RECENT RESEARCH 2026 MAY

ABSTRACT

The ability of wildlife to perceive the riskiness of a foraging site accurately and modify their behavior accordingly is crucial to feeding safely. Especially for avian scavengers, carrion is a risky food source, as predators defend their kills and mesocarnivores are attracted to carcasses. Vigilance is one strategy to balance foraging and safety. However, spending time vigilant makes feeding less efficient and can increase the total amount of time required at a carcass. We recorded videos of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) at 61 naturally occurring and staged carcasses May–September 2022 and 2023 using trail cameras. We assessed variables that were hypothesized to impact the proportion of time spent vigilant by each species at both carcass and visit scales and compared these across species. Carcass-level models did not improve upon the null models tested, perhaps because carcass-level attributes determine attendance, rather than altering behavior. Visit-level models performed better than null models for vultures and eagles. Both top models were based on current interactions at the carcass, suggesting similar perceptions of risk at foraging sites. Vulture and eagle vigilance were negatively correlated with the aggression displayed by that individual, and eagle vigilance was positively correlated with numbers of individuals simultaneously present.

Summary

Industrial development is rapidly altering ecosystems, with consequences for species that are culturally and ecologically important. Indigenous researchers with Swan River First Nation (SRFN) co-produced this research with Western scientists to examine how landscape change influences mammals within their traditional territory in the boreal foothills of Alberta (Canada). Community-identified concerns about declining mammal populations guided the study’s objectives, spatial focus and hypotheses and informed interpretation of the results. Using remote camera traps, we modelled species-specific responses to natural and anthropogenic landscape features. We applied generalized linear models to evaluate competing hypotheses for species occurrence–disturbance relationships. While some species–disturbance relationships matched community observations and patterns from neighbouring regions, others differed. Notably, and consistent with SRFN observations, moose (Alces alces) occurrence declined with increasing road and seismic line density, probably overriding positive effects of patch features. Integrating Indigenous knowledge with the study design and interpretation clarified potential mechanisms underlying declines and strengthened inference for management. These findings demonstrate the value of braiding Indigenous knowledge with ecological data to support conservation and management in rapidly changing landscapes.

bstract

Urbanization is rapidly increasing, transforming ecosystems and favoring generalist species that adapt to human-modified environments. The wild Boar, a highly adaptable species, is expanding its range and increasingly observed in urban and peri-urban areas, where it can cause accidents, damage, and health concerns. To mitigate their presence, non-lethal control strategies such as vegetation clearing in peri-urban parks and wastelands are being implemented to reduce the number of suitable resting sites. However, the ecological consequences of such habitat modifications on other wildlife species remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap limits the development of effective urban wild Boar management strategies that seek to balance ecological, social and economic considerations without lethal control of wild Boar populations. In this context, we used 48 camera-traps deployed over a year to study the covariation between wild boars and other mammal species in a peri-urban area, with the aim of guiding targeted and effective management strategies. Here, we show a widespread presence of wild boars but no spatial or temporal covariation between the wild boars and the other species. In contrast, we found strong spatial structuring but little temporal variation of the mammal community, confirming that spatial factors, rather than seasonal changes, largely shaped species distributions. The study of the temporal variation across months indicated minimal seasonal structuring but revealed substantial within-site variability in month-to-month species abundance, with a general abundance gradient driven by common species like wild Boar, cat, and fox. In conclusion, our results show that the lack of spatial covariation between wild Boar and other species prevents reliable predictions, supporting a targeted rather than general approach to vegetation management.

Abstract
The use of historical information can be valuable for guiding conservation, but past distributions do not need to be an appropriate baseline for future conservation efforts. We analysed a specific criterion of the current Spanish legislation that assigns threat status based on species distribution range at the beginning of the 20th century, and apply it to grey wolves to assess its feasibility. We suggest that the past distribution of wolves was strongly conditioned by a) the regional scarcity of wild ungulates, and b) the common occurrence of large herds of sheep outdoors. However, both conditions have changed substantially over time. Large wild herbivores are rebounding across many European countries including Spain, whilst large numbers of sheep are no longer available for wolves in many regions, mainly due to socioecological land-use and husbandry model changes. We predict that in the future, densities of wolves will be more strongly spatially correlated with the density of wild prey than with that of livestock, and that they will be concomitant with degree of social tolerance. Areas encompassing such conditions may or may not coincide with historical wolf ranges. Our points are also discussed in relation to Iberian lynx and brown bears in Spain. We suggest that the legal criteria for the conservation of large carnivores should be modified accordingly to account for other determinants of occurrence, rather than focusing on aiming to recover past distribution ranges as the main target. Similar considerations can be applied to other world regions where policy stresses historical range recovery as a major cataloguing criterion of threat status.

Seed dispersal is a key ecological process with wide-ranging implications for plant population dynamics, forest regeneration, and biodiversity maintenance. The role of carnivores and omnivores as endozoochorous dispersers is increasingly acknowledged. However, empirical studies on how other species use seeds after defecation remain scarce, particularly in Eurasia. We examined post-dispersal seed removal from scats of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), focusing on seeds of wild cherries (Prunus avium) during peak fruiting season. Using trail cameras (608 trap-nights) and environmental variables, we assessed how cherry tree density, rodent occurrence, vegetation cover, and carnivore activity shaped seed removal by rodents and scat visitation by birds. Rodents removed seeds from 65% of the monitored bear scats, and birds visited 93% of the scats. Seed removal from bear scats by rodents decreased in areas of high cherry density, suggesting that alternative food availability reduces reliance on gut-passed seeds. Rodent occurrence was higher near scats where seed removal occurred, but it did not predict removal rates. Vegetation cover did not influence rodent seed removal but reduced bird visitation, likely due to decreased visibility and increased perceived predation risk. Rodents delayed seed removal after other carnivores were present around the scats, revealing risk-sensitive foraging behavior, but overall seed removal was not suppressed by carnivore presence. Birds visited scats mainly during daylight and were likely attracted by invertebrates associated with the feces rather than by seeds themselves. Our findings reveal a two-stage dispersal system: primary endozoochory by brown bears followed by potential synzoochory via scatter-hoarding rodents. These interactions may enhance plant recruitment by relocating seeds to low-competition microsites, aligning with theoretical expectations of dispersal benefits. Our results represent the first empirical evidence of this two-stage process in Eurasia and demonstrate that brown bears act both as seed dispersers and as trophic facilitators, provisioning resources for rodents. Recognizing the multifunctional ecological roles of large omnivores and rodents is crucial in the current context of seed dispersers’ decline. This study underscores the need to consider highly interactive species within broader ecosystem functioning and conservation frameworks.

Abstract

Introduced non-native ungulates can alter ecosystem processes and generate management conflicts. Thus, understanding spatial behavior and habitat use in invaded landscapes is highly relevant. We investigated seasonal home range and habitat selection of the natively African mountain species aoudad Ammotragus lervia, introduced in the Southern Dinaric Alps, Croatia, using GPS telemetry data. We used Kernel Density Estimates to estimate seasonal home range size and assessed habitat selection in several temporal scales through integrated Step Selection Analysis. Aoudad exhibited marked seasonal variation in home range size, with more restricted space use during the warm period, potentially suggesting aggregation in more favorable microhabitats under drier conditions. Habitat selection revealed consistent preference for high elevations and steep slopes, while the species avoided north facing and east facing aspects and areas with high tree cover density in both warm and cold seasons. During the night, avoidance of tree covered areas intensified and selection shifted towards steeper terrain, consistent with patterns expected under increased perceived predation risk. Weather conditions further modulated habitat selection, with temperature and wind influencing selection of slope and elevation, respectively. Overall, our findings support the capacity of the African aoudad to persist under Mediterranean mountain conditions.

Abstract
The Earth’s ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating due to human activities. Habitats are being lost or degraded, and associated wildlife species are declining or becoming extinct at unprecedented rates. The study area, the prefectures of Rodopi and Evros, is a Greek biodiversity hotspot containing degraded habitats, such as forests and wetlands, that are critical for many threatened wildlife species. This situation calls for conserving threatened wildlife habitats, which requires considerable funds. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate willingness to pay (WTP) for wildlife habitat conservation. We conducted personal interviews with residents of the study area, using a sample of 849 citizens from the two regions determined through stratified random sampling design, with equal allocation to the strata. The mean annual WTP per household was estimated at EUR 21.3, yielding a total of EUR 790,000 from households in the study area. Pro-environmental behavior was positively associated with WTP. Females and those with higher household income reported higher WTP than males and those with lower household income. Government agencies were preferred over hunting clubs and environmental NGOs for implementing programs to conserve local wildlife habitats. Findings will be most useful if incorporated into policies to (a) secure the funds necessary to implement wildlife habitat conservation programs in the area and (b) increase transparency and trust between conservation entities and the local community.

ABSTRACT

Natural and protected areas are increasingly used for outdoor recreation, with potentially negative consequences on wild mammals. Human visitation can be particularly concentrated during short periods, like weekends, especially in natural areas close to urban settings. Peaks of human presence could generate acute disturbance to wildlife, potentially affecting their temporal activity patterns or spatial distribution. To date, little evidence is available on the ‘weekend effect’ on mammals and current community-level research focuses only on their temporal responses. Here, we tested the spatial and temporal distribution of the medium-to-large wild mammal community in relation to day-to-day fluctuations of human activity occurring between working days and weekends. We deployed 52 camera-traps systematically within an EU Natura 2000 area located within the metropolitan area of Florence, central Italy, September–November 2022. We estimated that human visitation significantly peaked during weekends and holidays, while mammals’ site-use was generally lower. Eight out of 10 mammal species seemed to spatially modulate their use of space to the fluctuations of human presence, both in relation to the rate of human passage and the proximity to roads. Conversely, we found no evidence of significant differences in temporal activity between mammals and humans during working days and weekends, as the temporal overlaps were generally low during both day types. Thus, spatial modulation of site use seems the most used short-term strategy to cope with bouts of high human visitation, with the temporal avoidance that may enable the longer-term tolerance of humans without preventing the use of preferred habitats.

Abstract

Human–carnivore coexistence is essential for biodiversity conservation, yet measuring the attitudes and behaviors that support it remains methodologically challenging. We developed psychometric scales to assess willingness to coexist with carnivores and the underlying beliefs of this coexistence through an iterative expert elicitation process grounded in risk perception theory and moral psychology to ensure strong content validity. The scales measure willingness to coexist and encompass individual and collective behaviors and their cognitive antecedents: perceived positive consequences, perceived negative consequences, and ethical considerations. We validated the scales based on three representative samples of Colorado residents (n = 434, 442, 433) focused on gray wolves (Canis lupus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), and black bears (Ursus americanus). Validation involved expert review, cognitive interviews, confirmatory factor analyses, and measurement invariance testing across species. The scales demonstrated strong construct validity, with factor structures consistent with theoretical expectations and evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Concurrent validity was supported through associations with related attitudes and behavioral intentions. These instruments offer researchers a robust, theory-driven framework for examining human–wildlife interactions that facilitates standardized comparisons across species and contexts. For practitioners, the psychometric scales provide a practical means to assess public readiness for coexistence, monitor attitudinal change over time, and design interventions tailored to specific belief structures.

Abstract

Interspecific competition plays a crucial role in shaping the structure and dynamics of large carnivore guilds. Extreme temperatures and heightened resource heterogeneity in drylands can present additional challenges to intraguild coexistence, potentially making dryland carnivore guilds particularly susceptible to climate change and anthropogenic stressors. We employed multispecies occupancy modeling to analyze data from 232 camera trap locations throughout eight reserves in Iran over 18,806 trapping days to investigate spatiotemporal co-occurrence within a guild of large dryland carnivores, including Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), gray wolves (Canis lupus), Persian leopards (Panthera pardus tulliana), and striped hyaenas (Hyaena hyaena). Furthermore, we evaluated temporal overlap and differences in diel activity between Asiatic cheetahs and sympatric carnivores across seasons to assess seasonal shifts in temporal activity. We found evidence of spatial segregation between cheetahs and leopards and a negative association between cheetah occupancy and proximity to humans. Cheetahs displayed the highest temporal overlap with wolves, followed by leopards and hyaenas, while seasonality was not found to influence the temporal activity of any of the carnivores. Our findings highlight the risk of potential competition between cheetahs and wolves and underscore the need to maintain sufficient water sources and adequate ungulate prey diversity and abundance to diminish the risk of increased resource scarcity-induced competition in drylands. This study further reinforces the importance of mitigating anthropogenic disturbance for the last Asiatic cheetahs.

Simple Summary
A wolf family inhabiting a natural reserve in central Italy was monitored using camera traps from May to October over two consecutive years. The results revealed that while adult activity remained relatively stable, pup activity showed marked spatial and temporal variations, along with a decline in detections over time. These variations suggest dynamic territorial use and possible shifts in pack structure, potentially linked to increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures. Overall, this exploratory study highlights the species’ behavioral plasticity in response to environmental and human-related changes. However, increasing human disturbance and climate change pose significant conservation challenges, particularly in areas characterized by a high human–wildlife interface.
Abstract
The activity of an Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) family inhabiting the natural reserve Calanchi di Atri in central Italy was monitored during the post-reproductive period (May–October) of two consecutive years (2023–2024), using ten camera trap sites. Detections were classified into adults and pups. Although records cover a limited period and focus on a single pack, they allowed the detection of variations in the spatiotemporal activity of the wolf family. In the first year, wolf activity peaked in summer, with adults frequently supervising pups at rendezvous sites. In the second year, activity by both adults and pups declined significantly and was accompanied by an evident shift in territory use. In addition to potential intrinsic factors, such as individual variability and litter dynamics, these variations may also reflect increased environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbance. These findings provide insights into how wolves adapt their behavior in human-modified landscapes and highlight the importance of integrating human–wildlife dynamics into conservation and management strategies.

Abstract
Large carnivore coexistence in Europe is at a critical juncture. The European Commission’s decision to downlist wolves (Canis lupus) could potentially increase the use of lethal control. Political and media debates often reflect polarised positions among organised interest groups, but public acceptability remains underexplored despite its importance for effective and legitimate wildlife management policies. We surveyed a stratified sample of the German public (n = 1505) to assess acceptability of lethally controlling wolves, lynx (Lynx lynx), and bears (Ursus arctos). Using experimental vignettes, we varied carnivore species, incident type (scare or attack), victim (human, pet, or livestock), and management response (targeted vs. non-targeted lethal control). Acceptability was higher for bears, attacks, human victims, and when the management response would target the individual animal responsible. Acceptability was greater among men and those who would prioritise human interests over that of wild animals, and lower among participants with more knowledge of carnivores and their management. Rural–urban differences were minimal, and there was no evidence of strongly polarised perspectives on lethal control of large carnivores. These findings suggest that public views are more nuanced than often portrayed, and highlight the need for evidence-based, context-sensitive management decisions and policies to improve coexistence with large carnivores.

Abstract

This study analyses Canis remains recovered from the Sierra de Atapuerca sites over the last 25 years. The sample comprises 108 dentognathic specimens: 106 attributed to C. mosbachensis from Sima del Elefante and Gran Dolina, and 2 to C. lupus from Galería. These remains document a record spanning the Early and Middle Pleistocene, approximately 1.2–0.4 Ma. The results indicate metrical stability in C. mosbachensis, which is consistently smaller than C. lupus. Specimens from the Early Pleistocene (TE9–TE14 and TD3–TD6) and the early Middle Pleistocene (TD8) exhibit more primitive morphological traits, particularly evident in the dentition of the carnassial-molar complex, consistent with mesocarnivory. In contrast, specimens from TD10 (middle Middle Pleistocene) tend to be larger than those from older stratigraphic levels and exhibit morphological features suggesting a gradual transition from C. mosbachensis to C. lupus. The lower carnassial in these individuals shows an elongation of the trigonid, indicating increased cutting efficiency and a shift toward a more carnivorous diet. This pattern likely represents an intermediate stage in this evolutionary transition rather than a fully developed hypercarnivorous condition comparable to that observed in modern wolves. Moreover, the morphological change observed in TD10 Canis coincides with a transition episode from MIS12 to MIS11, associated with a severe climatic shift.

Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution may impose additional pressure on European populations of large protected carnivores due to the systemic toxicity of contaminants such as cadmium, lead, and radiocaesium (137Cs). Our aim was to carry out 137Cs, radiopotassium (40K), and stable element distribution analysis through seven tissues of grey wolves (Canis lupus) from temperate forests of Croatia using ultra-low background gamma-ray spectrometry and ICPMS, respectively. In addition, radiolead (210Pb) massic activity was quantified in femoral bone. The massic activity of 137Cs in the heart, kidney, liver, spleen, lungs, and femoral bone (in decreasing order) ranged from 9–61% relative to muscle and showed strong inter-tissue correlations. However, correlations between radionuclides and their stable analogues in wolf tissues indicated considerable uncertainty in the use of stable element data for radiological risk assessment. In addition, concentration ratios (CRwhole organism-soil) derived from stable element data should be applied with caution when radionuclide data are lacking. Overall, radionuclide activities and element levels not subject to homeostatic regulation in grey wolves were comparable to or lower than those reported for other populations, particularly those from sub-Arctic regions. Despite being apex terrestrial predators, wolves inhabiting temperate ecosystems do not currently appear to be at risk of adverse health effects from exposure to the most relevant inorganic anthropogenic pollutants.

Abstract

To improve wildlife management outcomes, in terms of reaching management goals and increasing legitimacy, Nordic countries have developed institutional systems involving stakeholders that aim for a more inclusive and participatory model. Given the high levels of human–wildlife conflict, we conducted a scoping review to examine the institutional characteristics and outcomes of the wildlife management model used in Finland, Norway, and Sweden and examined what lessons this model has for management systems worldwide. By using an analytical framework developed from the institutional analysis and development framework, we conducted our scoping review focusing on context, process, and outcomes. We found 41 articles relevant for analyses, most of which focused on Sweden. The Nordic wildlife management model showed mixed results, depending on which species was managed. In general, goose management was characterized by high levels of adaptability and acceptance, but due to mobility of the species and growth in geese populations, effective actions to achieve management goals were difficult to identify. A similar pattern was found for management of ungulates, although it was not as difficult to find effective actions to achieve the management goals. Acceptance of large carnivore management was relatively low, and there were high levels of distrust and power imbalances associated with this management. Management of large carnivores also lacked adaptability, and there was need for more research on ways to achieve management goals effectively. We found no straightforward solution to human–wildlife conflicts, but institutions can positively influence the adaptability, effectiveness, and acceptance of management, depending on the context. Particularly important for the capacity of wildlife management systems is building on previous experiences and continuous exploration of alternative management forms to strengthen adaptability. Lessons drawn from the Nordic model of wildlife management can help avoid mistakes in future management reforms.

Failing to account for ecological processes such as dispersal and connectivity when modeling distributions can lead to biased inference about environmental drivers and reduced predictive performance. Spatial dynamic occupancy models are promising to study range dynamics while accounting for dispersal and connectivity, but they currently rely on restrictive formulations of the colonization process, and computational constraints prevent their application at large spatial scales. Here, we propose a process-based dynamic occupancy model to study the distribution of range-expanding species while accounting for connectivity and effects of the environment. We introduce a formulation based on dispersal-pressure that provides a flexible and ecologically interpretable representation of the colonization process, and develop a computational approach based on sparse distance matrices that enables its application to national and transnational scales. We conducted a simulation study that showed unbiased parameter estimation across various ecological scenarios. We also applied our model to two range-expanding carnivores offering complementary insights: the grey wolf and the Eurasian otter. Our model revealed contrasting colonization dynamic, with wolves primarily constrained by altitude and forest cover while otters where only marginally affected by the environment, suggesting that their distribution is limited by dispersal history rather than habitat preferences. By explicitly disentangling the influence of dispersal and environment on distributions, our model provides better insight into occupancy-environment relationships under non-equilibrium conditions, and help identifies what limits species distributions. In light of the increasing availability of large-scale biodiversity data, our framework offers opportunities to study range dynamics using mechanistic approaches across entire landscapes.

Abstract
The Anatolian Diagonal is a major mountain system in Türkiye, yet its community-level structuring effect on mammalian assemblages remains understudied. This study provides a comprehensive inventory of the mammal fauna in Ağrı Province and evaluates the biogeographical role of the Diagonal by comparing 14 provinces. Field surveys in Ağrı (2014–2015) across 228 localities identified 16 medium- and large-sized mammal species (705 individuals), including Felis silvestris as a new provincial record. Community structure followed a lognormal distribution (AIC: 95.29). Regional patterns were analysed using presence–absence data on medium- and large-sized mammals using alpha and beta diversity indices, PERMANOVA, and Partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis (PCCA). PERMANOVA revealed significant differences in mammal assemblages between the western and eastern sides of the Diagonal (F = 3.08, R2 = 0.19, p = 0.007). Beta diversity was driven predominantly by species turnover (83.8%) rather than by nestedness (16.2%). Notably, PCCA confirmed that biogeographical position significantly influenced community variation independently of habitat, elevation, and slope. These findings support a biogeographical filtering effect associated with the Anatolian Diagonal, where species replacement drives diversity patterns. The results emphasize the necessity of trans-regional conservation strategies that account for the distinct faunal compositions across this evolutionary boundary.

Abstract

The use of camera traps in ecology and conservation has expanded rapidly, but the time spent to accurately identify species in camera trap images remains a fundamental challenge that limits project scope and impact. Although artificial intelligence (AI) is often used to speed up image processing, a human review step is still standard practice to arrive at final species identifications. A potentially transformative next step is thus to remove humans entirely from the analysis chain and still produce accurate statistical models for subsequent inference across a wide diversity of species and regions.
Here, we compare the output of Bayesian multi-species occupancy models derived from a complete AI workflow (no human review of images) with a general species classifier (SpeciesNet) to those from an expert (human) workflow, using large-scale camera datasets from three study areas and two distinct and diverse mid-large mammal assemblages. We apply several pre- and post-processing steps to the AI workflow to improve model agreement. We perform a comprehensive model comparison, assessing agreement in identified species–environment relationships and rates of occupancy and detection, and similarity of spatial projections of occupancy.
We found that for most species of mammal, AI based models were remarkably similar to expert-based models, with some variability based on post-processing decisions. This agreement was robust, holding across multiple metrics of comparison (e.g. parameter estimates, precision, occupancy and detection rates), multiple study sites and at species and community levels. Similarity in model output occurred even in the presence of misclassification errors, suggesting our approach was resilient to some level of false negatives and positives. Substantial divergence in model output and subsequent inference, while rare, was most prevalent for rarely detected species.
Synthesis and applications. The use of a global AI classifier to identify species and reproducible pre- and post-processing decisions makes our approach broadly applicable and particularly beneficial for national and international monitoring programs that collect large amounts of photo data on threatened, at risk, or management sensitive species and wildlife communities. A fully automated workflow will allow such programs to progress more rapidly from photo collection to analysis, inference and decision-making.

Abstract

Effective management of the wolf (Canis lupus) population in Finland requires defining a genetics-based minimum viable population (MVP) to support the national Favourable Reference Population (FRP) reporting under the EU Habitats Directive. An analysis of long-term and contemporary genetic data from Finnish wolves, together with samples from Scandinavia and Russian Karelia, was carried out to quantify trends in individual heterozygosity, contemporary and historical effective population sizes (Ne), genetic substructure, and gene flow across regions. Temporal analysis confirmed a persistent decline in genetic diversity and increasing inbreeding levels in Finland over the last two decades. Contemporary data show that the Finnish population consists of two genetically distinct subpopulations; Western Finland and Eastern Finland/Russia, which are connected by low migration rates. These subpopulations are further connected to the Scandinavian and Russian Karelian wolf populations, again with similarly low effective migration rates. Under current demographic conditions and migration rates, neither the Finnish population nor the broader Fennoscandian metapopulation were predicted to reach genetically sustainable long‑term effective population sizes. Applying established short‑term conservation thresholds (the 100/1000 rule) to the two Finnish subpopulations would require a combined MVP of 628 wolves over the next five generations to avoid rising inbreeding levels. Overall, the results demonstrate continuing genetic deterioration in the Finnish wolf population and emphasise that long‑term viability cannot be achieved within Finland alone. Long‑term thresholds (Ne ≥ 1000), corresponding to census sizes >3000 wolves, are not ecologically feasible within Finland. It is therefore vital to ensure connectivity within Fennoscandia, particularly across the Finnish-Russian border. This is essential for preventing inbreeding depression and loss of long-term evolutionary adaptability in a changing environment.

Abstract

Animal communication is a key component of animal ecology. In mammals, chemical signalling is the primary channel, though visual and acoustic cues also play important roles. While many studies have explored the seasonality and individual status associated with mammalian marking behaviours, little is known about how conspecific density shapes their occurrence, duration and activity patterns. Here, we tested whether the intensity and temporal dynamics of marking behaviours are density dependent. Using camera traps, we monitored brown bear Ursus arctos marking behaviours (rubbing, pedal marking and tree debarking) at 14 trees across nine mating seasons (2016–2024) in the Cantabrian Mountains, northwestern Spain. Cameras operated continuously (24 h d−1) for 122 monitoring days per tree per year, yielding 1708 tree-days annually and a total of 15 372 tree-days. Our findings reveal that pedal marking, a male-exclusive behaviour, increased in both occurrence and duration with higher conspecific density, suggesting a density-dependent role in mate attraction and dominance signalling. Moreover, all different marking behaviours shifted towards more diurnality as the number of different bears increased. This indicates that bears may adjust their marking activity towards riskier daytime periods in human-modified landscapes, as male–male competition for mates intensifies. Overall, our study provides novel evidence that conspecific density can modulate the intensity and timing of communication behaviours, offering new insights into why brown bears employ a diverse repertoire of marking strategies during the mating period.

Abstract

As wolves recolonize human-dominated landscapes across Europe, managing risks amidst increasing reports of close encounters becomes essential. We present a retrospective, multidisciplinary analysis of a case from Poland involving the removal of a wolf for bold behavior toward humans. Our findings suggest that the wolf’s unusual actions were influenced by prior captivity exposure, as evidenced by a dietary shift from domestic to wild meats and genetic connections to a region known for captive rearing. Camera-trap data showed that during the wolf’s presence, local pack activity peaked, with a notable rise in single-wolf detections, contrasting with patterns during a control season without the case wolf. Although the threat to human safety was minimal, a public survey highlighted concerns about wolf-dog interactions. We advise evaluating bold wolves on a case-by-case basis, incorporating ecological and social evidence into investigations, and emphasizing human responsibility in preventing undesirable wolf behaviors.

Abstract

Purpose: The gray wolf (Canis lupus) has been protected throughout Poland since 1998, which has allowed for the rapid recovery of the species across the country. Wolves are often exposed to viral and bacterial pathogens through contact with peridomestic and domestic host species. Additionally, they may serve as hosts for a wide range of parasites due to the consumption of infected prey and exposure to environmental contamination. This investigation aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of two closely related protozoan parasites, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, among gray wolves based on serological methods.

Methods: Muscle samples were obtained from nineteen animals that were either roadkill or found dead in forests across various regions of Poland over four years. Antibodies to N. caninum and antibodies to T. gondii were tested in meat juice collected from frozen muscle samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: Antibodies to N. caninum were detected in two out of 19 tested samples, and antibodies to T. gondii in four of the 19 samples; co-infection with two protozoan parasite species was not noted. To our knowledge, this is the first serological evidence of N. caninum and T. gondii in gray wolves in Poland.

Conclusion: The detection of antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii confirms the presence of these parasites in the environment and suggests their potential transmission among free-living gray wolves in Poland.

Abstract

Wildlife serves as a natural reservoir for emerging viruses. Although virome studies of bats and rodents have advanced our understanding of viral diversity, the virome characteristics and zoonotic risks of wildlife inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau-a global biodiversity hotspot-remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a virome survey of 22 wild animal species from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using meta-transcriptomic sequencing. We characterized the diversity and distribution of wildlife-associated viruses and found that birds tended to harbor higher viral diversity and abundance than mammals. In addition, greylag goose (Anser anser) and Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) harbored a high proportion of cross-species viruses and occupied central positions in the transmission network. In total, we identified 36 viral genera with pathogenic potential to humans or animals. Among them, several viruses, including rotavirus A (RVA) and parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV-5), pose a high risk of zoonotic transmission. Notably, the plateau vole (Neodon fuscus) carried the highest number of high-risk viruses, and the RVA strains it harbors represent a distinct early evolutionary lineage. These findings highlight the public health relevance of wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and emphasize the need for continued surveillance of high-risk hosts and viruses.

Empathy towards nature and wild animals is becoming increasingly important in terms of
environmental protection and sustainability. Measuring empathy towards nature is very important in
this context. This article presents findings regarding the validity and reliability of Dispositional
Empathy with Nature (DEN) Scale, adapted into Turkish to measure empathy towards wolves, in a
sample of Turkish adolescents. The research was conducted with a total of 1140 secondary school
students (M=15.72; SD=0.87), 618 female, 507 male and 15 gender-unspecified, studying in public
schools in Ankara. As a result of exploratory factor analyses, it was seen that the internal consistency
of the scale was high, and the single-factor structure was supported as in the original DEN scale.
Females were found to have higher empathy for wolves than

Industrial-scale logging in Southeast Alaska has raised concerns regarding the effects of logging-related habitat changes on Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) and their predators. We used data from 81 camera traps deployed across Prince of Wales Island, Alaska between 2023 and 2024 and an occupancy modeling framework to assess how habitat characteristics affect deer habitat use, deer-wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) interactions, and deer-black bear (Ursus americanus) interactions during early summer, late …

Abstract

Understanding how mammalian communities respond to changes in human activity and habitat disturbance is essential for conservation in human-dominated landscapes. This study provides the first comprehensive, long-term camera trap evaluation of medium and large mammals in Afyonkarahisar Province, a key biogeographical transition zone in western Türkiye with increasing anthropogenic pressure. Monitoring across 11 stations from 2022 to 2024 yielded 14 species, including two Near Threatened species, Lutra lutra and Spermophilus xanthoprymnus, as well as the wetland-dependent felid Felis chaus (Least Concern). Multivariate analyses revealed a significant temporal reorganization of the mammalian community following the COVID-19 anthropause, a short-term period of reduced human mobility and disturbance. The 2022 assemblage was broad and heterogeneous, consistent with relaxed human pressure, whereas the 2023 and 2024 communities exhibited a clear contraction toward a more homogenized structure dominated by disturbance-tolerant generalists such as Sus scrofa and Vulpes vulpes (Permanova: F = 4.63, R² = 0.17, p = 0.001). Habitat specialists were restricted to wetlands, forest patches, and ecologically intact areas, indicating strong habitat filtering under increasing human pressure. Temporal activity analyses further demonstrated a shift from broad diel activity windows in 2022 to increasingly narrow and constrained patterns in 2023 and 2024 as human activity intensified. These synchronous temporal shifts across multiple taxa indicate rapid behavioral adjustment to the re-establishment of human disturbance. Overall, this study provides one of the most detailed mammalian datasets for Inner Western Anatolia and demonstrates that the ecological effects of the anthropause were temporary and rapidly reversed. The findings highlight the importance of wetland protection, habitat connectivity, and sustained disturbance management for the long-term conservation of sensitive mammalian species in heterogeneous Anatolian landscapes.

Abstract

Increasingly, the conservation of large and wide-ranging animals is challenged by environmental variability, static boundaries of protected areas, and the expansion of human activities. The Critically Endangered Onager (Equus hemionus onager) exemplifies these issues in Qatrouiyeh National Park (QNP) and the surrounding Bahram-e-Goor Protected Area (BPA) in Iran. Using GPS telemetry data from 9 adult females tracked over 2 years, we examined seasonal patterns in movement and incursions into cultivated lands in 2017 and 2018. Net squared displacement analyses indicated that most individuals exhibited range-resident behavior with occasional nomadic movements, with no evidence for migration (i.e., predictable movements to and from distinct seasonal ranges). Both monthly home range size and monthly movement rate varied seasonally, peaking in late spring and early summer (May–July). Individual home ranges were between 257 and 1,928 km2, while the extrapolated population-level home range (718 km2; 95% confidence interval = 276–1368) extended well outside QNP, covering large portions of the BPA. Occurrence distributions also expanded beyond the protected area into adjacent cultivated lands, highlighting the use of human-occupied areas by onagers. We recorded 2,285 (out of 72,168) GPS locations within cultivated lands and their surrounding 50 m buffer, with 60% of these incursions occurring immediately adjacent to QNP. Most incursions occurred at night and were strongly associated with both season and cumulative rainfall over the preceding 9 months. These findings emphasize how rainfall-driven variability in resource dynamics shapes the spatial distribution and behavior of onagers, thus elevating the risk of conflict with humans. The scale and seasonality of Onager movements highlight the need for flexible, landscape-level conservation strategies that extend beyond fixed park boundaries to encompass critical habitats and to mitigate conflict across the broader region.

ABSTRACT
Introduction

In the Iberian Peninsula, autochthonous breeds of mountain ponies, raised in a traditional free-ranging system, can comprise most of the wolf diet, leading to significant economic losses and conflicts. Nevertheless, drivers of horse consumption remain poorly understood.
Aims

This review quantifies the role of free-ranging horses in Iberian wolf diet and factors influencing horse consumption, through a meta-analysis to: (1) assess general patterns of wolf diet in areas with/without free-ranging ponies; (2) investigate how free-ranging horse consumption affects other prey consumption; and (3) identify key drivers influencing free-ranging horse consumption.
Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review of 37 publications, comprising 137 annual studies and 104 sampling sites.
Results and Discussion

Overall, horses are the third most consumed species, following goats and wild Boar. Free-ranging horses are, on average, the most common wolf prey, surpassing wild and domestic prey. Moreover, free-ranging horse consumption is higher than domestic ungulates at lower altitudes, with smaller wolf packs and lower domestic prey diversity. Compared to wild ungulates, horse consumption is higher with larger wolf packs and higher human density. In relation to occasional prey species, free-ranging horses are more consumed at lower altitudes and with greater wild and domestic prey diversity. In sampling sites without free-ranging horses, we observed a stronger effect of horse abundance in the level of their consumption by wolves.
Conclusion

Our findings suggest free-ranging horse consumption is restricted to NW Iberia and determined by prey availability, topography and human density. When available, free-ranging horses are more consumed than other species, acting as a buffer to reduce predation on more valuable livestock, which highlights their important ecological role.

ABSTRACT

Investigating the physiological and evolutionary consequences of contaminant exposure in wild populations is critical for understanding long-term ecological impacts of anthropogenic change. However, how and why species persist, even thrive, in highly contaminated regions in the absence of humans remains a topic of much debate. We examined the regulatory and genomic impacts of multigenerational chronic radiation exposure to grey wolves (Canis lupus) within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Wolves within the exclusion zone are at an estimated seven times greater density than surrounding preserves, despite lack of physical barriers to dispersal and chronic exposure to elevated radiation dose. Demographic analyses of genetic variation and home range modelling further suggest that ecological factors may support the wolf population within the exclusion zone. Wolves within Chornobyl exhibit altered leukocyte composition and regulatory signatures within the blood transcriptome that support significant alterations to metabolic and immune response pathways, particularly those influential in DNA damage response indicating radiation-induced immune modulation. Selection scans across genes within the blood transcriptome revealed multiple regions of accelerated Chornobyl-specific divergence at loci with known roles in immunity and response to oncogenesis. Together, these data provide evidence that chronic exposure to ionising radiation may be a significant source of ongoing natural selection in an apex predator after a single contamination event, highlighting multigenerational impacts beyond initial exposure. Further, these results highlight the potential contributions of natural selection to species persistence and proliferation in highly contaminated ecosystems.

Abstract

The deliberate burial of dingoes by Aboriginal people is a widespread and significant Late Holocene practice in Australia, yet the details of this practice remain poorly understood, in part due to the scarcity of well-documented archaeological excavations. Here, we report on the excavation of a dingo burial in Kinchega National Park on Barkindji Country, in the Menindee Lakes region of western New South Wales. First identified by Barkindji Elders in the eroding face of a road cut, the skeletal remains were excavated and examined at the request of the Menindee Aboriginal Elders Council. The Garli (Barkindji for dingo) represents the first published dingo burial from the Baaka (Darling River) region. Buried nearly 1,000 years ago, the Garli was interred within a riverside midden that continued to be added to by Barkindji Ancestors for approximately 500 years thereafter. This finding extends the known northern and western limits of pre-colonial dingo burial practices in the Murray–Darling Basin. Analysis of the dentition and postcranial skeleton suggests the dingo was tamed: it was male, of advanced age for a dingo (4–7 years), consumed a diet with relatively high abrasive content, and had healed traumatic injuries to the ribs and lower leg. Lesion-like features at several limb joints, along with other superficial modifications, suggest a complex taphonomic history following burial. This excavation provides new insights into dingo burial practices in Australia and attests to the close relationship between Aboriginal ancestors and their dingoes.

bstract

Coexisting species can reduce competition through ecological separation across habitat, diet, or temporal activity. We investigated niche segregation between the blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) during winter (January–April 2024) in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India. We assessed spatial distribution, habitat use based on 13 variables, and dietary overlap to understand niche segregation between these sympatric mountain ungulates. The two species exhibited low spatial overlap with segregation driven by distinct habitat preferences. Ibex preferred rugged, rocky terrain with multiple escape routes despite sparse vegetation, thereby trading off food for security. In contrast, blue Sheep favored less rocky areas with higher vegetation cover, thus balancing the need for food with the need to avoid predators. Both species relied on browse (herbs and shrubs) during winter. However,ibex consumed a significantly higher proportion of dicots and a lower proportion of monocots than blue sheep p, indicating partial dietary differentiation. These findings suggest that coexistence is primarily mediated by terrain-driven habitat segregation, with dietary differences playing a secondary role in the Trans-Himalayan landscape.