VADBIOLÓGIA Csányi Sándor (szerk.) (2001): Vadbiológia, 8. kötet, Szent István Egyetem, Vadvilág Megőrzési Intézet, Gödöllő

Transcription

1 Szemethy L., Bíró Zs. Katona, K. és Tóth P.: Szezonális területváltás a gímszarvasnál: területhasználati stratégiák összehasonlítása. (Seasonal home range shift in red deer: comparison of different strategies.) Home range use of red deer (Cervus elaphus) was investigated in an agriculture-forest habitat mosaic in Hungary. Seasonal home range shift in a significant part of the red deer population was revealed in every year. These shifting animals moved from the forest to the agriculture in May-June and returned to the forest in late autumn. The largest part of the population, however, remained in the forest throughout the year. Two stable individual strategies were hypothesised. Some of the individuals should shift its seasonal home range between habitats from year to year, while the others should never shift. Seasonal home range fragments of 17 hinds were determined by radiotelemetry and compared between seasons and strategies. We found that two stable strategies exist in the red deer population and there is no alteration between years. Winter home range fragments were significantly larger in both strategies. It could be due to the decreased amount of plant food in that period. Winter forest home range of shifting animals however, was significantly larger than in individuals remaining in the forest throughout the year. Moreover, the winter home range overlaps between the two strategies were significantly lower than within strategies. These findings suggest that seasonal home range shift decrease the intraspecific competition in the forest. The two habitats should be considered similarly optimal for red deer in summer. In winter however, the shifting strategy should suffer disadvantages deriving from the use of larger home range. Our results suggest that social effects are the main reasons for the seasonal home range shift and subordinate individuals should mainly follow shifting strategy. Szemethy L., Mátrai K., Katona K. és Orosz S.: A forrás-felhasználás dinamikája a területváltó gímszarvasnál egy erdő-mezőgazdaság komplexben. (Use-availability dynamic of the habitat-shifting red deer in a forest-agriculture complex.) Habitat of one third of 31 radio tracked red deer (Cervus elaphus) had been shifted home ranges from a large forest block to the surrounding agricultural fields from June to November. Our previous investigations showed that nutrint content of forest diet significantly exceeded field diet in all chemical components (except crude fiber) in June. We wanted to verify these results compairing the forest and field habitat and red deer diet based on an intensive sampling during a longer period.

2 Botanical composition of diet was estimated by microhystological analyses of homogenized faeces according to sampling time collected parallel in the forest and field. Fresh plant species as known previously to be eaten by red deer were also collected in the same time and analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber, and dry matter content. Red deer consumed significantly more browses in the forest (60-80%) and in the field (30-60%) than forbs (p<0.01). Black-locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) was the dominant browse species in the forest diet (40-70%) and goat willow (Salix caprea) in the field (40-60%) except the middle of June when grasses dominated the field diet (57%). The role of agricultural plants was negligible from June to August (<10%) and its proportion was more than 40% in the middle of August only. Alfalfa was consumed in the proportion of occurence, while the other herbaceous plants were avoided in the field. Browses were fairly preferred diet components both in the forest and field (p<0.05). Field plants did not exceed the forest ones in dry matter and crude protein content either in summer period 2000, or in June 1998, 1999, and 2000 when deer shifted home ranges. Crude fiber content was higher in the field plants at the beginning of period therefore red deer could obtain less amount of food and energy due to the increasing of food passage rate. Based on these results we conclude that deer home range shift could not have been explained either by plant species of better nutritive values or plant selection. Tóth P. és Szemethy L.: A gímszarvas szezonális élőhelyhasználatának vizsgálata térinformatikai módszerrel. (Analysis of red deer seasonal habitat use with GIS.) Due to afforestation programs the forest cover has grown from 12.5% to 19% in Hungary since The new forest stands were mainly planted in lowland areas, in the southern part of the country. These forests provided new habitat for red deer and red deer appeared more often in these areas. The behaviour and the habitat use of these lowland red deer differ from those living in the original forest habitats. In this study our goal is to describe the habitat use of the red deer living in man-made forests by radiotracking of marked individuals. 15 stags and 18 hinds have been radiotracked since During our investigations 1388 localizations of stags and 3086 localizations of hinds were processed. The localizations of stags and of hinds were handled as they were collected from one stag and one hind individual. The areas determined by the stag and hind points were regarded as home ranges of this one stag and one hind. A digital forest map was used for the spatial representation and analysis describing the whole study area, covering 14,601 ha forest area and 3,713 forest subcompartments. The forest management data (main tree species, age class,

3 canopy closure and mixture rate) of the forest subcompartments were included in the database of the digital map. For data processing point density coverages were generated using Kernel method with ArcView GIS 3.1. In the point density coverages there were 5+1 (the 0 density value) density classes. Areas determined by outside borders of the two highest density classes were regarded as core areas. Based on the vegetation parameters of the core areas, habitat preferences were calculated with Ivlevindices. The significancy of the Ivlev-indices were examined with Bonferroni Z-test. The main factors of seasonal habitat use of stags and hinds based on variation of preference values were determined. It was found that the spatial distributions of localization points differ between sexes. The strongest differences are in case of different tree species and different age class of forest. In case of mixed forests there are common spaces in preferences and avoidances. Stags use similar forest areas in spring and summer. During the whole year they preferred years old Robinia or other deciduous forests with 41-55% mixture rates. Stags rarely have high preference values, especially not in autumn. This supports that stags use their home range more evenly, and they probably try to avoid competition and try to find areas where they can use resources without limitations. Hinds use similar forest patches except winter. They preferred years old Quercus or other deciduous forests where the mixture rate is between 71 and 85%. High preference values show that hind's resource use is based on strong intraspecific and intrasexual competition. Sugár L., Garay V. és Kőrös A.: Dunántúli gímszarvasok bőrbagócsossága és bőralatti filáriózisa. (Hypoderma larvae and subcutaneous filaria - knots in three Trans-Danubian red deer populations.) During the winter of 2001 (January - March) we investigated 110 red deer carcasses to evaluate the occurrence Hypoderma larvae and subcutaneous filaria-knots in a venison processing plant. The deer shot on routine huntings originated from 3 Trans-Danubian counties, namely Somogy (n=43), Zala (n=39) and Veszprém (n=28). Hypoderma larva was found in 75,5 % of the animals, however the prevalence was as high as 98 % in deer 1,5 yr-old or older, in contrast to the calves (55,6 %). Intensity peaked in yearlings ( =180,8 larvae). Extremely high number of larvae were found in 4 animals: 462 in a calf, 428 and 441 in 1-1 yearling hind, and 430 in a yearling stag. In 41,8 % of the examined animals both species, H. actaeon and H. diana occurred jointly. The single prevalence values showed moderate differences by populations: Somogy = 72,1 %, Zala = 64,1 % and Veszprém = 46,4 % for H. actaeon; Somogy = 55,8 %, Zala = 56,4 % and Veszprém = 50 % for H. diana respectively. Subcutaneous filaria-knots were present in 60,9 % of the deer (48,8 %, 87,2 % and 42,9 % by

4 populations), including 7 of the 26 Hypoderma-free calves. Evaluating the above findings, about half of the calves seems to be missed the warble flies egg-laying season, while the others usually get very limited number of eggs. Only hides of the former calves are useful for quality leader-processing. After a heavy infection in yearlings, older deer's, especially hinds' immunity is increasing. According to the prevalent parallel infection with H. diana (roe deer warble fly), the efficiency of the anti-hypoderma treatment of red deer populations is quite questionable. Sugár L., Kőrös A. és Völgyi I.: A koponyaüregben élő fonálférgek (Elaphostrongylus cervi és Setaria cervi) előfordulása dunántúli gímszarvas-populációkban. (The intracranial occurrence of Elaphostrongylus cervi and Setaria cervi in red deer in Transdanubia, West Hungary.) The intracranial occurrence of Elaphostrongylus cervi and Setaria cervi worms were investigated in five red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations (n=158) from October 1999 to May We bisected the heads sagittally and examined their inner surface. E. cervi worms were found in all populations with prevalence values between 14.03% and 75% (Table 1.) The highest value was observed in the population living on the area of Danube flood-plain called Gemenc. The prevalence is the highest among the calves (36,3%) and decreases by degree of age showing the evolvement of a solid immunity. The worm burden (mean intensity) in all populations were (max. 6 in two calves). The occurrence of S. cervi was substantially infrequent (overall prev. 3.16%). Both worm species were found in the cranial cavity during the autumn-winter (October- February) period only. The gross-pathological alterations were restricted to the inner surface of dura mater: yellow infiltration, colorless translucent, pearl-like application. Because clinical symptoms were never observed our opinion is that E. cervi is probably a harmless parasite of red deer. Marosán M.: A gímszarvas egyes korbecslési módszereinek értékelése. (Comparative valuation of the methods of age estimation of red deer.) The methods of age estimation often show materially diverse results. In this article I present the analysis and the biometrical comparison of the methods of age estimation of red deer. My results show that age can be estimated objectively from the cementing zone preparation of the cross-section of tooth of red deer living in the Hungarian habitats. The relationship between the age estimation

5 from tooth wear and the age estimation the cementing zone is stricter. The relationship between the age from the trophy measurement and the age estimation the cementing zone is slighter. Pecze B. és Mátrai K.: A muflonok hatása a vegetációra és a talajra a Dél-Börzsönyben. (The effect of mouflon on vegetation and soil in South Börzsöny (Hungary).) Plant and soil degradation caused by mouflon were studied in South Börzsöny (Duna-Ipoly National Park, Hungary) between April and December Data of plant cover (n= 165), soil erosion (n= 68) and game effect (treading, chewing) (n= 165) were collected in 8 treated and 3 control areas fortnightly. There was no significant relationship between chewing by mouflon and decreasing of plant cover. However I found close correlations (r> 0.9) between soil erosion and the intensity of habitat use (treading) in the treated areas. Yearly erosion was only 4 mm in control area while it was more than 10 mm in treated areas. Primary effect of mouflon habitat use was the soil erosion that was completed with chewing damage resulting decreasing of plant cover and diversity as secondary effects. Then both effects make stronger each other. The study area was probably daily used by mouflon because that rocky area facing south is very similar to their original habitat (Corsica and Sardinia). Therefore mouflon population was concentrated in this mostly preferred habitat (113 ha) within the whole disposable area (1500 ha) out of proportion. Due to the relatively large mouflon density neither vegetation nor soil are able to regenerate. Wildlife and forest managers should radically decrease mouflon density and also stop soil erosion to conserve endangered vegetation. Gazdag F.: Adatok a vaddisznó és a fácánállomány interspecifikus kapcsolatáról. (Data on the effect of wild boar on pheasants.) The author studied the effect of wild boar predation on artificial pheasant nests. Of the 33 nest 12 (36.4%) remained intact, 4 (12.1%) were destroyed by wild boars, and the others were destroyed by medium sized carnivores and birds (51.5%). Based on these findings the effect of wild boar on nesting success of pheasants does not seem important. In spite of this further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to get a better understanding on the effects of wild boar in small game management areas.

6 Heltai M., Bíró Zs. és Szemethy L.: A borz terjeszkedése Magyarországon 1988 és 2000 között. (The spreading of badger in Hungary between 1988 and 2000.) The badger (Meles meles) is the second most problematic carnivore species in Hungary after the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Badgers spread over the whole country from its original habitats (forested hilly areas). The spreading caused some problems in agriculture, in nature conservation and in wildlife management, because of the omnivorous feeding habit of badger. But there were no data about the real population density and about the damages caused by badger. This paper deals with the changes of the population density and the spreading of badger to give a scientific basis to the recent exemption of protection of this species. The data were collected by mail questionnaire surveys between 1988 and 2000 from the whole country. The response rate was high enough in every year to evaluate the changes of population density. The density in the country increased significantly with 60 % from 2 individuals/1000 ha to 3.2 individuals/1000 ha. There were no differences between and between , thus we pooled these years together. There was a significant spreading to new areas (Hungarian Great Plain) between 1987 and The spreading has had a west-east direction from Transdanubia to the Great Plain. The density estimation also proved that the highest density was in Transdanubia during the whole study period. This spreading and the increase in the population density support the exemption of protection of badger. Although there is no hunting season for the badger established yet, but it will probably be in the autumn-winter period. Consequently, the game managers will not be able to reduce the density of badger with the legal hunting methods during this season, because badgers are in resting phase below the ground in that time. Moreover, the damages caused by the species may occur mainly in spring and summer, although diet analyses has not proved this statement yet. Thus, diet composition analyses, nest predation experiments are necessary to evaluate the real importance and influence of the badger. Heltai M., Szemethy L. és Bíró Zs.: A nyest, a nyuszt, a menyét és a hermelin aktuális helyzete és elterjedése Magyarországon. (The status and occurrence of stone marten, pine marten, weasel, and stoat in Hungary.) Country wide data were collected about the occurrence of stone marten (Martes foina), pine marten (Martes martes), weasel (Mustela nivalis) and stoat (Mustela erminea) by mail questionary survey. The questionary was sent to the hunting clubs on the basis of National Game Management Database address list. The answer rate was more than 40% in both year, and the covered area were

7 40.91% in 1997 and 47.27% in The classified of the occurrence was the following: none, occasionally occur, regularly occur, stable. We showed the distribution of pine marten and stoat in three different levels: i. country wide; ii. geographical regions; iii. in every county. In case of stone marten and weasel were given only the country wide data. Our results showed the following: I. the stone marten and the weasel can be found almost everywhere in the country and their protection is not necessary; II. the area of pine marten and stoat populations are rather scarce; III. the area of pine marten population situated mainly in the mountainous and the hilly region; IV. the area of stoat population is situated mainly in the Great Plain; V. the results support the strict protection of pine marten and stoat is necessary. Szabó Á., Heltai M. és Lanszki J.: A hiúz és a farkas táplálék-összetétele Magyarországon. (Diet of lynx (Lynx lynx) and wolf (Canis lupus) in Hungary. Preliminary results.) The diet of the lynx and the wolf were studied by scat analysis (n=40 winter and 4 summer for the lynx and 27 winter-spring for the wolf) in norther range of mountain (on the area of Bükk and Aggtelek National Park) in Hungary. Ungulates were dominant in the diet of lynx (60.7% on the basis of frequency of occurrence and 96.8% based on biomass. The most important prey was the roe deer, the next the moufflon and the red deer. Alongside this, small mammals played a secondary role (18.0% occurrence and 1.9% biomass). No significant difference was between the winter and the summer diet. In the diet of wolf the most important (25.9% occurrence and 54.0% biomass) was the wild boar (in winter full-grown and in early spring piglet). Predation on other ungulates were important, the order of importance: roe-deer, moufflon and red deer (summarized 22.3% occurrence and 42.5% biomass). Trophic niche overlap between the lynx and the wolf was 52% on the basis of frequency of occurrence and 44% based on biomass. The diet of large carnivores considerably differ to golden jackal and red fox. Orosz E., Gaálné Darin E., Kalotás Zs., Sztojkov V. és Sályi G.: Adatok a hazai védett ragadozó madarak nehézfém és nyomelem, valamint egyes klórozott szénhidrogénekkel való terheltségére. (Data on the heavy metal, trace element, and chlorinated carbohydrate content in the tissues of protected birds of prey in Hungary.) The authors investigated the heavy metal, trace element, and chlorinated hydrocarbons

8 content of the tissues of birds of prey in Hungary. The birds were collected in different parts of the country and contaminants were evaluated by standard methods. Although the sample size had been limited their data provides base line information. Further investigations are necessary to collect more and detailed information on the risks these elements/contaminants can bring to predators at the top of the food chains. Lehoczki R. és Csányi S.: Földrajzi információs rendszerek alkalmazása az élőhelyfejlesztésben. (Application of GIS in wildlife habitat development planning.) In Hungary some two-thirds of the lands are used for agricultural production. In these areas habitat conservation and development are essential parts of wildlife management. This means that agricultural field structures and working methods have to be modified according to wildlife needs. Habitat development plans require the use and analyses of various data sources and GIS technology can handle these kinds of spatial and descriptive information. This paper shows the opportunities of GIS in some elements of habitat development planning. Examples include the comparison of land use information in different periods, evaluation of landscape diversity changes, planning of conservation headlands, and selection of sites for habitat development. New techniques like GIS can effectively improve planning and analysis in wildlife management, but this needs better spatial information (maps) and databases of scientific and management information. Solt S. és Erdélyi K.: Módszertani tapasztalatok nappali ragadozó madarak költésbiológiájának vizsgálatára és a fészekaljak egészségügyi állapotfelmérésére vonatkozóan. (Methodological experiences in the study of incubation and health status assessment of nestlings of birds of prey.) This article describes the methodological aspects and discusses the experiences of a two year research project, aimed at gathering breeding success and nestling health status data of birds of prey in Hungary. The study was conducted on goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), buzzard (Buteo buteo), eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and saker falcon (Falco cherrug) breeding pairs on the territories of the Hortobágy and Bükk National Parks in 2000, and the Hortobágy and Fertő-Hanság National Parks in Visual observation methods (binoculars, telescopes) were used for detecting nests in the winter, and recording the behavioral aspects of the ecology of the breeding pairs. During the breeding season,

9 nests were either checked directly by climbing the tree and examining nest contents or indirectly" from a distance by telescope. Direct checks were carried out once in the season for endangered species and several times for the common species and they comprised an extensive assessment of the nest location and nest contents (e.g. collection of food remains) and a quick health and development status check and sampling of nestlings. The age, sex, and body condition of nestlings was estimated and exact body measurements were recorded (weight, tarsometatarsus length, widths, feather measurements etc.). All nestlings were banded when 2-3 weeks old. Cloacal and pharyngeal swab samples were obtained for bacteriology, mycology and parasitology along with fecal samples for hormone studies and ectoparasites were collected. Methods of sample storage and processing are also described. This study design is aiming to provide a comprehensive, though still feasible field protocol that may produce sufficient, good quality data for a much needed interdisciplinary, scientific evaluation of the different factors influencing the breeding status of endangered birds of prey.