PROPOSED MONITORING OF LESSER MOUSE-DEER Tragulus kanchil

The lesser mouse-deer Tragulus kanchil Raffles, 1821 is a small, herbivorous mammal inhabiting regions of Southeast Asia. Unlike other species belonging to the same genus, the lesser mouse-deer is not critically endangered, however the biology and population size of the species are not studied well enough. So far no methods of monitoring of the species condition have been developed and for this reason, an exemplary protocol of the monitoring of lesser mouse-deer is presented in the paper below. The main goal of such studies is to estimate the population size and density, as well as to assess the quality of the habitat occupied by the animals. In order to evaluate the species condition, population and habitat indicators were developed. The methodology of studies is mostly based on counting specimens in transects, together with assessing the habitat quality and availability of food supply. Supplementary methods were suggested, such as genetic testing and using camera traps. Conducting such research is believed to aid in better understanding of the environmental requirements and possible threats, which may have a significant impact on the lesser mouse- -deer population. In the future, methods suggested in this paper can be improved or extended, so that the matter is examined as comprehensively as possible and suitable conservation measures can be applied.

The detection of thermophilous forest hotspots in Poland using geostatistical interpolation of plant richness

Attempts to study biodiversity hotspots on a regional scale should combine compositional and functionalist criteria. The detection of hotspots in this study uses one ecologically similar group of high conservation value species as hotspot indicators, as well as focal habitat indicators, to detect the distribution of suitable environmental conditions. The method is assessed with reference to thermophilous forests in Poland – key habitats for many rare and relict species. Twenty-six high conservation priority species were used as hotspot indicators, and ten plant taxa characteristic of the <em>Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae</em> phytosociological order were used as focal habitat indicators. Species distribution data was based on a 10 × 10 km grid. The number of species per grid square was interpolated by the ordinary kriging geostatistical method. Our analysis largely determined the distribution of areas with concentration of thermophilous forest flora, but also regional disjunctions and geographical barriers. Indicator species richness can be interpreted as a reflection of the actual state of habitat conditions. It can also be used to determine the location of potential species refugia and possible past and future migration routes.