The diploma thesis deals with the influence of the stated environmental factors on the composition of bird communities and density of particular bird species in selected wetlands of northeastern Bohemia. Then it studies influence of these factors on birds' diversity and proportion of specially protected species according to the Czech law (the Act No. 114/1992 Coll.). Lastly, it points out the use of these results in practical nature conservation. In the introductory comment of the thesis there is described the character of the study area and subsequently opportunities for implementation of the study results in conservation of study localities that will lead to increase of habitats quality for wetland bird communities. Detailed optimization of habitat conditions is suggested for the locality Sedmihorské slatiny that's establishment as a natural monument is prepared.

Le cycle de vie pélagique annuel des Phocidés est interrompu à deux reprises pour la reproduction et la mue, à terre ou sur la banquise. La mue est une étape essentielle pour le renouvellement du poil et de l’épiderme chez certains Monachinae. Les éléphants de mer austraux (Mirounga leonina) forment des agrégations dans des flaques de boue, ou « souilles », lorsqu’ils muent. La mue, chez cette espèce, entraîne des pertes thermiques importantes par vasodilatation périphérique. La thermorégulation sociale (i.e. agrégation d’animaux) a permis à de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux et de mammifères d’économiser de l’énergie. Néanmoins, l’étude du comportement et de l’énergétique de la mue chez l’éléphant de mer austral a été jusqu’ici peu développée. Notre travail de recherche repose sur l’hypothèse que le comportement d’agrégation des éléphants de mer austraux répondrait aux mêmes déterminants que le mécanisme de thermorégulation sociale et entraînerait des bénéfices thermiques et énergétiques. Nous avons étudié le comportement de mue des éléphants de mer austraux femelles en lien avec les paramètres environnementaux locaux et physiologiques individuels. Nous avons mis en évidence que la sélection de l’habitat, les déplacements à terre et le comportement d’agrégation dépendent de l’avancement de la mue, du type d’habitat et des conditions météorologiques. Au pic de la mue, les pertes thermiques sont augmentées, les femelles se déplacent moins et s’agrègent davantage. De plus, les éléphants de mer s’agrègent en plus grand nombre lorsque les conditions météorologiques se dégradent, ceci principalement dans les « souilles ». Cependant, ils augmentent aussi leurs déplacements lorsque la température de l’air ressentie (i.e. combinaison température-vitesse du vent) est basse ou lorsque l’insolation augmente. De plus, les individus agrégés ont une température corporelle (stomacale et de surface) en moyenne plus basse que les individus isolés. Le taux métabolique augmenté pendant la mue serait lié aux contraintes thermiques et à une activité hormonale augmentée. Bien que le comportement d’agrégation n’ait pu être mis en relation avec la perte de masse, celui-ci est corrélé à une diminution du taux métabolique. Ainsi, les éléphants de mer femelles sont sensibles aux variations environnementales et adapteraient leur comportement en diminuant leurs dépenses énergétiques. Le comportement d’agrégation permettrait de diminuer le coût de thermorégulation par diminution des pertes thermiques. Les « souilles » sont thermiquement avantageuses et permettraient d’optimiser la diminution des pertes thermiques par agrégation et de favoriser la mue. La diminution des pertes thermiques permettrait la modulation de la température interne des individus agrégés (baisse du coût de la thermorégulation), et l’énergie économisée pourrait être ainsi réallouée à la mue. Il semblerait que des stratégies individuelles de compromis entre déplacements et agrégation soient mises en place en fonction des réserves énergétiques des individus et en vue de diminuer leurs dépenses énergétiques. De nouvelles méthodes prometteuses de mesures physiologiques chez cette espèce et appliquées sur le terrain (mesure de la fréquence cardiaque par implant sous-cutané et de la composition corporelle par bio-impédancemétrie) permettraient, une fois standardisées, d’évaluer le métabolisme des éléphants de mer austraux au cours de leur mue ainsi que leur dépense énergétique, en lien avec les variations individuelles. / Annual life cycle of Phocids at sea is interrupted twice for reproduction and moult on land. The moult, an energetically costly phase, is essential for the renewal of hair, as well as epidermis in some monachine seals (Mirounga and Monachus). Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) huddle in mud pools, or “wallows”, while moulting on land. Peripheral vasodilatation through the isolating layer of the blubber to renew skin cells during the moult creates major heat loss, that’s why this species moult on land, fasting, rather than staying in water. Many bird and mammal species developed an energy saving strategy based on social thermoregulation in order to decrease heat loss, especially in extreme environments or particular physiological stages. However, few studies have investigated behavioural and physiological adaptations of southern elephant seals during the moult. Our study rests on the hypothesis that huddling behaviour of moulting elephant seals follows the same determinants and allows equivalent thermal and energetic benefices than social thermoregulation. We studied behavioural adaptations on land of female southern elephant seals during five moult seasons, linked to local environmental and individual physiological variations. Our results show that habitat selection, distances moved on land and aggregation behaviour are influenced by the stage of the moult, the habitat type and meteorological conditions. At the peak of moult, heat loss and aggregation behaviour are both increased, as movements on land are decreased. Moreover, aggregation rate and aggregations size increase when local weather is deteriorated, mainly in “wallows”. However, distances moved increase when windchill is low or solar radiation is high. Furthermore, aggregated seals have a lower body temperature (skin and stomach) than isolated seals. The elevated metabolic rate observed would be linked to thermal constraints and an elevated hormonal metabolism. Although we found no correlation between aggregation and body mass loss, individual aggregation rate was negatively correlated to metabolic rate. Therefore, elephant seals are sensible to environmental conditions and would adapt their behaviour to decrease energy expenditure. Aggregation behaviour allows to decrease heat loss and thus thermoregulation cost. “Wallows” offer thermal advantages and induce an increased moult rate, supposedly by maximising the decrease in heat loss when aggregated. Decreased heat loss would allow an adjustment in body temperature in aggregated seals and energy save from thermoregulation could be reallocated to the moult process. Elephant seals seem to balance movements on land and aggregation, in relation to individual body reserves, in order to decrease energy expenditure. New promising methods to record physiological parameters in the field (heart rate method and the use of bio-impedancemetry) need to be calibrate in this species to allow more precised moult metabolism and energy expenditure records, linked to individual variations.

A ordem Opiliones contém cerca de 6000 espécies divididas em quatro subordens e 45 famílias. Dentre essas famílias, os Gonyleptidae se destacam por sua enorme diversidade e por concentrarem a maioria dos estudos sobre biologia de opiliões. Este estudo, valeu-se dessa grande disponibilidade de informações ecológicas, comportamentais e químicas para reconstruir as relações de parentesco entre as subfamílias de Gonyleptidae. Posteriormente, com base nas topologias obtidas, discutimos os padrões de evolução dessas características dentro da família. A listagem de terminais compreende 31 espécies, sendo 27 representantes do grupo-interno e quatro do grupo-externo (Stygnidae, Manosbiidae e Cosmetidae). O grupo-interno é composto por representantes de 14 das 16 subfamílias de Gonyleptidae, exceto Ampycinae e Gonyassamiinae. Realizamos a análise filogenética utilizando caracteres igualmente pesados e os algoritmos de pesagem sucessiva e implícita. Levantamos 48 caracteres e 72 estados derivados, o que faz deste trabalho a maior matriz de caracteres ecológico-comportamentais já publicada até o momento. A análise com pesos iguais gerou uma árvore de consenso menos resolvida, porém compatível com a única topologia obtida com pesagem sucessiva e uma de duas topologias estáveis obtidas utilizando a pesagem implícita. Considerando apenas as análises com pesagem sucessiva e implícita, Gonyleptidae aparece como um grupo monofilético, irmão de Cosmetidae e definido por uma sinapomorfia inequívoca (brigas entre machos usando as pernas IV). Dentre as subfamílias já revisadas e que aqui contaram com mais de um terminal, recuperamos o monofiletismo de cinco delas: Hernandariinae, Goniosomatinae, Mitobatinae, Tricommatinae e Heteropachylinae. Não obtivemos apoio ao monofiletismo de Gonyleptinae, Sodreaninae e Progonyleptoidellinae. Dentre os grandes grupos tradicionalmente reconhecidos dentro de Gonyleptidae, obtivemos apoio ao clado formado por Hernandariinae + Gonyleptinae + Sodreaninae + Progonyleptoidellinae + Caelopyginae. Os altos valores dos índices de consistência das árvores, associado aos altos valores de suporte obtidos para vários clados (especialmente subfamílias), indicam que comportamento e ecologia são fontes de caracteres filogeneticamente informativos e que devem ser considerados em estudos futuros com a família. Embora caracteres ecológico-comportamentais já tenham sido utilizados em estudos cladísticos anteriores, esta é a primeira vez que o monofiletismo de uma família de Arthropoda é formalmente definido exclusivamente com base em caracteres de natureza não morfológica ou molecular. / The order Opiliones has almost 6000 species divided in four suborders and 45 families. Among these families, Gonyleptidae is well-known by its high diversity and because it concentrates the majority of the publications on harvestman ecology and behavior. We took advantage of this information to reconstruct the phylogeny of the gonyleptid subfamilies and discuss evolutionary patterns within the family based on the resulting topologies. The terminal species include 31 taxa, four belonging to the external-group (Stygnidae, Manosbiidae, and Cosmetidae), and 27 to the internal-group, which contains representatives of 14 of the 16 gonyleptid subfamilies (except Ampycinae and Gonyassamiinae). We performed the analyses using three distinct weighting schemes: equally weighted characters, successive weighting, and implied weighting. We coded 48 characters comprising 72 derived states, which makes the present study the largest ecological and behavioral phylogenetic data matrix published so far. The equal weighted analysis resulted in a single poorly resolved consensus tree, but this tree was compatible with the single most parsimonious successive weighted tree and with one of the two most stable trees obtained with implied weighting. Considering only the non-linear weighting schemes, Gonyleptidae is a monophyletic group, sister to Cosmetidae, based on a single non-homoplastic behavioral synapomorphy (male fights using the fourth pair of legs). We recovered the monophyly of five subfamilies that have already been revised using morphological characters: Hernandariinae, Goniosomatinae, Mitobatinae, Tricommatinae, and Heteropachylinae. We also obtained support for a well-recognized clade composed of the subfamilies Hernandariinae, Gonyleptinae, Sodreaninae, Progonyleptoidellinae, and Caelopyginae. However, we did not find support for the monophyly of Gonyleptinae, Sodreaninae, and Progonyleptoidellinae. High consistence indexes, in association with high Bremer and bootstrap support values for several clades (mainly subfamilies), clearly indicate that behavior and ecology provide phylogenetically informative characters. For that reason, they should be considered in future phylogenetic studies within Opiliones. Even though behavioral and ecological characters have already been used in other cladistic studies, this is the first time that the monophily of an arthropod family is formally demonstrated using exclusively non-morphological or non-molecular characters.

Dasyatis guttata é a espécie de raia mais abundante na Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS, Nordeste do Brasil), com um descarregamento pesqueiro atingindo a ordem de 900 t ao ano. A espécie também representa um dos principais componentes do nécton da BTS. Apesar dessa importância econômica e ecológica, não há informações sobre a dinâmica temporal e espacial, ecologia e biologia da espécie e a importância do uso dessa baía para a espécie. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a utilização da BTS pela raia D. guttata, durante seu ciclo de vida (isto é, se a área é utilizada pela espécie para a reprodução, crescimento e alimentação), além de investigar a relação entre os conhecimentos tradicionais dos pescadores, com as informações biológicas e ecológicas das espécies obtidas nesse estudo e as informações da literatura. Para isso, foram acompanhados, mensalmente, descarregamentos de D. guttata em duas localidades da BTS, entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2013. Dos descarregamentos pesqueiros, foi registrada a biomassa total descarregada, local de captura do pescado e esforço pesqueiro. Informações temporais e espaciais foram obtidas para verificar o padrão de distribuição e abundância dessa espécie com esses fatores. De alguns exemplares, para análise dos dados biológicos, foram obtidos dados biométricos, órgão reprodutor e digestório e um conjunto de cinco vértebras. Questionário etnobiológico foi aplicado para descrever o conhecimento tradicional do pescador sobre percepções ambientais e ecológicas sobre BTS e D. guttata. Os resultados indicaram associação entre a abundância de D. guttata e a área de captura, a maré e a estações do ano. As fêmeas (31 e 105 cm de largura de disco, LD) foram significativamente maiores que os machos (16,5 - 78 cm LD). Tomando os dois sexos juntos, da moda ocorreu entre 43,5 e 52,5 cm de LD. Houve diferença significativa na proporção de macho e fêmea, sendo superior para fêmea. Verificou-se variação espacial por classe de tamanho, com maior proporção de exemplares jovens na porção noroeste da BTS, sugerindo uma provável área de berçário. As fêmeas (L50=60,4) atingem a primeira maturidade reprodutiva com valores superiores aos machos (L50=41,9). Detectou-se que essa espécie se reproduz ao longo do ano. A maior proporção de fêmeas grávidas, a presença dos maiores embriões, e dos maiores valores médios da relação gonadossomática e hepatossomática, no verão e primavera, indicam dois pico de cópula e o parto nesse período. Há indícios que a vitelogênese ocorra simultaneamente à gestação. A fecundidade uterina foi registrada de 3,5 embriões/gestação e a fecundidade ovariana de 2,7 ovócitos/gestação. Dasyatis guttata é um mesopredador generalista, consumindo uma ampla variedade de presas e, principalmente, os crustáceos Thalassinidea e Alpheidae. A ordem de importância desses itens principais é alterada significativamente com a estação do ano e a classe de tamanho. Houve alometria significativamente negativa entre a relação do peso do indivíduo com a LD, que indica um ganho de massa proporcionalmente menor com o aumento de LD. As fêmeas apresentaram maior tamanho máximo estimado e crescimento mais lento, comparado aos machos (fêmeas: LD∞=169,8, k=0,03; machos: LD∞=80,3, k=0,07). O conhecimento etnoecológico dos pescadores foi consistente os dados de literatura e aos aqui obtidos. As informações geradas neste trabalho podem contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do papel de D. guttata na BTS e podem ser utilizadas em modelagens ecológicas e pesqueiras. Tais informações estão disponíveis para o uso às diferentes instituições ligadas à pesca local para elaboração de planos de ordenamento pesqueiro e de conservação da espécie. / Dasyatis guttata is the most abundant stingray in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Northeast of Brazil), with fisheries landings up to 900t per year. It is also one of the most important nekton components of the TSB. Despite such an economic and ecological importance, there is no information about spatiotemporal dynamic, ecology and biology of the species, and information about the importance of this bay for this species. The aim of the present study was to describe the use of this bay by Dasyatis guttata in its life cycle, that is, if this bay is used for reproduction, growth and feeding, and to investigate the relation of the fisherman\'s biological and ecological traditional knowledge on this stingray with those obtained in this study and available in the literature. Landings survey of D. guttata was carried out monthly in two localities of TSB, between January 2012 and January 2013. The total landed weight and the site of the captures in the TBS were registered in each survey. Biometric data, reproductive and digestive organs and about five vertebras centrum were obtained during the landings. Ethnobiological questionaries were applied for describe the environmental and biological perception of the fisherman in relation of TSB and D. guttata. Several temporal and spatial data were taken and used as predictor variables to verify the species distribution and abundance pattern. Results indicated a relationship between the D. guttata abundance and the local capture, tide and season. The females (31 - 105 cm Disc Width, DW) was significantly bigger than males (16.5 - 78 cm DW). Taken both sexes together, one fashion was verified between 43.5 e 52.5 cm DW. There were significant differences in proportion between male and female, being the females more numerous than males. Spatial variation of DW class was verified, with greater proportions of small-sized individuals in Northwest of TSB, suggesting a nursery area there. The females (L50=60.4) reached the first maturity with a size larger than that for males (L50=41.9). Reproduction is continuous throughout the year. Summer and spring are the most important mating and breeding season, as revealed by the higher proportion of gravid females, the biggest embryos, and highest median values of gonadosomatic and hepatossomatic relations. Uterine fecundity was 3.5 embryos/birth and the ovarian fecundity was 2.7 oocyte/birth. Dasyatis guttata is a generalist mesopredator, feeding upon a wide range of prey items, and mostly on the crustaceans Thalassinidea and Alpheidae. The ranking importance of these food items changed significantly with season and ray size. There are negative allometry between the weight and DW, indicating that, in TBS, the species gains proportionally smaller mass with increasing in DW. Females attained sizes larger than males and exhibited lower growth coefficients than those of males (females: DW∞=169.8, k=0.03; males: DW∞=80.3, k=0.07). The fishermen\'s ethnobiological knowledge was consistent with that from literature and obtained here. The information generated in this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of D. guttata in BTS and could be used in ecological and fisheries modeling. They are available for the use in fisheries-related institutions for the development of fishery management plans and conservation of the species in BTS.

Habitat use of mesophotic coral reefs by sharks is largely unknown. However, it is well established that mesophotic reefs are the site of spawning aggregations for many species of teleost fish. These aggregations represent seasonal concentrations of potential prey biomass that may influence the habitat use of predatory species such as large sharks. I employed acoustic monitoring to examine the movements of three shark species [lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), and Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)] to determine 1) the comparative spatiotemporal patterns of mesophotic reef habitat use by the three shark species and 2) the spatiotemporal relationship between these sharks and grouper spawning aggregations at a fish spawning aggregation (FSA) site (Hind Bank and Grammanik Bank) along the southern reef shelf edge off St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Tiger and lemon sharks were detected across nearly the entire acoustic array, which spanned ~ 1060 km2. When present, Caribbean reef sharks used a much smaller activity space, composed exclusively of mesophotic reef habitat located within FSA sites. Individuals from all three species were typically detected for stretches of several consecutive days, while periods without detections usually lasted less than one week. Lemon sharks were present at the FSA site more often during the grouper spawning season (Dec-May) than the non-spawning season (Jun-Nov), but showed no preference toward specific areas within the FSA site, which varied by location and grouper species composition. In contrast, there was no relationship between the presence of tiger and Caribbean reef sharks at the FSA site and the grouper spawning season. My results suggest that despite different habitat use 5 patterns and varying degrees of fidelity, this mesophotic reef serves as an important habitat to all three shark species.

No description available.

Im Rahmen eines internationalen Projektes von Kranichschutz Deutschland (NABU, WWF, Lufthansa) wurden in den Jahren 1995 bis 2000 in Mecklenburg Vorpommern Untersuchungen zu Verhalten und Lebensraumansprüchen reproduzierender Graukraniche durchgeführt. Die zentrale Hypothese der Arbeit lautet: Eine gute Nahrungsverfügbarkeit, eine geringe Vegetationshöhe und ein geringer Vegetationswiderstand sollten zur Bevorzugung bestimmter Revierbereiche führen und somit die Reviergröße beeinflussen. Im Fokus standen außerdem die Wirkungen anthropogener Einflüsse. Da sich Kraniche während der Jungenaufzucht äußerst unauffällig verhalten, waren Grundlagen für effiziente Schutz- und Managementkonzepte kaum verfügbar. Erstmalig wurden die Habitatnutzung und die Reviergröße von Kranichfamilien mit Hilfe der Radiotelemetrie ermittelt (Null-Peak-Peilung). Zur Abschätzung des Vegetationswiderstandes wurde ein neues Verfahren entwickelt. Innerhalb der Reviere beeinflussten der Feldanbau mit Raps, landwirtschaftliche Störreize, die Nahrungsverfügbarkeit und die Jagdausübung die Habitatnutzungsintensität (HNI) am stärksten. Der Nahrungserwerb erfolgte in fast allen Habitattypen. Naturnahe bzw. extensiv genutzte Habitate wurden signifikant häufiger frequentiert als intensiv bewirtschaftete Nutzflächen. Die HNI der Kranichfamilien korrelierte signifikant mit der Verfügbarkeit der Nahrung. Straßen und Straßenverkehr beeinflussten die HNI ebenfalls. Der Mindestabstand zu Kreisstraßen war signifikant größer (mittlerer Abstand 308m) als zu Bundesstraßen (141m). Die Einflüsse der Vegetationshöhe und des Vegetationswiderstandes auf die HNI waren meist von geringer Bedeutung (keine Korrelation bzgl. der HNI). Habitate wurden erst gemieden, wenn bestimmte Schwellenwerte überschritten wurden (Veg.-höhe > 1m, Veg.-widerstand auf einen definierten Dummy >8N). Kranichreviere waren durchschnittlich 69,7ha (max.=131,8ha) groß.Ein Ausblick präsentiert künftige und bereits begonnene Projektvorhaben.

No description available.

<p>This study monitored daily and seasonal locations of juvenile green turtles in three coastal bays of northwest Costa Rica, determining their home ranges and assessing their habitat use. My objective was to produce insights which might help future Pacific Ocean green turtle conservation efforts.</p> <p>I tracked 14 juvenile green turtles for 51-629 days using acoustic transmitters (VECOM v16) and 12 acoustic receivers (VECOM VR2Tx and VR2W) in 5 study area habitats: sandy areas, reef patches, macroalgae, rocky reefs, and mangroves. I divided these 14 turtles into large (equal to or larger than 65 cm CCL) and small (smaller than 65 cm CCL) size classes so I could highlight any changes as they grew toward adulthood. </p> <p>Both the large and small size turtles used habitats differently during the dry and rainy seasons. During the dry season, the large juveniles had a High Detection Rate (HDR) of 40% in the macroalgae area. During the rainy season, their HDR was 33% in the reef patch area. The small juveniles had their HDR in the reef patch area during both seasons: 33% in the dry season and 43% in the rainy season. The mean home range for the 14 turtles was 1.96 km²; their core use area was 0.19 km2. I saw no connection between body size and home range. The HDR findings suggest that juvenile green turtles preferred reef patches, rocky reefs, and macroalgae habitat types. The large juveniles prefer vegetation areas more as they grew; similar to that of adult green turtles. Some turtles moved between Matapalito Bay and Santa Elena Bay and along the coast to small bays east of Matapalito Bay. Travel speed varied between 0.23 km/h and 12.90 km/h with a mean of 1.57 km/h.  </p> <p>My findings highlight certain habitat areas preferred by Pacific juvenile green turtles. This can guide conservationists in identifying and protecting similar habitats in other inshore Pacific bays in Central America. By protecting habitat areas that are important for juvenile green turtles, this can help rebuild the green turtle population in the Pacific Ocean. </p>

This study examined activity patterns and habitat use of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) in mechanically treated and untreated areas in south-central Utah 2005-2008. We monitored fecal pellet plots in continuous sagebrush habitat as well as along treatment edges to record deposition and leporid presence over timed periods. Pygmy rabbit use of big sagebrush was higher than black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) and mountain cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus nuttallii ) (P< 0.01) relative to treated areas (P <0.01). We also compared pygmy rabbit use of areas with continuous sagebrush to residual sagebrush in a sample of mechanically treated areas. Our results suggest a treatment effect with higher (P <0.01) average counts of pygmy rabbit pellets in areas with continuous sagebrush compared to sagebrush strips and islands within treated areas. Before the big sagebrush biotype inhabited by pygmy rabbits is treated to reduce the occurrence and dominance of big sagebrush, we recommend managers consider two options. The first is no treatment, thus preserving, as is, the critical habitat of the pygmy rabbit and other sympatric big sagebrush obligate species of wildlife. The second option cautiously introduces the first prescription of habitat treatment ever recommended in relationship to the pygmy rabbit. This prescription includes recommended widths of the treated areas, seed mixes, widths of the preserved intact big sagebrush habitat for pygmy rabbits as well as suggested grazing systems for domestic livestock. Activity patterns of pygmy rabbits at their burrow were documented through the use of remote cameras. Photographs were analyzed for temporal and seasonal patterns of activity. Our results suggested that time of day was important in the activity level of pygmy rabbits while season was not. Pygmy rabbits were active during all time periods of the day but the greatest levels of activity occurred at night. Numerous other wildlife species were recorded by our remote cameras including other species of leporids, birds, rodents, reptiles and terrestrial predators.