Ungulate Numbers Research Articles

Фактична та оптимальна чисельність основних видів ратичних в розрізі природних лісомисливських областей України

The article presents the results of a 5-year study (2020–2024) of the state, limits of availability and productivity of the forage base for populations of key species of ungulates, as well as the determination of their optimal abundance (OA) in all five forestry districts of Ukraine. The options for minimum and maximum values of the food base of wild herbivores were fully surveyed and analysed. The following wild game species were subject to a more comprehensive survey: European elk, red deer, European roe deer, and wild boar. Alien species such as sika deer, mouflon, and fallow deer were surveyed to a more limited extent. The limits (OA-min and OA-max) of the acceptable total ungulate abundance depending on the productivity of hunting grounds were determined. Calculations of the allowable population density and the optimal abundance of ungulates depending on the quality score of the grounds were made: from the least suitable to the best. The calculation of the OA for the main species of ungulates in the hunting grounds of the five natural zones gave the following results: 1) in the Polissia zone, OA-min 65.7k thousand ind., average 564.9 thousand ind., actual OA-fact 112.1 thousand ind, OA-fact 42.4 thousand ind.; 2) in the Forest-Steppe zone, OA-min 81.3 thousand ind., OA-max 162.2 thousand ind., OA-fact 42.4 thousand ind.; 3) in the Steppe zone, OA-min (quality score 4.0) 122.9 thousand ind., OA-max (quality score 1.5) 193.5 thousand ind.; OA-fact 34.9 thousand ind.; 4) in the Carpathian zone OA-min (quality score 4.0) 55.5 thousand ind, OA-max (quality score 1.5) 142.3 thousand ind., OA-fact 50.5 thousand ind.; 5) in the Crimean zone, OA-min (quality score 4.0) 45.6 thousand ind. and OA-opt (quality score 1.5) 138.8 thousand ind., OA-fact 7.3 thousand ind. The actual OA increases in the order of Crimea (7.3) → Steppe (34.9) → Forest-Steppe (42.4) → Carpathians (50.5) → Polissia (112.1 thousand individuals), i.e. it changes, albeit gradually, by more than 15 times when moving from southern to northern zones. Within each zone, transitions from a quality score of 4.0 to 1.5 give an increase in OA by 3.5–4.0 times. The possibilities of a significant increase in the optimal number of ungulates in the lands of each of the considered natural zones (forestry and hunting districts) are shown, but only if fundamental changes in the principles of hunting management are provided.

The Final Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Faunal Dispersals from East to Europe and Correlation of the Villafranchian Biochronology between Eastern and Western Europe

The Villafranchian stage in the mammal fauna evolution in Eurasia (ca. 3.6/3.4 Ma—ca. 1.2 Ma) is associated with the beginning of the formation of the modern appearance of the mammal megafauna of today’s Palaearctic. The cooling and the aridification starting with the beginning of the Early Pleistocene gradually eliminated the quasi-tropical appearance of the Late Neogene landscapes and fauna of Europe. The time from the Mid-Piacenzian (ca. 3.3–3.0 Ma) to the end of the Early Pleistocene was a time of particularly intense dispersal of species, of faunal exchange between Eurasia and Africa, and of the entry of new mammals into Europe from the East. That is why the correlation of the biochronology of the Villafranchian fauna between Eastern and Western Europe is of particular interest. Accumulated data make possible a more precise correlation of these faunas today. A correlation of selected Eastern European localities with established faunal units and MNQ zones is made in the present work. Usually, the dispersal from Asia or from E. Europe to W. Europe is instantaneous from a geological point of view, but in a number of cases, reaching W. Europe happens later, or some species known to be from Eastern Europe do not reach Western Europe. The main driving forces of the faunal dispersals, which are the key bioevents in the faunal formation, are climate changes, which in turn, affect the environment. We can summarize the following more significant Villafranchian bioevents in Europe: the End Pliocene (Early Villafranchian: MNQ16) turnover related to the first appearance of a number of taxa, for example, felids, canids, proboscideans, and ungulates; the Quaternary beginning turnover. Correlated with this are the beginning of the Middle Villafranchian, which should be placed at about 2.6 Ma; the Coste San Giacomo faunal unit turnover (Senèze and Slivnitsa localities should be included here, and the FU itself, at the very beginning of the late Villafranchian (=MNQ18a)); the Pachycrocuta event at the very beginning of the Olivola FU; and the events related to the Late Villafranchian/Epivillafranchian bounfary.

Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland condition, plant species richness and wild ungulate population in a semi‐arid savannah

AbstractThis field study in a semi‐arid savannah at Senkelle Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary, Ethiopia, examined livestock grazing effects on rangeland condition, plant species composition and richness, and population of the endangered Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei). Rangeland condition was analysed using a common protocol for the assessment of semi‐arid rangelands. A total count method was used to estimate ungulate numbers. Grazing reduced all measures of range condition and productivity and affected the composition and richness of the herbaceous species. Grazing also induced an increase in the density and number of encroaching woody species Vachellia seyal and Senegalia senegal. The population of the Swayne's hartebeest significantly affected by livestock grazing (mean number of hartebeests observed under moderately and lightly grazed sites were 10.00 ± 2.49 and 6.75 ± 2.06, respectively). No individual hartebeest was observed roaming in the heavily grazed zone, which implies an effective reduction in the extent of habitat available for the hartebeest. The overall condition of the rangeland was poor. Measures to reduce livestock presence in areas from which the hartebeest has been displaced and controlled seasonal livestock grazing within non‐sensitive parts of the Sanctuary may benefit the hartebeest. Coupled with these, livestock exclusions for up to a year and interseeding may help improve rangeland condition and hartebeest's habitat.

Epizootiological monitoring of wolf helminths in Northern and Central Kazakhstan.

Wolves (Canis lupus) play a role in nature, including the regulation of the number of ungulates and the use of dead animals. In addition, wolves are a natural link and carrier for the spread of many parasitic invasions. Hence, the main task in preventing the spread of parasitic invasions is to regulate the wolf population. This study aimed to monitor the endoparasitological fauna of wild wolves inhabiting Northern and Central Kazakhstan. Overall, 81 wolves were investigated for parasitic worms using the K. I. Scriabin method. Wolf intestinal materials were collected from the following six regions: North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Akmola, Ulytau, and Karaganda. The genetic diversity of the parasites was identified using a polymerase chain reaction with specific primers. After data collection, a comprehensive statistical analysis was performed. Several helminth types were identified in wolves, including Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides spp., Toxascaris leonina, Trichinella nativa, Alaria alata, and Dirofilaria repens. Based on the results of this study, young male wolves aged 1-4 years were the most vulnerable to helminthiasis. Wolves living in steppe and semi-desert regions are often exposed to helminth infections. The prevalence of T. nativa in the wolves was 20.4%. This study also revealed the presence of echinococcosis among wolf populations in Karaganda and Kostanay, with prevalence rates of 4.1% and 4.7%, respectively. The overall prevalence of tapeworms in wolves was 54.3%. This study highlights the significance of understanding the potential risks associated with helminth infections in wild carnivores because helminths can act as disease reservoirs and pose a threat to humans, livestock, and other wild carnivores. These results can contribute to the development of effective control and management strategies for helminth infections in wolves, which can infect humans and livestock.

Methodology for verifying/determining the boundaries of Game Management Regions: a case study of the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Lublin (Poland)

Wildlife management is an integral part of forest management, and game animals should be considered an essential part of the forest ecosystem and agroecosystems in which the flow of energy changed fundamentally during the 20th century due to the use of fertilisers, pesticides, and modern technologies. An approximately four-fold increase in the production of crops brought with it an increase in the number of ungulates in the world. The tasks of foresters and hunters in wildlife management include creating the best suitable living conditions for animals and mitigating conflicts between forest animals and human activities. This necessitates the creation and implementation of modern land units called Game Management Regions (GMRs) in Poland. This concept was defined in the Polish Hunting Law primarily for managing big game populations. The aim of the GMRs is to ensure year-long management of game populations within their respective ranges. Long-term Hunting Management Plans were developed for each GMR, serving as the basis for adopting management directions, and achieving the desired state of the game population as recorded in the multi-year plan (typically spanning ten years). However, experiences and the current situation reveal several weaknesses in the functioning of these divisions, including rapid changes in the environment, particularly the emergence of barriers like highways and new buildings. This research aimed to develop a method for determining or verifying the boundaries of the GMRs based on objective criteria as a case study hosted by the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Lublin. During the conducted analysis we examined data provided by the Regional Directorate of State Forests (RDSF) in Lublin, including information on the current density of red deer (Cervus elaphus), forest cover, forest patch fragmentation, categories of hunting districts, ecological corridors, as well as existing, under-construction and planned highways and expressways. The boundaries of the GMRs were determined by aggregating hunting districts with similar characteristics using GIS software while considering ecological barriers. The analysis results indicated the need to establish 12 divisions instead of 8, with significant deviations from the previous delimitation. The obtained results underscore the necessity of verifying the boundaries of the GMRs nationwide. Keywords: large-scale game management; big game; Game Management Region; hunting plans

Influence of topsoil manure mix on affects germination in Pea and Onion seeds

Nutrient-rich southern chernozems have lost a significant part of their fertility during their exploitation in agrocenoses. The decrease in the fertility of the surface layer of soils in the steppe landscapes of the Orenburg Cis-Urals contributed to a decrease in the yield of grain crops and an increase in the volume of applied mineral fertilizers. The use of reverse technology of mechanical tillage contributed to the weathering of the surface fertile soil layer and its degradation. Plowing of the Orenburg steppes for agrocenoses led to a decrease in the number of wild ungulates and their adaptation to new living conditions in agrocenoses. Our work was devoted to modeling the process of the influence of the soil-manure mixture of the surface layer of southern chernozem and the manure of large phytophages on the germination of pea and onion seeds in laboratory conditions. Changes in the composition of bacterial communities during the preparation of the soil-manure mixture are one of the factors influencing the germination and morphometric growth parameters of onion and pea seeds. There is no doubt that the nutritional composition of the manure of large phytophages is of decisive importance for stimulating the growth of onions and peas. However, the differences we have shown in the bacterial composition of soil-manure mixtures of two large phytophages raises the problem of increasing or decreasing the nutritional value of the soil-manure mixture depending on the composition of the microbial communities of the manure of large phytophages.

Comparison of Methods for Estimating Damage by Wild Ungulates on Field Crops

High numbers of large ungulates are locally accompanied by high levels of damage to field crops, causing economic losses and increased costs for the protection of agricultural fields. Quantifying the levels of damage can be problematic, with the degree of accuracy depending on the method used. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, workload and cost of four methods commonly used for estimating damage to wheat fields caused by large ungulates (esp. wild boar) in the Czech Republic. The results suggest that the manual processing of aerial photographs (“Uncrewed Aerial Systems [UAS] with Operator Delineation Method”) was very laborious and the least accurate method, with a high risk of error. In comparison, the automatic evaluation of aerial images (“UAS Crop Height Method”) and the “Ground-Based Assessment” both provided similar results when carefully analyzed and were equally demanding. The “Yield Method”, comparing the net yield from damaged and undamaged areas, provided the same result of assessment and was the least laborious, although it does require the existence of comparable areas and for the conditions to be created in advance before the method is used. Equivalent results were achieved by the UAS Crop Height Method, which we recommend using in cases where the Yield Method cannot be applied.

Spatial Distribution of Hunting and Its Potential Effect on Browsing Impact of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) on Forest Vegetation

Increasing numbers of wild ungulates in human-dominated landscapes in Europe could lead to negative effects, such as damages to forests through browsing. To prevent those effects and, thus, mitigate wildlife-based conflicts while ensuring viable ungulate populations, sustainable management is required. Roe deer, as the most abundant cervid species in Europe, is primarily managed via hunting to decrease population densities through harvesting. Besides direct mortality, non-lethal effects of hunting activities further affect the spatial habitat selection for this species. Accordingly, the spatial distribution of hunting locations might influence game impact on forest vegetation. To examine these relationships in more detail, we linked the spatial distribution of hunting locations for roe deer with forest damage through browsing in 20 regions in Upper Austria. Consistent with our hypothesis, an avoidance of forests by hunters was found in regions with <20% forest cover and intolerable browsing impact. When hunters in certain regions, however, used forests according to their availability, game impact on forest vegetation was tolerable. Although forest damage by ungulates depends on numerous factors, we conclude that careful consideration of hunting locations might be an additional approach to reduce browsing intensity by roe deer, at least in regions with low forest cover.

Predicting the number of hunting animals in the State complex “Zavidovo” based on a mathematical model

It is necessary to predict the number of hunting animals under the conditions of the impact of endogenous and exogenous factors the habitat and economic use, for rational and inexhaustible their use. Understanding changes in the number of hunting animals is an important tool for managing hunting resources. Predicting of the number of hunting animals in the region as a rule, is based on trend models of population dynamics. In practice, the calculation and constructive method and the method of mathematical modeling have become the most widespread in predicting the population of hunting animals in dynamics. The computational and constructive method is based on the use of correlation and regression models, but it does not take into account the main indicators of population size formation: the fertility rate, which is formed on the basis of the specic weight of males, the percentage of yeldness and the number of calves (young animals) in the calving (litter), and the livability depending on the percentage of natural death and losses from poaching. The method of mathematical modeling involves the compilation of mathematical models and conducting model experiments to predict the number of species of hunting animals in dynamics. The relevance of this mathematical analysis lies in its multifactorial nature and rather high reliability. In the eld of predicting the number of hunting animals the modied P. H. Leslie model is of particular interest. The purpose of the work was to predict the number of wild ungulates (roe deer, elk, maral and spotted deer) in the Zavidovo State Complex in the Tver region until 2035. The use of the modied P. H. Leslie model makes it possible to predict the development of hunting animal populations both in the Zavidovo State Complex as a whole and in individual hunting areas with precise adjustment of models according to area parameters.

Community composition and population dynamics of vertebrates in the State National Nature Park “Burabay”

The article presents the analysis results of vertebrate community composition in the State National Natural Park “Burabay” and its population dynamics for 2016–2020, as a basic component of the ecological network of specially protected natural areas, ensuring the conservation and restoration of biological diversity, both typical and unique landscapes. The route method of animal registration on the trial plot was applied to study and estimate the number of ungulates, carnivores, rodents, and guans. The animal life forms were classified according to the morphology of A.N. Formazov. The typical nature of the species composition of the park is confirmed by the presence of characteristic communities inherent in the steppe zone. The uniqueness of the species composition of vertebrates lies in the presence of species characteristic to the forest ecosystem; boreal relic animals; species of animals listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and species diversity.

БИОТЕХНИЧЕСКАЯ КОНЦЕПЦИЯ ЗАКАЗНИКА «КИРЗИНСКИЙ»: СИМБИОЗ ЗАРУБЕЖНОГО ОПЫТА И СОБСТВЕННЫХ НОВАЦИЙ

In the process of increasing destructive anthropogenic pressure on the geobiocenoses of our planet, the protection and preservation of wild ungulates populations through the introduction of new biotechnical technologies is an increasingly significant and urgent environmental task. The development of biotechnical innovations adequate to the current state of nature requires a multi-vector approach and, first of all, a constructive analysis of foreign experience in the biotechnical arrangement of national natural territories. These studies are an effective methodological contribution for implementation in specially protected natural areas (protected areas) Of Russia. A biologically cost-effective example of this symbiotic process is the biotechnical experience of the state nature reserve of federal significance "Kirzinsky" (Novosibirsk region, Barabinsky, Chanovsky districts). Here, in a scientific format, the most productive biotechnical systems in such important countries as England, the USA, Poland, etc. were studied, which demonstrated the progressive dynamics of conservation and increase in the number of wild ungulates. Taking into account the application of some foreign biotechnical techniques, the reserve has developed and implemented its own integrated concept for the conservation of Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) in winter. This biotechnical innovation has led to a qualitative biological result. The number of Siberian roe deer has increased more than 10 times over the past 12 years: from 156 individuals to 2144.

A gazelle's extraordinary, 18,000-km-long journey through the steppes of Mongolia.

A gazelle's extraordinary, 18,000-km-long journey through the steppes of Mongolia.

Hunting suitability model: a new tool for managing wild ungulates

Rising numbers of wild ungulates in human‐dominated landscapes of Europe can induce negative effects like damages to forests. Therefore, effective wildlife management, including harvesting through hunting is becoming increasingly important. However, current hunting practices often fail to diminish those negative effects, as many ungulate species retreat to areas unsuitable for hunting. This predator–avoidance behaviour makes it difficult to fulfill the demand of reducing population numbers. Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative and effective wildlife management tools to counteract this problem. Here we provide for the first time a hunting suitability model for wild ungulate management in mountainous landscapes to visualise hunting suitability objectively and realistically. Using red deer as a model species, we modelled hunting suitability with high spatial resolution (10 × 10 m), based on remote sensing information, field surveys and expert knowledge of professional hunters. We analysed spatio–temporal habitat selection by radio‐collared deer in relation to locations of varying hunting suitability. The suitability of various locations regarding hunting influenced the spatio–temporal habitat selection by this species, consistent with our hypothesis. Red deer avoided areas suitable for hunting during daylight hours in the hunting season, but not during the night. This species seems to perceive a landscape of heterogeneous anthropogenic predation risk, shaped by locations of various hunting suitability, as we modelled it. This confirms the empirical realism of the model. Concerning wild ungulate management, our hunting suitability model provides high‐resolution predictions of where species like red deer will retreat when perceived anthropogenic predation risk increases. The model also yields useful insights regarding the hunting suitability of particular locations, which is valuable information especially for non‐locals. Furthermore, the model can serve as planning tool to inform decisions about where particular hunting strategies can be performed most efficiently to manage wild ungulates and therefore minimize human–wildlife conflicts.

Rewilding by Wolf Recolonisation, Consequences for Ungulate Populations and Game Hunting.

Simple SummaryHumans extirpated the wolf Canis lupus from many regions of Europe. Today, the wolf is returning to many of these areas, and with it, people’s opposition due to its predatory habits on, among others, ungulate game species. Based on existing data on wolf prey selection, kill rates and territory size, we extrapolated the results from central Sweden and Poland to southern Sweden, where wolf recolonization has not yet occurred and conservation conflicts with hunters are expected. Thus, we calculated the proportion of moose Alces alces, roe deer Capreolus capreolus, red deer Cervus elaphus, fallow deer Dama dama and wild boar Sus scrofa that would be killed by wolves in the municipalities of southern Sweden if wolf recolonization occurs. We found that the current system of five ungulate species in southern Sweden could potentially support a wolf density two to four times higher than in the current wolf distribution in central Sweden, which are mainly inhabited by roe deer and moose. With this type of research, we can anticipate and work to ameliorate the social unrest and expected conservation conflicts that may arise once wolves or other large carnivore species recolonize areas of Europe that are returning to the wild.The ongoing recolonisations of human-transformed environments in Europe by large carnivores like the wolf Canis lupus means that conservation conflicts could re-surface, among other reasons, due to predation on ungulate game species. We estimated the effect of wolves on ungulate species using data on wolf prey selection, kill rates and territory size to build a hypothetical case of future expansion. We extrapolated results on predation from the current wolf distribution in central Sweden and eastern Poland to the eventual wolf recolonisation of southern Sweden. We then calculated the proportion of five ungulate game species killed annually by wolves, and the ratio between the predicted annual predation by wolves given future colonization and the number of ungulates currently harvested by hunters. Results showed that wolf recolonization in southern Sweden would have a minor impact on the estimated population densities of red deer Cervus elaphus, fallow deer Dama dama and wild boar Sus scrofa, but is likely to lead to a significant reduction in human captures of moose Alces alces and roe deer Capreolus capreolus. The current five-ungulate species system in southern Sweden suggests a potential for two to four times higher wolf density than the two-ungulate species system in the northern part of their current distribution. Management and conservation of recolonizing large carnivores require a better understanding of the observed impact on game populations under similar ecological conditions to ameliorate conservation conflicts and achieve a paradigm of coexistence. Integrating these predictions into management is paramount to the current rewilding trend occurring in many areas of Europe or North America.

АНАЛИЗ СТРУКТУРЫ ОХОТНИЧЬИХ РЕСУРСОВ КУЗБАССА

A wide range of issues of rational use of natural resources is the basis of environmental protection. The problems of biodiversity conservation, socio-economic and environmental optimization of land use, management of hunting use and much more are particularly acute. The purpose of this work is to assess the structure of hunting resources of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass in terms of identifying trends in the development of the hunting industry. The object of the study is the hunting resources of the Kemerovo region–Kuzbass (Krapivinsky, Topkinsky, Tashtagolsky, Yurginsky, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Tisulsky, Guryevsky, Yaysky, Tyazhinsky, Industrialnovsky, Chebulinsky, Mezhdurechensky, Belovsky, Novokuznetsk, Yashkinsky, Izhmorsky, Kemerovo, Mariinsky and Prokopyevsky administrative districts). Conducted research aimed at assessing the physical and geographical conditions of the formation and use of hunting resources, the main classes of the habitat of hunting animals, carried out habitat bonification, analyzed the structure of hunting resources and the directions of the existing use of hunting resources. The hunting resources of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass are characterized by such trends as the growth of the number of ungulates, foxes and bears, the displacement of a number of local species by sable and mink, stable or growing numbers of the most plastic species. At the same time, a number of trends seem to be related more to the methodology of accounting works and their problems than to biological processes. So, of course, the practical disappearance of the wolf had a positive impact on the dynamics of ungulates and others, however, in parallel with this, the bear and fox actively multiplied, homeless and stray dogs moved into the grounds, whose predatory activity is quite comparable to that of a wolf. The possibility of a simultaneous virtually monotonous increase in the number of phytophages and predators requires additional study, including using modern methods to improve the accuracy of the credentials.

Income formation of hunting farms of Zaporizhia region

The relevance of the study of the dynamics and structure of income of hunting farms in the region. It is determined that this study is one of the main tasks of the analysis of enterprise income. The classification and structure of incomes of hunting farms are given. The dynamics in the formation of the number of users of hunting lands of Zaporizhia region and their structure in terms of state enterprises, public organizations and private enterprises are analysed. There is a tendency to reduce the area of hunting grounds in state farms and public organizations and increase – in private enterprises. An analysis of the financial performance of hunting farms in general, which showed that the level of cost recovery income in the Zaporizhia region among other regions of Ukraine is one of the highest. A similar analysis in terms of different organizational forms of hunting management showed the lowest level of cost recovery for users who belong to other private and public hunting organizations. In 2019 it was 55.9 % compared to 63.8 % in the organizations of the Ukrainian Society of Hunters and Fishermen and 74.4% in the enterprises of the State Forest Agency of Ukraine. The structure of sources of income of hunting farms is given, among which the main ones are income from the sale of licenses for hunting animals, sale of shot cards for fur, sale of shot cards for game birds, sponsorship, and other income. The dynamics of the total number and number of captured wild animals by their different species is analysed. It is shown that the most significant share of income of hunting farms in Zaporizhia region is provided by the number of ungulates, which remains low in the region. During the period from 2015 to 2019, it decreased from 52 to 19 animals. It is established that the formation of income of hunting farms is influenced by the following negative factors: high level of poaching, shadow component of the economy, imperfection of the legal framework and statistical reporting, reduction of hunting grounds, reduction of ungulates, insufficient number of qualified specialists. The study found that the almost complete lack of state support for the hunting industry has led to a decrease in the interest of hunting land users in the efficient and rational use of natural resources of the region.

Scavenging patterns of generalist predators in forested areas: The potential implications of increase in carrion availability on a threatened capercaillie population

AbstractThe increases in ungulate populations and hunting bags throughout Europe and North America have resulted in higher carcass numbers available for mesocarnivore species in temperate and boreal forests. The increase in food resources can sustain denser predator populations, potentially affecting prey species such as the threatened western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus. We investigated the ungulate population trends in recent decades and the carrion use by facultative scavengers in areas of the Pyrenees occupied by capercaillie to assess the potential effects on predation of nests and adult birds, and on its population trend. We found a significant increase in the number of ungulates harvested during the period of sharp capercaillie population decline. Carrion was provided experimentally in forested areas occupied by capercaillie showing that remains were mainly consumed by red fox Vulpes vulpes, followed by wild boar Sus scrofa and marten species (Martes sp.). Season (cold or warm) was the most important factor determining scavenging activity in most species. Main predators of capercaillie nests and adults were martens and red fox, with no predation by wild boar. Our data show that main predators of capercaillie are the same species that mainly consume carrion, especially in winter, and that plentiful carrion resources could maintain higher populations of these species, potentially increasing predation pressure on the capercaillie population. This study shows that managing carrion arising from hunting activity in areas of capercaillie distribution is a necessary management action to reduce the available carrion biomass and so reduce the impact of mesocarnivores on capercaillie conservation.

ОХОТУСТРОЙСТВО КЕМЕРОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ-КУЗБАССА

Hunting is an important branch of environmental management, ensuring the conservation and rational use of animal objects. The territory of Kuzbass has extensive hunting grounds and a large resource reserve of both flora and fauna. But despite the presence of all types of hunting animals, the region does not become a major center for the development of hunting farming. The purpose of this work is to study publicly available information about the hunting of Kuzbass, to identify the main restrictions that hinder the development of hunting as a type of economic activity. To achieve this goal, a study was conducted of publicly available data presented on the official websites of the Department for the Protection of Animal Safety of the Kemerovo Region, the Kemerovo branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Territorial Geological Information Fund for the Siberian Federal District," the Department of the Forest Complex of Kuzbass, obtained from the official Reports on the State and Environmental Protection of the Kemerovo Region. As a result, areas with the largest area of hunting grounds, publicly accessible and/or fixed were allocated: Novokuznetsk, Tashtagolsky, Tisulsky, Kemerovo, Krapivensky, Mariinsky district. An analysis of the dynamics of the number of main species of hunting animals for 2015-2019 is presented, which shows that the total number of ungulates is stable with a slight trend towards growth, the exception is the number of wild boar (the number of individuals decreased by about 3.4 times from 2016 to 2019); the total number of birds is falling: from 2017 to 2019, the number of individuals decreased 1.4 times, the exception was quail, the number of which increased 2.4 times; the total number of fur animals is stable, but with a decreasing trend; the number of bears in the region is stable. The main factors affecting the number of animals include: anthropogenic load, climate change, fires, unfair accounting and poaching. The main problem in the region is the lack of State funding. Solving existing problems contributes to the development of hunting to a promising type of economic activity.

Correction to: Strength of correlation between wildlife collision data and hunting bags varies among ungulate species and with management scale

Most European ungulate species are increasing in numbers and expanding their range. For the management and monitoring of these species, 64% of European countries rely on indirect proxies of abundance (e.g., hunting bag statistics). With increasing ungulate numbers, data on ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC) may provide an important and inexpensive, complementary data source. Currently, it is unclear how bag statistics compare with UVC. A direct comparison of these two indices is important because both are used in ungulate management. We evaluated the relationship between UVC and ungulate hunting bags across bioclimatic, regional, and local scales, using five time lags (t−3 to t+1) for the five most common wild ungulate species in Sweden. For all species, hunting bags and UVC correlated positively, but correlation strength and time lags varied across scales and among species. The two indices correlated most strongly at the local management scale. Correlation between both indices was strong for the smaller deer species and wild boar, in particular, but much weaker for moose where we found the best fit using a 2-year time lag. For the other species, indices from the same year correlated best. We argue that the reason for moose data behaving differently is that, in Sweden, moose are formally managed using a 3-year time plan, while the other species are not. Accordingly, moose hunting bags are influenced more strongly by density-independent processes than bags of the other species. Consequently, the mismatch between the two indices may generate conflicting conclusions for management depending on the method applied.

Strength of correlation between wildlife collision data and hunting bags varies among ungulate species and with management scale

Most European ungulate species are increasing in numbers and expanding their range. For the management and monitoring of these species, 64% of European countries rely on indirect proxies of abundance (e.g., hunting bag statistics). With increasing ungulate numbers, data on ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC) may provide an important and inexpensive, complementary data source. Currently, it is unclear how bag statistics compare with UVC. A direct comparison of these two indices is important because both are used in ungulate management. We evaluated the relationship between UVC and ungulate hunting bags across bioclimatic, regional, and local scales, using five time lags (t−3 to t+1) for the five most common wild ungulate species in Sweden. For all species, hunting bags and UVC correlated positively, but correlation strength and time lags varied across scales and among species. The two indices correlated most strongly at the local management scale. Correlation between both indices was strong for the smaller deer species and wild boar, in particular, but much weaker for moose where we found the best fit using a 2-year time lag. For the other species, indices from the same year correlated best. We argue that the reason for moose data behaving differently is that, in Sweden, moose are formally managed using a 3-year time plan, while the other species are not. Accordingly, moose hunting bags are influenced more strongly by density-independent processes than bags of the other species. Consequently, the mismatch between the two indices may generate conflicting conclusions for management depending on the method applied.