Small Home Range Research Articles

Seasonal home range utilization of Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus) in a secondary tropical forest of Hainan Island, South China

The home range utilization of primates reflects their behavioral and ecological strategies to adapt to their environment. However, little is known about the home range behavior of endemic gibbons (Nomascus hainanus) found in a secondary tropical forest of Hainan Island, China. Knowledge of their ranging patterns could contribute to scientific evaluations of the survival risk of this species under habitat conversion. In this study, we analyzed the home range utilization patterns and the seasonal variation of a group of Hainan gibbons in secondary tropical forests in the Bawangling area of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, using infrared cameras and direct observations. The results show that the annual home area of the gibbon group was 137.4 ha, with no significant difference between the wet and dry seasons. The feeding hotspots of Hainan gibbons are more scattered in the rainy season and more concentrated in the dry season, but not for sleeping hotspots. The relatively small home range suggests that secondary forests may not represent low-quality habitats and thus have a supporting role for the Hainan gibbon population. The widely distributed range of feeding hotspots in the rainy season may be related to the abundance of fruit resources in this season, while gibbons reduce their travel distance and energy expenditure when food is scarce in the dry season. Overall, our findings provide insights into the ecological flexibility of gibbons to seasonal variations in food resources and highlight the conservation value of secondary forests for gibbon populations.

Dorsal CA1 lesions of the hippocampus impact mating tactics in prairie voles by shifting non-monogamous males' use of space to resemble monogamous males.

Alternative mating tactics within mating systems are characterized by discrete patterns of spatio-temporal overlap with same-and opposite-sex conspecifics and mating-relevant outcomes. Socially monogamous "residents" maintain relatively small home range sizes, have territories that almost exclusively overlap with their mating partners, and are more likely to produce offspring than non-bonded "wandering" conspecifics. Because mating tactics appear to be so closely tied to patterns of space use, differences in spatial cognitive abilities might differentially impact individual males' decisions to adopt a particular mating tactic and/or how efficient they are within their chosen mating tactic. Yet few studies have considered how the hippocampus, a brain region important for encoding cognitive maps and for processing contextual information, might impact how individuals adopt mating tactics or the spatio-temporal behaviors closely associated with them. We assessed the impact of lesions to the dorsal CA1 (dCA1) region of the hippocampus on male prairie vole space use, reproductive success, and mating tactics in semi-natural outdoor field conditions. Interestingly, dCA1 lesions did not impact the proportion of males that adopted resident or wandering mating tactics, and dCA1 lesions did not impact a male's ability to form a pair bond in the lab. In contrast, we found that lesioning the dCA1 shifted the home range size of reproductively successful and unsuccessful males. Furthermore, we found that patterns of space use among residents were unaffected by dCA1 lesions, whereas wanderers with dCA1 lesions showed pronounced reductions of their space use habits and resembled non-lesioned residents. Collectively, our study supports the hypothesis that wanderer male prairie voles rely on dCA1-mediated spatial cognition to navigate their world in a way that resident males do not. Such differences might have implications for how individuals efficiently attract and defend mates, obtain resources, defend territories, and outcompete rivals.

Presence of microplastic in target species of small scale fisheries and possible social implications on the local communities

Microplastic ingestion by marine fishes has been of particular interest, as many species are the target of commercial fisheries and, thus, have a strong connection with human health. Consumption of microplastic thru seafood is likely to have harmful effects on people globally but mainly on social groups that highly depend on fisheries for self-consumption. Here, we first aim to characterize the presence of microplastics in species targeted by small-scale fishers; and explore if the fish consumption of microplastic particles is associated with biological factors. Second, we applied semi-structured interviews to small-scale fishers to investigate, from a socio-environmental perspective, the potential social and environmental impacts of contamination by microplastics on the local communities. We found that commercially important fish families regularly contained microplastics in their tissues, and the consumption of microplastics by fish caught through traditional fishing gear depends on traits such as species mobility but the microplastic load also depended on the type of fishing gear used. Species with a wide home range had a higher load of microplastics than fish with a small home range but also seemed to be related to the fishing method. The observed differences in microplastic content on target species are likely to be transferred to humans in a non-random fashion. This work implies that microplastic pollution in commercial fish might represent an environmental and social issue that is not well understood by the fishing community in the Mexican Caribbean, with potential ramifications for marine resource management.

Use of shelters for restocking hatchery-produced Stichopus cf. horrens juveniles

The declining natural population of Stichopus cf. horrens can be mitigated through the restocking of hatchery-produced juveniles. In this study, the use of shelters as part of a release strategy for this species was evaluated. Seventy-five juveniles (25.8 ± 0.1 g) were released in three experimental sites (ES) with shelters made of stacked dead coral heads. The juveniles were monitored for 60 days to estimate apparent survival, displacement, permanence, and disappearance rates, and to determine activity patterns and measure growth. On day 60, 42.7% (SD 19.7) of the juveniles were retrieved, which were equally distributed between the central and side shelters with a corresponding disappearance rate of −0.016 (SD 0.01) ind d−1 within a 50 m2 area. The estimated displacement rate [0.03 (SD 0.03) m d−1] suggests that S. cf. horrens has a relatively small home range, thus may not need a large area to establish a spawning nucleus. During peak active hours, the juveniles were found outside the shelters or in the surrounding sand and seagrass blades. An average juvenile weight of 76.9 (SD 9.1) g was recorded upon termination, which was three-folds the initial weight suggesting that the juveniles were not food-limited. The low displacement rate, high growth, permanence rate, and apparent survival of juveniles in the ES indicate the potential of using dead coral heads as shelters in restocking cryptic species such as S. cf. horrens. Future studies on release optimization in terms of juvenile age/size, stocking density, time of release, and shelter design and placement are warranted.

Trabecular bone morphology in big cats reflects the complex diversity of limb use but not home range size or daily travel distance.

A relationship exists between mechanical loading and bone morphology. Although studies show a relationship between trabecular bone morphology and locomotor strategy in mammals, none of them have studied trabecular bone morphology in felid species occupying disparate and overlapping habitats. We investigate trabecular bone volume fraction (BVF) in the femoral and humeral heads, and distal tibia of four felid species (mountain lions, jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards) to identify whether there is a relationship between BVF and locomotor behavior. This study's goals are to identify whether felid species with high daily travel distance or large home range size have greater BVF compared with those with small daily travel distance or home range size, and whether BVF is correlated among the three elements of the fore and hindlimb studied. We quantified BVF in micro- and peripheral computed tomography images and found no significant differences across species in the femoral and humeral head (p > 0.05). However, in the distal tibia, results showed that leopards, mountain lions, and cheetahs have significantly greater (p < 0.05) BVF than jaguars. Despite differences in home range size and daily travel distance, the proximal elements did not reflect differences in BVF; however, the distal-most element did, suggesting decreased loading among jaguars. These findings suggest that the observed pattern of trabecular bone morphology is potentially due to the diversity in locomotor strategy of the forelimb. Additionally, these results imply that neither home range size nor daily travel distance are clear indicators of activity levels. A cautious approach is warranted in studying how loading influences trabecular morphology.

Biology of Yucatán Box Turtles (Terrapene yucatana) in Northern Yucatán.

Yucatán Box Turtles (Terrapene yucatana) are the only fully tropical lineage of box turtles (Terrapene spp.). We studied the ecology, movements, behavior, and habitat associations of T. yucatana in northern Yucatán, México, over 218 field days from 2014-2019. We estimated the size of two subpopulations to comprise 36.6 and 3.0 turtles, with corresponding densities of 2.29 and 0.39 turtles/ha, respectively. We obtained 2,808 radio locations from radiotelemetry of 20 adults. We estimated an annual survivorship rate over a 5-yr period exceeding 0.989. For both sexes combined, the average annual 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home range size was 0.684 ha, and the average distance between consecutive annual home range centroids was 22.5 m. In 2 of 5 yr, males exhibited significantly larger 95% MCP home ranges than females. We observed feeding, courtship, and fighting in the wild between June and December. Females moved more than males in July, when gravid turtles were also observed. We found that T. yucatana was positively associated with Mimosa sp. and Bromelia spp. The use of aquatic habitats was infrequent (0.17%). Our findings support the conclusion that T. yucatana, an allopatric and fully tropical lineage, is an interior forest and thornscrub species that occurs at low densities. In such undisturbed contexts, T. yucatana may exhibit high survivorship rates, small home range size, and home range fidelity that underscore the importance of large-scale forest conservation efforts in concert with the targeted protection of documented Yucatán Box Turtle populations.

Space use by Callosciurus erythraeus in a fragmented landscape

Abstract Tree squirrel species that are successful invaders may modify their behaviour according to the characteristics of the invaded community. We studied the use of space by Callosciurus erythraeus in the main invasion focus established in Argentina, where suitable habitat is highly fragmented and immersed in a rural–urban landscape of the Pampas region. We evaluated habitat use in relation to the dominant arboreal vegetation (evergreen vs. deciduous) based on seasonal trapping data throughout two years and home range size and overlap based on seasonal radio-tracking data in two consecutive years. We captured 476 squirrels with a higher trapping success in areas dominated by evergreen vegetation. Effective home ranges were smaller for females (0.10–0.77 ha, n = 12) than for males (0.9–3.78 ha, n = 3). We observed home range overlap between and within both sexes, suggesting no or low territoriality. Our results support the two working hypotheses on the relatively higher use of areas dominated by evergreen vegetation and on the relatively small home range sizes and large overlapping areas associated to high squirrel density. The flexibility in the use of different type of arboreal patches would be another attribute linked to the invasion success of this species.

To be or not to be controlled? The ecological role of the Guiana dolphin in its southernmost range

Several studies have explored dolphins feeding ecology in coastal ecosystems; However, research gauging the predatory effects of delphinid on ecosystems, which can be applied to management and conservation efforts, is still lacking. The northwestern section of the bay of Santa Catarina Island, locally known as North Bay, in Southern Brazil, inhabits the southernmost population of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis). This small and resident population is structured in a single and highly cohesive group, using a small home range restricted to the western section of the bay. Like many other coastal dolphins, this dolphin population negatively interacts with fisheries, with frequent bycatch events or by sharing feeding resources. To explore the ecological role of dolphins in the North Bay ecosystem, we constructed an Ecopath food web model to estimate ecosystem and compartmental attributes. Mixed trophic impact and keystoneness index were used to assess the predatory effects of the species in the ecosystem. As a complementary approach to Ecopath, we used ecological network analysis (ENA) to determine the ecological role of the compartments using control analysis and the throughflow centrality. According to our model, North Bay is a mature detritus-based ecosystem. Dolphins showed the highest keystoneness index score among all functional groups, while control analysis showed they are also the most controlled component in the ecosystem. The dolphins rely mainly on the Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), a hub species showing the greatest centrality of flows. We concluded that the Guiana dolphin inhabiting the North Bay is a crucial compartment in the ecosystem. It shows the greatest ecosystem impact per biomass unit among all functional groups, while it is the most vulnerable compartment.

Movement predictability of individual barn owls facilitates estimation of home range size and survival

BackgroundThere is growing attention to individuality in movement, its causes and consequences. Similarly to other well-established personality traits (e.g., boldness or sociability), conspecifics also differ repeatedly in their spatial behaviors, forming behavioral types (“spatial-BTs”). These spatial-BTs are typically described as the difference in the mean-level among individuals, and the intra-individual variation (IIV, i.e., predictability) is only rarely considered. Furthermore, the factors determining predictability or its ecological consequences for broader space-use patterns are largely unknown, in part because predictability was mostly tested in captivity (e.g., with repeated boldness assays). Here we test if (i) individuals differ in their movement and specifically in their predictability. We then investigate (ii) the consequences of this variation for home-range size and survival estimates, and (iii) the factors that affect individual predictability.MethodsWe tracked 92 barn owls (Tyto alba) with an ATLAS system and monitored their survival. From these high-resolution (every few seconds) and extensive trajectories (115.2 ± 112.1 nights; X̅ ± SD) we calculated movement and space-use indices (e.g., max-displacement and home-range size, respectively). We then used double-hierarchical and generalized linear mix-models to assess spatial-BTs, individual predictability in nightly max-displacement, and its consistency across time. Finally, we explored if predictability levels were associated with home-range size and survival, as well as the seasonal, geographical, and demographic factors affecting it (e.g., age, sex, and owls’ density).ResultsOur dataset (with 74 individuals after filtering) revealed clear patterns of individualism in owls’ movement. Individuals differed consistently both in their mean movement (e.g., max-displacement) and their IIV around it (i.e., predictability). More predictable individuals had smaller home-ranges and lower survival rates, on top and beyond the expected effects of their spatial-BT (max-displacement), sex, age and ecological environments. Juveniles were less predictable than adults, but the sexes did not differ in their predictability.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that individual predictability may act as an overlooked axis of spatial-BT with potential implications for relevant ecological processes at the population level and individual fitness. Considering how individuals differ in their IIV of movement beyond the mean-effect can facilitate understanding the intraspecific diversity, predicting their responses to changing ecological conditions and their population management.

Divergent habitat use and the influence of sea ice concentration on the movement behaviour of ringed seals Pusa hispida in Labrador, Canada

Climate change and industrial activities are leading to significant ecological changes in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, with consequences for top predators, including ringed seals Pusa hispida. However, there remains a limited understanding of habitat use, constraining an understanding of the impacts of change on this culturally valued pinniped. A total of 20 ringed seals from 2 areas in Labrador with different geomorphic attributes (Saglek Fjord in the North, and Lake Melville, an estuarine ‘fjard’ in the South) were equipped with satellite-linked transmitters to characterize behaviour states, home ranges, core use areas and environmental variables. Lake Melville-tagged seals had a smaller home range than Saglek Fjord seals (84968 vs. 196886 km2). There was little spatial overlap in the home ranges (10%) and core use areas (0%) between the 2 areas, which were separated by 572 km. Lake Melville seals spent more time in a transiting state during open water conditions (26%) than during ice-covered periods (9%), probably due to an influence of sea ice concentration; they also spent more time in the area in which they were tagged (72%) than did Saglek Fjord seals (36%), increasing the risk of exposure to local contaminants associated with hydroelectric developments. Our results suggest that ringed seals in Lake Melville have better feeding opportunities but may be more vulnerable to changing ice conditions and contaminants compared to seals in Saglek. These results will support the development of a planned culturally based Marine Protected Area in Nunatsiavut and can inform efforts to remediate contaminant sources in the region.

An Indigenous perspective on the conservation of an insular endemic: the prehensile-tailed skink Corucia zebrata on the Solomon Islands

AbstractThe prehensile-tailed skink Corucia zebrata is endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is the most traded reptile from the country. During 2000–2019, CITES reported the legal export of 10,567 individuals. Although the level of this trade is well documented, impacts on the skink's survival in its native range are comparatively unknown. During January–May 2020, we surveyed 146 people on 12 islands to collect information on the habitats preferred by the prehensile-tailed skink, to understand perceptions of the species' conservation status and identify any potential threats. Respondents reported lowland and hill forests as being favoured habitats, with low proportions of respondents identifying coastal and montane forests as suitable habitat. Habitat loss (72%), hunting (17%), and predation (6%) were identified as the main threats. People younger than 30 years of age reported killing the skinks more frequently than did people over the age of 30. Prehensile-tailed skinks have a relatively small home range, long reproductive cycle, and are vulnerable to numerous threats. We thus recommend a halt to the current practice of exporting wild-caught prehensile-tailed skinks, and replacement by a well-regulated captive breeding programme.

Filling the knowledge gaps of Paratelmatobius mantiqueira (Anura: Leptodactylidae): tadpole, acoustic repertoire, and life history traits

ABSTRACT We monitored a recently discovered population of Paratelmatobius mantiqueira for 13 months and gathered new data for the species: external morphology of tadpoles, acoustic repertoire, and life history traits. We also collected unprecedented data on behaviours and interactions of adults and tadpoles observed during monitoring. Based on natural markings of P. mantiqueira adults, we estimated the effective population size and estimated their home range. With circular statistics, we tested whether they were seasonally active and evaluated how humidity and temperature influenced the detectability of the species. We found that tadpoles and advertisement calls of P. mantiqueira differed from congeneric species. We also described the release and aggressive calls. We found that the species has a small home range, with probable resident females. Temperature and humidity positively influenced the detectability of P. mantiqueira; encounters varied seasonally. Paratelmatobius mantiqueira is a strictly forest species, found mainly in leaf litter and associated with muddy areas in rocky outcrops of highland forests. Our study provides new data about P. mantiqueira, which may help future integrative taxonomy approaches and contribute to the conservation of this species.

Collaborative behaviour and coalitions in male jaguars (Panthera onca)—evidence and comparison with other felids

Most large felids are classified as solitary species, with only lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) exhibiting social, collaborative behaviours. Herein, we present evidence of the formation of male coalitions by jaguars (Panthera onca), based on data from five studies conducted with camera trapping, GPS telemetry, and direct observations in the Venezuelan Llanos and Brazilian Pantanal. Out of 7062 male records obtained with camera traps or visual observations, we detected 105 cases of male-male interactions, of which we classified 18 as aggression, nine as tolerance, 70 as cooperation/coalition, and eight as unidentified. In two studies, two male jaguars formed stable coalitions lasting over 7 years each. In the Llanos, each coalition male paired and mated with several females. For male jaguar coalitions, we documented similar behaviours as recorded earlier in lions or cheetahs, which included patrolling and marking territory together, invading territories of other males, collaborative chasing and killing other jaguars, and sharing prey. However, different from lions or cheetahs, associated male jaguars spent less time together, did not cooperate with females, and did not hunt cooperatively together. Our analysis of literature suggested that male jaguar coalitions were more likely to form when females had small home range size, a proxy of females’ concentration, while in lions, the male group size was directly correlated with the female group size. Similarly, locally concentrated access to females may drive formation of male coalitions in cheetahs. We conclude that high biomass and aggregation of prey are likely drivers of sociality in felids.Significance statementThe division into social and solitary species in large felids has so far seemed unambiguous, with only lions and cheetahs classified as social species, in which male coalitions also occurred. Our data show that, under certain conditions, male coalitions may also form in jaguar populations. Factors that drive formation of male coalitions in lions and cheetahs, but not in other species of large cats, have not been clear until now. Our analyses indicate that in jaguars, lions, and cheetahs, the concentration of females likely plays the most important role. In jaguars, the probability of male coalition occurrence is highest in populations with the smallest mean female home range size (and thus likely high local density of females), while in lions, male group size is most strongly correlated with female group size.

There’s no place like home: high site fidelity and small home range of bonefish (Albula vulpes) inhabiting fringing reef flats in Culebra, Puerto Rico

There’s no place like home: high site fidelity and small home range of bonefish (Albula vulpes) inhabiting fringing reef flats in Culebra, Puerto Rico

Movement Patterns of Roaming Companion Cats in Denmark-A Study Based on GPS Tracking.

Simple SummaryIn comparison with other companion animals, domestic cats are more likely to roam freely, and this can give rise to conflicts and controversies. To assess the potential magnitude of the problems posed by free-roaming companion cats it is important to know how large an area outside their owners’ property they typically cover. Using GPS tracking, we studied nearly 100 cats in Denmark, a temperate country where around 14% of families own one or more cats, of which nearly three quarters are allowed to roam. We found that although the majority of the cats spent most of their time at their owner’s property and were less active when it rained, they still roamed a lot. The middle value (median) of the area used by the cats was the size of around seven soccer fields (5 ha), but there was huge individual variation, ranging from a little over one to over 150 soccer fields (1–113 ha). Thus, in a suburban neighbourhood, a free-roaming companion cat will typically pass through a lot of other people’s gardens. The area in which the cats roamed tended to be larger when they were younger, had access to nature areas, or were intact males.We studied the roaming patterns of companion cats in Denmark. The movements of 97 cats with outdoor access were traced for about seven days using GPS tracking. Data on the cats were gathered from their owners. The median time cats spent away from their homes was 5 h per day (IQR: 2.5 to 8.8 h), median daily distance moved was 2.4 km (IQR: 1.3 to 3.7 km), and median for 95% BBKDE home range was 5 ha (IQR: 2.9 to 8.5 ha). Cats above seven years of age spent less time away from home, were less active and had a smaller home range than younger cats. Cats with access to nature areas spent more time away from home, were more active and had larger home ranges. Intact male cats spent more time away from home than neutered cats and had larger home ranges as well. Finally, rainfall had an impact on the distance moved by cats: on days without rainfall the cats moved 3.6 km on average (95% CI: 2.8; 4.5 km); and on days with heavy rainfall the cats moved 2.4 km on average (95% CI: 1.6; 3.5 km).

Diet, activity patterns, and home range use in forest and cultivated areas for one wild group of endangered crested capuchin monkeys (Sapajus robustus) in Reserva Natural Vale, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) are distributed widely in the Neotropics and may be able to survive in modified landscapes because of their omnivorous, opportunistic diet. The poorly known and endangered crested capuchin monkey (Sapajus robustus) is endemic to the Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states, Brazil. We collected data on diet and home range for a crested capuchin group with access to forest and cultivated areas. We hypothesized that with access to cultivated exotic fruit, capuchins would use cultivated areas more for feeding during the season of fruit scarcity in the surrounding forest and have a small home range size because of higher fruit availability. Both the forest and the cultivated areas peaked in fruit availability in the wet season, with a low proportion of trees producing fruit in the dry season; cultivated areas had a higher proportion of trees in fruit compared to the forest throughout the study. While monkeys consumed exotic fruits like jackfruit and oil palm, we recorded more samples of them eating forest fruits than exotic fruits in all but 1 month, and they consumed a more diverse array of forest fruits (56 species) but only six exotic species. Home range size was relatively small compared with other studies: 120.5 ha across the year (wet season 102 ha, dry season 111.5 ha). Natural and human-intensified fruit sources in a protected area without hunting may have allowed monkeys to maintain a smaller home range size. The group composition changed during the study; this also likely influenced home range use. Studies focused on robust capuchin groups that utilize agricultural or cultivated foods may underestimate home range needs for groups without access to human-intensified food sources. Studying crested capuchin ecology in additional locations will be important for establishing a sound species conservation program.

Little Sharks in a Big World: Mitochondrial DNA Reveals Small-scale Population Structure in the California Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci).

The California horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) is a small demersal species distributed from southern California and the Channel Islands to Baja California and the Gulf of California. These nocturnal reef predators maintain small home-ranges as adults and lay auger-shaped egg cases that become wedged into the substrate. While population trends are not well documented, this species is subject to fishing pressure through portions of its range and has been identified as vulnerable to overexploitation. Here, we present a survey of 318 specimens from across the range, using mtDNA control region sequences to provide the first genetic assessment of H. francisci. Overall population structure (ΦST = 0.266, P < 0.001) is consistent with limited dispersal as indicated by life history, with two distinct features. Population structure along the continuous coastline is low, with no discernable breaks from Santa Barbara, CA to Bahia Tortugas (Baja California Sur, Mexico); however, there is a notable partition at Punta Eugenia (BCS), a well-known biogeographic break between tropical and subtropical marine faunas. In contrast, population structure is much higher (max ΦST = 0.601, P < 0.05) between the coast and adjacent Channel Islands, a minimum distance of 19 km, indicating that horn sharks rarely disperse across deep habitat and open water. Population structure in most elasmobranchs is measured on a scale of hundreds to thousands of kilometers, but the California Horn Shark has population partitions on an unprecedented small scale, indicating a need for localized management strategies which ensure adequate protection of distinct stocks.

Nocturnal space and habitat use by Garden Dormice in an urban area in Germany

The Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is currently disappearing from parts of its former range. While its population is declining in many parts of Germany, a stable occurrence is found in the city of Wiesbaden. A radio telemetry study was conducted to investigate nocturnal activity and habitat use. Three males and one female were tracked for six weeks from May to July 2021. Males weighed 85 ± 15 g (n = 6), females 63 ± 8 g (n = 2). Home ranges were calculated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method. Males had larger home range sizes (MCP100: 2.69 ± 1.8 ha, n = 3) than females (0.53 ha, n = 1). The home ranges of males overlapped. Males regularly crossed roads up to 16 m wide. Animals exhibited nocturnal behavior with sporadic activity at dusk. Garden Dormice preferred structures with more than 75 % cover from a bird's eye view and 50 % cover when viewed from the side. Broad hedges were strongly preferred over single shrubs and trees or structures without vegetation. They were used by the animals for foraging, mating, as a place for other interactions, and as protected pathways through the habitat. The smaller home range sizes compared to previous studies may be due to good food availability in the city. Animals also seem to benefit from continuous habitat and high levels of plant cover. Recommended conservation measures include maintaining and promoting broad hedges and habitat connectivity.

A global review on the role of small rodents and lagomorphs (clade Glires) in seed dispersal and plant establishment

Zoochory is an ecologically and evolutionarily important seed dispersal type. The decline and extinction of seed-dispersing large herbivores severely threatens dispersal-driven ecosystem processes in many regions. Hence the relative importance of small rodents and lagomorphs (Glires, Mammalia) as dispersal vectors might increase due to their ubiquity, diversity and abundance. Here we provide a review of rodent- and lagomorph-mediated seed dispersal based on approximately 600 papers found in an extensive literature search. We highlight that small rodents and lagomorphs disperse seeds via various mechanisms. The seldom documented epi- and endozoochory are probably universal in these groups. Due to their small home range, short fur and small body size, these mechanisms generally operate at small scales and mainly for small seeds. Taxon-specific feeding, nesting and behavioural characteristics provide a wide spectrum of other seed dispersal types, such as synzoochory (food caching). The studied taxa generally support seed dispersal within a particular habitat patch, contributing to the persistence of local populations, but in rare cases, long-distance dispersal events might occur. Besides seed dispersal, rodents and lagomorphs can also support plant establishment and provide safe sites for seeds where they can survive stochastic events. Studies reviewed here show a strong bias both in scope and geographical distribution: synzoochorous dispersal of woody plants is known in detail, and most studies were conducted in the same few countries and habitat types. In contrast, other mechanisms such as endozoochory, epizoochory and habitat types like grasslands and anthropogenic habitats have rarely been studied. We show examples on ecosystem services and disservices related to rodent- and lagomorph-mediated seed dispersal as well as the importance of these processes in habitat conservation and restoration.

Sex and Age Effects on Monk Parakeet Home-Range Variation in the Urban Habitat

Home-range size is a key aspect of space-use, and variation in home-range size and structure may have profound consequences for the potential impact of damage and control strategies for invasive species. However, knowledge on home-range structure of naturalized parrot species is very limited. The aim of this study was to quantify patterns of home-range variation according to sex and age of the monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus, an invasive parakeet in Europe. Mean kernel home-range size was 12.4 ± 1.22 ha (range 1.7–74.1 ha; N = 73 birds). Juveniles had a larger home-range size than adults, but sexes did not differ in kernel home-range size. The mean maximum distance moved by monk parakeets was 727 ± 37.0 m (range: 150–1581 m), and it was not dependent on either the sex or age of the birds. Having a small home range is one of the conditions for the feasible eradication of an invasive species; hence, the small home range of urban monk parakeets that we report here is good news for pest managers. However, this small home-range size can limit the effectiveness of culling operations with traps or feeders with contraceptives or poison, and other alternatives, such as funnel nets or traps, should be used.