV ◽  
V.A. OSTAPENKO ◽  
T.V. NOVIKOVА

Впервые в мире создана популяция зубров на территории 60 градусов северной широты. В новых климатических условиях разведения и сохранения зубров определены и проанализированы факторы существования вида на севере Европейской части РФ. Выявлены признаки, динамика численности, которые являются составной частью системы, предназначенной для управления биоразнообразием. Интродукция, являясь процессом введения в экосистему нехарактерных для нее видов, может усиливать изменения биоценозов как положительно, так и отрицательно. Насколько быстро и успешно проходит процесс адаптации заселенного вида, и усматривается его влияние на окружающую среду зависит дальнейшее существование зубров и в целом биоразнообразия. В статье обсуждаются вопросы взаимоотношения зубров с другими видами копытных и хозяйственной деятельностью человека, а также дальнейшим использованием зубров в сельскохозяйственном производстве. Пластичность зубров, выявление изменений и их анализ при вселении видов в новые условия обитания необходимы не только для определения развития или деградации биоценозов и в целом экосистемы, но и прогноза социально-экономических последствий интродукции как одного из методов сохранения редких и исчезающих видов фауны.For the first time in the world, a bison population has been created in an area of 60 degrees north latitude. In the new climatic conditions of breeding and preservation of bison, the factors of the species existence in the north of the European part of the Russian Federation are identified and analyzed. The signs, dynamics of abundance, which are an integral part of the system designed to manage biodiversity are identified, since the preservation of biological diversity on the planet is one of the main problems of our time. Introduction, being the process of introducing non-typical species into an ecosystem, can enhance changes in biocenoses, both positively and negatively. The question posing sounds especially when it comes to such a large hoofed animal as the European bison. How quickly and successfully the process of adaptation of the universe takes place and its environmental impact is seen depends on the continued existence of bison and biodiversity in general. The article discusses the relationship of bison with other types of ungulates and human activities, as well as the further use of bison in agricultural production. How these issues will be resolved positively depends on the future of these animals. Thus, the plasticity of bison, the identification of changes and their analysis, with the introduction of species into new habitat conditions is necessary not only to determine the development or degradation of biocenoses and the ecosystem as a whole, but also to predict the socio-economic consequences due to the introduction as one of the methods of preserving rare and endangered species of fauna.


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