4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium Velenje, Slovenia, 5-7 November 2015

Book of Abstracts and Proceedings

http://www.huntsymposium.com/

Title:

4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium, Velenje, Slovenia, 5-7 November 2015: Book of Abstracts and Proceedings

Editors:

Katarina Flajšman, Boštjan Pokorny

Publisher:

Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, Založba Silva Slovenica, Ljubljana 2015 Slovenian Forestry Institute, The Silva Slovenica Publishing Centre, Ljubljana 2015

Year of publication:

2015

Number of copies:

100

Supported by:

The publication was supported by Life + project ManFor C.BD (ENV/IT/000078)

Izvedbo kongresa so sofinancirali ERICo Velenje, Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, Visoka šola za varstvo okolja, Lovska zveza Slovenije, Zavod za gozdove Slovenije, Mestna občina Velenje, Hotel Paka Velenje, Vectronic Aerospace, Savinjsko-Kozjanska ZLD Celje in lovska družina Oljka, Šmartno ob Paki. Organisation of the congress was co-financed by the ERICo Velenje, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Environmental Protection College, Hunters Association of Slovenia, Slovenia Forest Service, Municipality of Velenje, Hotel Paka Velenje, Vectronic Aerospace, Savinjsko-Kozjanska ZLD Celje and Hunting ground Oljka, Šmartno ob Paki.

CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana 639.1(082) INTERNATIONAL Hunting and Game Management Symposium (4; 2015; Velenje) Book of abstracts and proceedings / 4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium, Velenje, Slovenija, 5-7 November 2015; [editors Katarina Flajšman, Boštjan Pokorny]. - Ljubljana: Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, Silva Slovenica = Slovenian Forestry Institute, Silva Slovenica, 2015 ISBN 978-961-6425-99-5 1. Flajšman, Katarina 281883392

Cover photo: Marko Richter

4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

Organizing Committee Katarina Flajšman (Slovenian Forestry Institute, Slovenia) Professor Boštjan Pokorny (Institute ERICo Velenje; Environmental Protection College, Slovenia) Dr Hubert Potočnik (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia) Milena Ževart (Environmental Protection College, Slovenia) Mojca Ževart (Velenje Museum, Slovenia) Marko Jonozovič (Slovenia Forest Service, Slovenia) Srečko Žerjav (Hunters Association of Slovenia, Slovenia) Dr Dejan Beuković (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Serbia) Dr Nevena Veličković (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Serbia) Vukan Lavadinović (Balkan Wildlife Scientific Society)

Scientific Committee Mihajla Djan (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Serbia) Professor Miloš Beuković (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Serbia) Professor Zoran Popović (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Serbia) Professor Milutin Đorđević (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Serbia ) Professor Vladimir Maletić (Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Forestry, Macedonia) Professor Alen Slavica (University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Croatia) Professor Marijan Grubešić (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Croatia) Dr Nikica Šprem (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia) Professor Tihomir Florijančić (Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia) Dr John DC Linnell (Norvegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway) Professor Ladislav Paule (Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry, Slovakia) Professor Algimantas Paulauskas (Vytautas Magnus University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lithuania) Professor Ulrich Schraml (University of Freiburg, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Germany) Professor Bogusław Bobek (Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Biology, Poland) Professor Rafał Kowalczyk (Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland) Professor Bogumiła Jędrzejewska (Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland) Dr Stefano Focardi (Institute for Complex Systems, Italy) Professor András Náhlik (University of West Hungary, Faculty of Forestry, Hungary) Professor Ivan Kos (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia) Dr Hubert Potočnik (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia) Professor Klemen Jerina (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia) Professor Boštjan Pokorny (Institute ERICo Velenje; Environmental Protection College, Slovenia – Chairman) Professor

4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, 2015 930-1300 GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES Jošt Jakša

Challenges in game management from a perspective of the Slovene Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

1

Marko Jonozovič

Game management in Slovenia: Planning, harvesting, opportunities and problems

3

András Náhlik, Tamás Tari, Gyula Sándor

Hungarian big game management: Retrospective analysis and future challenges

5

Zoran Popović, Vukan Lavadinović, Dejan Beuković

Results on the management of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population in hunting ground "Barajevska reka", Serbia

7

Vladimir Maletić, Dana Dina Kolevska, Vukan Lavadinović, Dejan Beuković, Dejan Stojčevski

Real periodic population growth of grey partridge (Perdix perdix) in Macedonia

9

Klemen Jerina

Supplementary feeding of ungulates: cons and pros

11

Christine Miller, Sigmund Rohrmoser

Hunting bag analysis proves unsustainable management of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Bavaria, Germany

13

Franz Suchentrunk, Erich Klansek, Felix Knauer

Modelling population dynamics of brown hares (Lepus europaeus), hunting pressure, and hunting decisions in the agricultural landscape of eastern Austria

15

Tomáš Kušta, Michaela Holá, Miloš Ježek

Ungulate-vehicle collisions in the Czech Republic: Effect of traffic intensity and animal activity

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

1420-1600 BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE Bogusław Bobek, Jakub Furtek, Marta Wojciuch Płoskonka

Winter food and cover refuges of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in lowland forests of north-central Poland

19

Nikica Šprem, Marina Piria, Domagoj Barišić, Josip Kusak, Delko Barišić

Different food items as possible bioindicators on seasonal trend of radionuclides in large predators

21

Samar Al Sayegh Petkovšek, Boštjan Pokorny

Free-ranging ruminants and fungi: some interesting Slovene findings

23

Pavao Gančević, Klemen Jerina, Nikica Šprem

Activity patterns in introduced non-native Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) from southern Dinarides, Croatia

25

Katarina Flajšman, Tomasz Borowik, Bogumila Jędrzejewska, Boštjan Pokorny

Effects of body mass, population density and temperature on reproduction parameters of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus): review of European data

27

Ida Jelenko Turinek, Klemen Jerina, Boštjan Pokorny

Size and shape of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) mandibles: What do they tell us?

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1630-1800 GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES Matija Stergar, Boštjan Pokorny, Ida Jelenko Turinek, Viktor Miklavčič, Matej Bartol, Klemen Jerina

Optimisation of indicators in adaptive game management

31

Urška Srnec, Klemen Jerina

Optimization of sex and age structure of the annual harvest to increase economic efficiency of red deer (Cevus elaphus) management

33

Katarina Doler, Ivan Kos, Hubert Potočnik

Effect of simple mitigation measure on mowing caused mortality of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns

35

Natalija Špur, Boštjan Pokorny, Andrej Šorgo

How to solve problems with hooded crows (Corvus cornix) in urban areas: Attitudes of Slovene citizens toward mitigation measures

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 2015 900-1100 GAME GENETICS Ladislav Paule, Diana Krajmerová, Jana Bakan, Peter Klinga, Veronika Slivková

Genetic inventory of brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in Western Carpathians

39

Irma Pūraitė, Algimantas Paulauskas

Genetic diversity of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Lithuania

41

Mihajla Djan, Nevena Veličković, Milomir Stefanović, Milutin Kovačević, Milosava Matejević, Dragana Obreht Vidaković, Zoran Ristić

Genetic diversity of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Serbia as inferred from mtDNA

43

Kamila Plis, Magdalena Niedziałkowska, Bogumiła Jędrzejewska

Phylogeography of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in central and eastern Europe

45

Luboš Novák, Jarmila Matoušková, Kateřina Svobodová, Přemysl Janata, Martin Ernst

The influence of highway traffic on genetic differentiation in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in central and south Moravia (Czech Republic)

47

Franz Suchentrunk, Georgi Markov, Hichem Ben Slimen, Petar Zhelev

Conservation genetic issues for Bulgarian chamois (Rupicapra r. balcanica)

49

Milomir Stefanović, Nevena Veličković, Nada Ćosić, Duško Ćirović, Mihajla Djan

Genetic variability of northern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus roumanicus) from Serbia

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

1130-1315 DISEASES OF GAME AND HEALTH CARE + GAME NUTRITION Miloš Beuković, Dejan Beuković, Zoran Popović

The consequences of misuse of chemical products in intensive farming to the game of Serbia

53

Milutin Đorđević, Branislav Pešić, Brana Radenković Damnjanović, Dragana Despot

The role of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) in the epizootiology of Salmonella infection on pheasant (Phasanius colchicus) farm

55

Alen Slavica, Zdravko Janicki, Dean Konjević, Magda Sindičić, Krešimir Severin, Danko Dežđek, Zoran Milas

Bacterial zoonotic diseases in Croatian wild boar (Sus scrofa) population

57

Dejan Beuković, Miloš Beuković, Zoran Popović, Saša Krstović, Igor Jajić, Vukan Lavadinović

Lead and cadmium in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) liver from different hunting grounds in Vojvodina, Serbia

59

Nenad Todorov, Zoran Popović, Vukan Lavadinović

Body development and performance of the official dog race

61

1430-1620 CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS Hubert Potočnik, Ivan Kos, Aleksandra Majić Skrbinšek, Maja Jelenčič, Miha Krofel, Rok Černe, Tomaž Skrbinšek

Can high quality monitoring of »the large carnivore« be cost and awareness effective?

63

Rok Černe, Aleksandra Majić Skrbinšek, Marko Jonozovič, Miha Marenče, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Tomaž Skrbinšek

Population level approach to brown bear (Ursus arctos) management

65

Seth Wilson

Preliminary economic analysis of human-bear conflicts in Montana, USA

67

Maarten de Groot, Katarina Flajšman

Small scale effects of logging on the bird community

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

POSTERS Ivica Bošković, Tihomir Florijančić, Siniša Ozimec, Dražen Degmečić

Preliminary results on the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) reintroduction project in eastern Croatia

73

Kristijan Tomljanović, Marijan Grubešić

The consequence of damaging the bark of forest trees by big game

75

Pavla Svobodová, Jan Dvořák

Home range size and spatial activity of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the hunting area Libavá (Czech Republic)

77

Jakub Drimaj, Jaroslav Zeman, Martin Hošek, Jiří Kamler, Radim Plhal, Jan Hrbek

Start of reproduction of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Czech Republic: Why to be young mother?

79

Miloš Beuković, Zoran Popović, Dejan Beuković, Vukan Lavadinović, Nenad Đorđević

Impact of climatic factors on the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population dynamic in the Banat district

81

Miloš Ježek, Michaela Holá, Tomaš Kušta

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) and its dependence on human based food subsidies in the Czech Republic

83

Jaroslav Zeman, Jan Hrbek, Jakub Drimaj, Radim Plhal, Jiří Kamler, Tomáš Kudláček, Marta Heroldová

Methods of wild boar (Sus scrofa) diet research

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Ivan Pavlović, Dobrila Jakić-Dimić, Branislav Kureljušić, Duško Ćirović, Nemanja Jezdimirović, Đorđe Cvetojević

First occurrence of Thelazia callipaeda in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Serbia

87

Noemi Soós, Mihajla Djan, Szilvia Kusza

Advancement report on population genetic study of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in Central- and Eastern-European region

89

Dragana Šnjegota, Igor Trbojević, Nevena Veličković, Milomir Stefanović, Duško Ćirović, Mihajla Djan

Genetic variability and population structure of grey wolf (Canis lupus) from Bosnia and Herzegovina

91

Urša Vilhar, Lado Kutnar, Primož Simončič

Managing forests for multiple purposes: Carbon, biodiversity and socio-economic wellbeing (Life+ project ManFor C. BD)

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

FULL PAPERS Milutin Đorđević, Branislav Pešić, Brana Radenković Damnjanović, Dragana Despot

The role of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) in the epizootiology of Salmonella infection on pheasant (Phasanius colchicus) farm

97

Dejan Beuković, Miloš Beuković, Zoran Popović, Saša Krstović, Igor Jajić, Vukan Lavadinović

Lead and cadmium in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) liver from different hunting grounds in Vojvodina, Serbia

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome talk CHALLENGES IN GAME MANAGEMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SLOVENE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FOOD Jakša J.1

The forest is a very complex ecosystem comprising of both plant and animal component. However, the forest is much more than a simple mixture of different components; indeed, it is in a complex relationship with coexisting human, social and economic environment. Therefore, the process of management of the forest ecosystems is faced with different conflicts, and one among them are overpopulated populations of some game species (e.g. wild boar in particular). The task of the Ministry, responsible for forestry and hunting, is to align sustainable development of forest ecosystems with conservation and management of different game species, but also with interests of forest owners and other stakeholders. This is, however, a complex process of finding adequate solutions, in which both restrictions and measures must be included; these solutions must be based on the existing knowledge and the widest interests of all stakeholders. Proper management of all forest components represents a long way for all participants, and requires a much of knowledge, tolerance and patience. In this process, the science and the research activity provide the best basis for planning the measures in the way to achieve the interests of the cross-sectional set of all parts – ecosystems, individual species and the complex of human property and sociological activities.

Keywords: game management, forest ecosystem, sustainable development, coexistence

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Jakša Jošt; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food – Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries Directorate, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Jakša Jošt, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction talk GAME MANAGEMENT IN SLOVENIA: PLANNING, HARVESTING, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS Jonozovič M.1 Slovenia has a long tradition of “sustainable game management”, and game has been a state property since 1945. From the beginning of 1980s principles of game management were unified for the whole Slovenian territory in the form of a so-called "Game breeding guidelines", which were prepared and adopted within the Hunters Association of Slovenia (LZS). In 1994, game management plans for broader hunting districts, called “Hunting breeding areas – LGO”, were made for the first time. The institution for preparing these district game management plans was the Slovenia Forest Service (ZGS), which at that time began its operation as a public service, and got the jurisdiction of game management planning in Slovenia. Since 2001, there have been unified management with populations of game species, ensured through long-term (ten-years lasting) and the annual game management plans. Their provisions are implemented both on the level of game management districts as well as on the level of hunting grounds as parts of these districts. This ensures continuity of work even today, although after the adoption of the new Law on Game and Hunting in 2004 districts were renamed to “Hunting management areas – LUO” and their number and boundaries changed. Today, 15 LUOs exist in Slovenia, for which ZGS produces long-term and annual hunting management plans. Basic principles of game management in Slovenia are as follows: (i) Hunting management areas (15) are in further divided into 411 hunting grounds under concession by hunting clubs (e.g. “Hunting families” as a non-professional hunting organisations) joined in Hunters Association of Slovenia, and 12 state Hunting grounds with special purpose (professional hunting organisations) as a part of 3 public services. (ii) Game includes 24 species, 18 mammals and 6 bird species, respectively. (iii) Basis for game management is so called “control method”, therefore neither counting (censuses) of species nor determination of quality (bonuses) of hunting grounds are performed. (iv) Game management planning is two-level-based (for districts – LUOs, and for individual hunting grounds) with three different game management plans. (v) Game management plans directly and indirectly incorporate "Guidelines for the game management" made by ZGS in co-operation with hunting organizations (LZS, OZUL), some scientific/research institutions and hunting inspection. (vi) Game management is based on the integration of all proved mortality rate (cull and all losses, regardless of the source) in the realization of the management plans. (vii) Game management planning is publicly and transparently opened process, with public debates and participation of several stakeholders. The status of game species in Slovenia is in principle favourable, with some intra- and inter-species problems. At the moment, three game species – wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and hooded crow (Corvus cornix) – provoke some environmental and social conflicts, particularly due to the increasing populations trends, their spatial spreading and consequently increased damages in agricultural landscape. Growing troubles in the relationship between landowners/farmers and their interest groups toward wildlife managers and hunters bring many times unbridgeable decisions – where, what and how to plan and harvest, following the goal to reduce population numbers on a reasonable levels. Reputation and the existence of Slovenian hunting might fall right with improper management of these species. However, all this can also be the challenge and opportunity for the scientists, wildlife managers and hunters on one hand, and stakeholders beside ultimately a general public on the other hand, for intensive thinking, communication, analysis of the causes for the current situation and the searching for possible solutions in the near as well as in the distant future. Keywords: Slovenia, game management, basic principles, advantages, problems 1

Jonozovič Marko; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Jonozovič Marko, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk HUNGARIAN BIG GAME MANAGEMENT: RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES Náhlik A.1, Tari T.2, Sándor G.3

To understand the processes going on in the big game management in Hungary we analysed the statistics and legislation of the last 35 years. We give a critical analysis of the evaluation of the estimated populations’ numbers and harvest statistics and the way of planning based on those figures. We give an overview of the practice of regulation of the sex ratio and age structure and its effect on the trophy quality of the populations. The contribution also deals with the relationship between crop and forest damages and ungulates’ density. It analyses the effectiveness of different methods of protection against damages. We show in which way the regulation by legislation affects the dynamics of ungulates’ populations and consequently the extent of damages and methods used for protection. We deal with the economic aspects of the game management in Hungary. We show that the compensation paid for damages and the expenses for their prevention consist a major percent of the total expense realised in big game management. We demonstrate that keeping high population numbers often leads to the negative balance of the big game management budget and consequently to the decreased expenses paid for habitat improvement tools. The high expenses of damages and those of prevention measures as well as expenses of the mandatory employment of gamekeepers and costs of game-vehicle collisions often leads to bankruptcy of Hungarian hunting clubs. We show that the loophole from this situation is to decrease the extra expenses deriving from overpopulated big game which presume the decrease of the population numbers. This should be performed by simultaneous regulation of the age structure to maintain the trophy quality. The way of planning of big game management should be reconsidered. All these measures presume the reconsideration of the legislation of the game management by changing of recent paradigm.

Keywords: big game management, overpopulation, age structure, trophy quality, game damage

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2

3

Náhlik András, PhD, professor; University of West Hungary, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Wildlife Management and Vertebrate Zoology, Sopron, Hungary Tari Tamás, MSc; University of West Hungary, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Wildlife Management and Vertebrate Zoology, Sopron, Hungary Sándor Gyula, PhD, associate professor; University of West Hungary, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Wildlife Management and Vertebrate Zoology, Sopron, Hungary

Corresponding author: Náhlik András, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk RESULTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) POPULATION IN HUNTING GROUND “BARAJEVSKA REKA”, SERBIA Popović Z.1, Lavadinović V.2, Beuković D.3

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the most abundant wild ungulate in Serbia. However, its present abundance and degrees of population utilisation are significantly below natural potentials in the country. New hunting legislation indirectly forces all hunting grounds users to gradually convert to the market system of management. In order to realise higher financial effects from hunting ground management, they must manage the game more efficiently and on economical principles. The objective of this contribution is to show results of roe deer population management in one selected hunting ground as well as financial effects of management of roe deer population in two different periods, in which management was performed under changed legislation, i.e. under the Law on Hunting (adopted in 1993) and the Law on Game and Hunting (2010). Analysis of the results of roe deer management was conducted by comparison of several figures during the period 2003–2006 and the hunting year 2013/14 in the hunting ground “Barajevska reka”, Barajevo. The structure of roe deer population was established on the basis of spring counting of roe deer, while a roe deer hunting bag data and the value of roe deer hunting bag were taken from the management plans and from the financial statements for current year. Our findings indicate that mean roe deer density per 100 ha of productive hunting area increased from 4.46 to 7.4 individuals from the period 2003–2006 to 2013/14, respectively. In the same period, the average annual value of roe deer hunting bag increased from 4,504 to 6,587 Euros. It is followed with an increase of production value from 173.9% to 254.3%. However, it has to be taken in consideration that realized hunting bag was only 84.4% of the planned one.

Keywords: roe deer, abundance, management, production value Acknowledgement: The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, which financed these investigations within the project TR31009.

Popović Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun, Serbia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia 3 Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia 1 2

Corresponding author: Popović Zoran, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk REAL PERIODIC POPULATION GROWTH OF GREY PARTRIDGE (Perdix perdix) IN MACEDONIA Maletić V.1, Kolevska D. D.2, Lavadinović V.3, Beuković D.4, Stojčevski D.5

In wildlife management it is crucial, especially for small game, to determinate real periodic populations growth, i.e. changes in populations densities during one reproductive period (from reproduction to a hunting season). Therefore, research was conducted during the period 2007–2014 in experimental hunting ground of Faculty of Forestry from Skopje, which covers 450 ha of typical biotope for grey partridge. Data were collected through complete censuses which were conducted three times per week. Spring density (Peg), respectively a number of isolated pairs, was determined during period 15 February – 15 March, while an autumn density (Jeg) was estimated after harvesting of the most of crops and the completion of the morphological development of the raised youth, i.e. from 10 September to 10 October every year. Real periodic population growth (Rpp) was calculated as a difference between two censuses (the autumn and spring density during the same year), but it ignores adult individuals’ mortality which could occur: Rpp  Jeg  Peg

Coefficient of real periodic growth per unit of breeding stock (Krpp) was calculated as: Krpp 

Rpp Peg

For statistical analysis, SPSS software, version 17.0, was used. Dependence between variables was tested with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Mean value for real periodic population growth during observed period was 1.41 per unit of breeding stock with wide range (0.53–2.98). Correlation between spring density and coefficient of real periodic growth was low and statistically not significant (r = 0.38, p = 0.35). Such oscillation of this parameter in the same micropopulation even in two consecutive years or in two neighbouring micropopulations in the same year is a relatively common occurrence in grey partridges’ population dynamic. Reason for that is high variability of many factors which determinate a value of real periodic growth. Importantly, knowledge on value of this element of population dynamic allows determination of proper annual shooting quotas as a guarantee for a long-term sustainable utilisation of this game species. Keywords: grey partridge, growth, coefficient of growth

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Maletić Vladimir, PhD, professor; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Forestry, Skopje, Macedonia Kolevska Dana Dina, PhD, professor; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Forestry, Skopje, Macedonia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Stojčevski Dejan; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Forestry, Skopje, Macedonia

Corresponding author: Maletić Vladimir, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING OF UNGULATES: CONS AND PROS Jerina K.1

Wildlife feeding is a controversial management measure applied around the world for various purposes and numerous species. In Europe, feeding is mostly used to facilitate culling of ungulates, improve their vitality (including increasing trophies) and survival, and reduce damage to forests, agriculture and transport. However, the effectiveness of this measure is relatively poorly understood and there is a growing concern about potential negative sideeffects. The contribution presents the results of domestic studies on multifaceted impacts of feeding on red deer (Cervus elaphus) and partially on wild boar (Sus scrofa), which are based on: i) telemetry, ii) analysis of body mass and quality of trophies of culled animals, iii) food analyses, and iv) analyses of impact factors of damage to forests and agriculture, respectively. Feeding significantly impacts the spatial distribution of red deer throughout the year, in particular in winter, when red deer heavily concentrate around feeding sites. The measure probably alters their traditional behavioural patterns: it decreases both seasonal migrations and the size of home ranges. Increased winter and year-round concentrations of red deer aggravate their impacts in areas around feeding sites. Density and species diversity of regeneration increases with the distance from feeding site, and browsing decreases, which has to be considered in the positioning of feeding sites. The measure was not found to have an impact on bark stripping of young spruce stands in Slovenia. Supplemental food may be a seasonally important component of red deer diet, but its year-round proportion is rather small. Expected positive impact of feeding on body mass of red deer was not confirmed and may even be negative, which may be a consequence of increased intraspecific competition and perhaps facilitated transmission of parasites due to animal concentration around feeding sites, which counterbalances the potential positive impacts of supplemental feed. Wild boar feeding slightly increases the body mass of younger animals and has a large impact on elevated densities. Although large part of wild boar feeding is conducted to reduce damage to agriculture, our data indicates that feeding in general increased damage, probably by increasing local population densities of the species. The contribution concludes with a comprehensive overview of positive and negative economic and ecological impacts of feeding. Overall, the measure may be a useful management tool, but its application must be thoroughly planned and limited to specific circumstances. Unbridled and excessive use thereof (which is very common) may cause more harm than good.

Keywords: wildlife feeding, supplementary feeding, ungulates, red deer, wild boar

1

Jerina Klemen, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Jerina Klemen, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

HUNTING BAG ANALYSIS PROVES UNSUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CHAMOIS (Rupicapra rupicapra) IN BAVARIA, GERMANY Miller C.1, Rohrmoser S.2

Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra L.) is protected under Annex V of the EU-FFH directive. Yet, in the Alpine region of Bavaria (Germany) the indigenous chamois population is heavily hunted. Over the last 30 years hunting pressure has steadily increased. Especially in the wintering habitat of the species explicit culling programs set by the State Forestry Board have been enforced since more than 15 years. The hunting quota in the area is not based on any population related data, e.g. monitoring. Also, the age of the shot animals is not recorded in the hunting bag statistics, which does not allow reconstruction of populations’ demography during this period. While there is a circumstantial evidence that chamois population is severely depleted, the official hunting bag does not show a decline, and therefore the officially set hunting quotas are not reduced. In lack of a direct monitoring we used indirect evidence via calculating trends in proportions of hunting quota, sex ratio and ratios of young to older males in a series of hunting areas. Also trends in body masses of younger age classes were calculated to demonstrate a change in population density. These analyses show a clear over-estimation of the living population and subsequently a continuous overharvest of the chamois population in the Alpine region of Bavaria, and a marked deterioration of the natural sex and age structure of the living population. This allows demonstrating that the chamois population in Bavaria is not managed sustainably, and therefore the Bavarian hunting regulations are in breach of the EU-FFH directive. Guidelines for future hunting management of chamois in Germany are developed on the basis of the current situation.

Keywords: chamois, hunting bag, population trend, population decline

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Miller Christine, PhD; Bureau Wildlife Biology Bavaria, Rottach-Egern, Germany Rohrmoser Sigmund; Oberstdorf, Germany

Corresponding author: Christine Miller, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

MODELLING POPULATION DYNAMICS OF BROWN HARES (Lepus europaeus), HUNTING PRESSURE, AND HUNTING DECISIONS IN THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF EASTERN AUSTRIA Suchentrunk F.1, Klansek E.2, Knauer F.3

In the agricultural landscape of eastern Austria brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pall.) exhibit a remarkable variance of long-term population density and levels of annual hunting bags. We studied the role of the composition of arable land for the population dynamics of hares in the agricultural countryside of eastern Austria using linear mixed effects models and model averaging. Our models were based on areal percentages of different crops and kinds of cultivation, annual hunting bags per hunting ground, and estimates of population density in spring, in early autumn before the hunting season, and in winter after the hunting season, as obtained by standardized nocturnal spotlight counts. All data were collected in the period 2002–2012 at eleven experimental hunting grounds with low to very high hare densities. Agricultural field composition as summarized by four principal components did not have any significant effect on population density of brown hare in autumn before the hunting season, when accounting for possible (unexplored) hunting ground-specific effects (weather, predator control, diseases, road mortality, average field size etc.); only spring density had a positive effect on autumn population density. However, spring density was positively affected by previous population density in early winter after hunts and areal percentages of fields of summer crops, alfalfa, peas, and unspecified grassland during winter. It was also positively affected by low hunting pressure during the previous autumn relative to the population increase during spring and summer before hunts. Obviously, areal composition of crops and other cultivation are important only in winter for the population dynamics of brown hares. Spring density drives population dynamics, and spring density depends on the right adjustment of the hunting pressure to the previous population increase. An additional statistical comparison of two alternative models indicated that decisions on the level of the annual autumnal hunting pressure to be exerted on the populations are primarily based on the population density estimates in early autumn before hunts, rather than on the estimates of population increase relative to previous spring density.

Keywords: brown hare, population dynamics, agricultural landscape, hunting management, Austria

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Suchentrunk Franz, PhD; University of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria Klansek Erich, MSc; University of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria Knauer Felix, PhD; University of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria

Corresponding author: Suchentrunk Franz, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

UNGULATE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: EFFECT OF TRAFFIC INTENSITY AND ANIMAL ACTIVITY Kušta T.1, Holá M.2, Ježek M.3

Our study deals with a topical issue in wildlife management in the Czech Republic, i.e. increasing number of ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVCs). We used a large database of UVCs compiled by the Czech traffic police during 2011–2013, data on traffic intensity, and data of animal activity gathered from red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) individuals equipped with GPS collars. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between number of UVCs, traffic intensity and animal activity. Results indicate that the traffic intensity is not always the main factor influencing the number of UVCs. A thorough analysis of data revealed that the main peaks of UVCs occur at dusk and dawn, which directly correlates with the time when animals have the highest activity. Studies focusing on behavioural and movement patterns of ungulates should thus serve as a baseline for clarification of the causes of UVCs and subsequently enabling also their reduction.

Keywords: traffic mortality, movement patterns, GPS telemetry, traffic volume

Acknowledgment: This study was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Grant No. QJ1220314.

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Kušta Tomáš, PhD; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic Holá Michaela, MSc; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic Ježek Miloš, PhD; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Kušta Tomáš, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S1: GAME MANAGEMENT – CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk WINTER FOOD AND COVER REFUGES OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) IN LOWLAND FORESTS OF NORTH-CENTRAL POLAND Bobek B.1, Furtek J.2, Wojciuch Płoskonka M.3

We examined winter habitat selection of forest types and age classes of tree stands by roe deer and determine potential refuges for this species in part of Bory Tucholskie forest in northcentral Poland. In the study area (191 km2), habitat use was determined from snow tracking in February 2014 and 2015 on line transects (length 66.9 km), where we determined the number of animals that crossed these transects, their locations related to forest types (n = 7), and age classes of tree stands (n = 5). Significant preferences by roe deer were for mesic mixed coniferous forests, tree stands aged from 11–20 years, and tree stands aged from 41–60 years, respectively. Habitat preferences were associated with higher food reserves, better thermal and hiding cover and food habits of roe deer. The patches of forest types and age classes of tree stands preferred by roe deer, which overlapped on digital maps, were treated as refuges. Refuges for roe deer (n = 17) occupied 20.7 km2, i.e. 10.8% of the study area. Determining of winter refuges may be important to exclude the use of hiking/cross country skiing trails in the winter season, as well as to design changes in the distribution of drive hunt areas.

Keywords: forest types, age class of tree stands, habitat selection index, refuge areas, snow tracks

Bobek Bogusław, PhD, professor; Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Biology, Kraków, Poland Furtek Jakub, PhD; Polish Wildlife Foundation, Kraków, Poland 3 Wojciuch Płoskonka Marta, PhD; Polish Wildlife Foundation, Kraków, Poland 1 2

Corresponding author: Bobek Bogusław, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AS POSSIBILE BIOINDICATORS ON SEASONAL TREND OF RADIONUCLIDES IN LARGE PREDATORS Šprem N.1, Piria M.2, Barišić D.3, Kusak J.4, Barišić D.5

Bioaccumulation of radionuclides in terrestrial food-web has been recorded all over the Europe, most of all with 137Cs after the Chernobyl accident in 1986, which is the main anthropogenic environmental contaminant threat and can pose a public health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate 137Cs and 40K load in large predators in the mountain forest region of Gorski Kotar, Croatia, a quarter of century after the Chernobyl accident. 137Cs and 40K activities were determined by the gamma-spectrometric method in 47 brown bears (Ursos arctos), 7 wolves (Canis lupus) and 1 lynx (Lynx lynx) meat samples. Moreover, 63 samples of different food items for the studied carnivore species as well as 27 soil samples were collected in the study area as well. All loads of 137Cs in analysed samples were found at levels significantly below the statutory values of 600 Bqkg-1. The highest caesium concentration in brown bear was detected in a 5-year old male (body mass of 168 kg), culled on 19 April 2013 (132  13.8 Bqkg-1), and the lowest in 10-year old male (body mass of 209 kg), culled on 15 April 2013 (0.937  0.602 Bqkg-1). It was demonstrated that caesium concentration in brown bears appeared to be higher in spring then in autumn/winter season. Effective decade half-time calculated for brown bears in analysed interval from 2012 to 2014 was 3.649 years. Caesium concentration in seven wolves’ samples varied between 0.225 Bqkg-1 and 22.2 Bqkg-1, with the highest activities recorded in two wolves’ puppies. The highest caesium concentration (153  15.9 Bqkg-1) of all large predator samples was detected in 2-year old female lynx (body mass of 12.5 kg), killed in road accident on 13 October 2013. A wood hedgehog (Hydnum repandum), with a 137Cs load ranged between 21.7 and 562 Bqkg-1, seems to be the best bioindicator mushroom species considering caesium pollution. Among plant species, blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) represent a food item with potentially higher caesium uptake (228 Bqkg-1) for brown bears in our studied area. Transfer factor TF “soil to food items” expressed as a percentage for caesium and potassium ranged from 0.002 to 5.166 and from 0.443 to 5.865, respectively. Intensive consumption of some mushrooms and berries may be a significant source of caesium ingestion by brown bear in the Gorski Kotar region. However, further investigation is necessary to better illuminate the issue of radionuclide pollution and to determine the dominant sources of caesium for other large predator species. Keywords: 137Cs, 40K, Ursus arctos, Canis lupus, Lynx lynx, mountain forest ecosystem 1

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Šprem Nikica, PhD, assistant professor; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia Piria Marina, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia Barišić Domagoj; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia Kusak Josip, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Department of Biology, Zagreb, Croatia Barišić Delko, PhD; Laboratory for Radioecology, Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Corresponding author: Šprem Nikica, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

FREE-RANGING RUMINANTS AND FUNGI: SOME INTERESTING SLOVENE FINDINGS Al Sayegh Petkovšek S.1, Pokorny B.2

Fruiting bodies of macromycetes (higher fungi) represent highly concentrated sources of both proteins and phosphorus; they are easily digestible for ruminants and accelerate digestibility of lignified and cellulosed food compartments. Therefore, they are seasonally (particularly in summer and autumn) important food source in the nutrition of free-ranging ruminants. On the other hand, many fungi species have the ability to absorb and accumulate metals in their fruiting bodies. Consequently, the ingestion of fruiting bodies can contribute to high intake of metals in tissues of consumers. Several studies regarding free-ranging ruminants and fungi were performed in Slovenia in the last decade, with the aims of: (i) confirming that ingestion of fungi is one of the main reasons for the pronounced summer-autumnal peak of heavy metals in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) kidney; (ii) providing lacking data on the presence of different fungal species in the nutrition of roe deer, red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra); (iii) comparing frequency and species composition of fungal spores in faeces of different ruminant species; (iv) understanding scraping activities of roe deer in forested habitats in early spring in relation with searching for hypogenous fungi (deer truffles). On the basis of chemical analyses of metals’ content in kidney and faeces of roe deer, microscopic examination of faeces, and field inspection of scrapes made by roe deer, the following findings were found: (i) Fruiting bodies of fungi represent an important seasonal source of mercury (Hg) for roe deer. (ii) Fruiting bodies are a seasonally important food source for free-ranging ruminants, especially for the concentrate selectors (roe deer, chamois); indeed, fungal spores were found in 91% (roe deer), 50% (red deer), 66% (fallow deer) and 92% (chamois) samples of faeces, collected in the late summer and early autumn. (iii) In forested habitats, a high frequency of deer truffles at the places of scrapes indicates that intensive scraping of roe deer in early spring may be due to searching of animals for deer truffles as an alternative food source rather than due to a marking behaviour of the species.

Keywords: free-ranging ruminants, ingestion of fungi, faeces, scraping of roe deer, deer truffles

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Al Sayegh Petkovšek Samar, PhD, assistant professor; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation, Velenje, Slovenia Pokorny Boštjan, PhD, professor; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation; Environmental Protection College, Velenje, Slovenia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Al Sayegh Petkovšek Samar, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN INTRODUCED NON-NATIVE BARBARY SHEEP (Ammotragus lervia) FROM SOUTHERN DINARIDES, CROATIA Gančević P.1, Jerina K.2, Šprem N.3

During 2002, five Barbary sheep (three females and two males) of unknown origin were illegally released in the southern Dinaric region of Croatia (Mosor mountain; 1339 m a.s.l.). The current population size is estimated to be at around 210 animals with an increasing tendency. Daily activity rhythms of ungulates are strongly affected by a range of biotic and abiotic factors. During warm periods, mountain ungulates living in open areas typically show a bimodal activity pattern, with peaks at dawn and dusk. To date, however, little is known about the activity patterns of free-ranging non-native Barbary sheep in areas where large predators (wolves) are present. Using ten camera-traps over a 2-month period between mid-May and mid-July 2015, we therefore investigated the activity patterns of Barbary sheep in different locations and altitudes in three types of habitats (forests, rocks and bushes). Moreover, on 11 March 2015 two individuals (male and female) were caught in the net and tagged with GPS-GSM collars. GPS collars were set to record a position every full hour, 24-hours per day. On the basis of camera-trapping (e.g. number of individuals filmed) the daily dynamics of Barbary sheep were the highest in two periods, in the morning between 5:00 am and 7:00 am and in the evening between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm (with an average of 1.8 individuals per photo). The success rates in camera-trapping suggested significant differences in Barbary sheep activity patterns among habitat types; the highest activity was at elevation of 679 m in rocky habitat, while no activity was recorded at elevation of 357 m in the bush habitat. GPScollared female (4 years old) was killed by the wolves at night (23:45) on 22 March 2015, just 11 days after GPS-tagging. Therefore, we did not analyse its GPS data. The male (3 years old) average daily sum of travelled distances was only 1.61 km. Its circa diurnal locomotion activity typically exhibits two pronounced peaks, the first one in the morning (around 6:00 am) and the second one in the evening (between 20:00 and 22:00 pm). Barbary sheep exhibits typical bimodal pattern (with two peaks) of activity that had been previously also described in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Although our study is based on a small number of animals, it represents one of the first GPS-studies on a free-ranging Barbary sheep. However, further investigations are necessary to better illuminate activity pattern and spatial behaviour of this alien species. Keywords: Barbary sheep, camera-traps, GPS telemetry, mountain, ungulate, activity, Croatia

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Gančević Pavao; Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Jerina Klemen, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia Šprem Nikica, PhD, assistant professor; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia

Corresponding author: Šprem Nikica, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

EFFECTS OF BODY MASS, POPULATION DENSITY AND TEMPERATURE ON REPRODUCTION PARAMETERS OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus): REVIEW OF EUROPEAN DATA Flajšman K.1, Borowik T.2, Jędrzejewska B.3, Pokorny B.4

Throughout Europe, roe deer inhabits wide range of habitats with various climatic conditions, therefore the differences in reproductive potential of females among populations are expected. The aim of the study was to determine biogeographic variation in roe deer reproductive potential in Europe and to find general patterns in reproduction parameters of roe deer, based on the data from different parts of species distribution range. We collected published data on roe deer reproduction parameters (percentage of pregnant females, number of corpora lutea and number of embryos per reproductive doe) from 62 locations, spread over 15 different European countries. Where the age of roe deer females was given, we divided data into two age categories, i.e. subadults (or yearlings, 12 to 24 months old) and adults (does, older than 24 months), respectively. To analyse the effects of body mass, population density and mean July temperature on female fertility and litter size, linear mixed-effect model framework was used. Roe deer population density varied remarkably among study sites (4.5–73.5 individuals/km2). Average dressed body mass of adult females varied from 12.1 to 22.4 kg, while yearlings weighted from 12.2 to 20.9 kg. Roe deer females expressed high reproductive potential, which was more variable in subadults compared to adults. The proportion of fertile females was lower in yearlings (76.7 ± 3.5%) than in adults (88.4 ± 1.7%). Average number of corpora lutea/embryos per yearling equalled 1.6 ± 0.1, and 2.0 ± 0.0 per adult does, respectively. Fertility of subadult and adult females was positively correlated with summer temperature, and negatively with population density. Body mass of does tended to be positively associated with female fertility. As expected, population density had a negative effect on a percentage of breeding females, however this was proved only for adult does. In contrast to fertility, increasing summer temperature had a negative effect on the (potential) litter size, i.e. either number of corpora lutea or number of embryos per reproductive doe. Independently of the female age, litter size increased with growing body mass and decreases with increasing population density.

Keywords: roe deer, biogeography, reproduction, fertility, corpora lutea, embryos, litter size

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Flajšman Katarina; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Borowik Tomasz, PhD; Mammal Research Institute, Białowieża, Poland Jędrzejewska Bogumiła, PhD, professor; Mammal Research Institute, Białowieża, Poland Pokorny Boštjan, PhD, professor; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation; Environmental Protection College, Velenje, Slovenia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Flajšman Katarina, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

SIZE AND SHAPE OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) MANDIBLES: WHAT DO THEY TELL US? Jelenko Turinek I.1, Jerina K.2, Pokorny B.3

The size (length) of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) mandibles has been identified as a very useful tool for the management of populations of this species, while the growth of the mandible is very rapid in the first year of the animal’s life and the genetic influence on its development is not important. On the other hand, the shape of the mandible is sometimes regarded as a useful tool for post-mortem determination of gender of this species. Due to specific and well-organised game management system in Slovenia, in which left hemimandibles of all harvested ungulates must be taken, prepared and signed by hunters for different purposes, we managed to establish a unique collection of >100,000 mandibles of free-ranging ungulates either shot or found dead in the period 2007–2014. For the purposes of this study, we used 13,303 properly labelled mandibles of juvenile roe deer, i.e. 8,117 of fawns and 5,186 of yearlings, culled in all Slovene hunting grounds in 2007. A length of all mandibles was measured by measuring tape on a nearest mm. To determine the influence of environmental factors (22) on mandible size bivariate and multivariate statistics were used. For determining differences in mandible shape between genders, we used 103 mandibles of adult males and females, culled in the period 2004–2010 in hunting ground Oljka, Šmartno ob Paki (central Slovenia). In this sample set, 25 different characters of mandibles were measured either by measuring tape or by the calliper. Size (length) of roe deer mandibles could be used as a very relevant indicator of the quality of roe deer habitat. Indeed, multivariate statistics revealed that in Slovenia 6 environmental factors have the main influences on the mandible size of roe deer. These factors mainly indicate the quality and the abundance of food resources (the share of cultivated land, the share of meadows, the share of deciduous trees in forests, the length of the forest edge) as well as climate conditions (average annual precipitations), respectively. Important influential factor affecting the size of roe deer is also the population density of a sympatric species, the red deer (Cervus elaphus). Both macroscopic examination and statistical analysis of different parameters of roe deer mandible shape clearly show that post-mortem determination of the gender is impossible in this species, since none of measured or observed morphometric characters defines differences between both sexes precisely enough.

Keywords: roe deer, mandible size, mandible shape, environmental factors, gender

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Jelenko Turinek Ida, PhD; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research and Industrial Cooperation, Velenje, Slovenia Jerina Klemen, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia Pokorny Boštjan, PhD, professor; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation; Environmental Protection College, Velenje, Slovenia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Jelenko Turinek Ida, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S2: BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF WILDLIFE __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

OPTIMISATION OF INDICATORS IN ADAPTIVE GAME MANAGEMENT Stergar M.1, Pokorny B.2, Jelenko Turinek I.3, Miklavčič V.4, Bartol M.5, Jerina K.6

Adaptive game management is commonly based upon monitoring of biological and environmental indicators with the aim to evaluate whether the population is approaching the habitat carrying capacity. Despite a long tradition of adaptive management in Slovenia, responses of applied indicators (body mass, mass of antlers, browsing damage, etc.) to changes of population densities have not been yet evaluated. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to evaluate such responses for four ungulate species, e.g. roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). We examined indicators that are currently used in Slovenia and also those that are commonly used around the world. Three complementary approaches were applied: (1) study of responses of indicators on temporal changes in the population densities of selected ungulate species, i.e. on the basis of long-time historical series of data in two large hunting grounds; (2) study of spatial variability of indicators based on culling data in the entire Slovenia gathered during a short period of time; (3) meta-analysis of data published in the literature. Synthesis of the most important results and conclusions for each species are as follows:  Roe deer. Neither currently used indicators (body mass, antler mass) nor other potential indicators (e.g. jaw length, offspring sex ratio) are reliable for detecting changes of population density. Therefore, we suggest the use of a method for estimating the relative population density (kilometric index or pellet group counts).  Red deer. Body mass of juvenile red deer is reliable indicator of larger changes of population density. The jaw length and the female fertility are also relatively reliable indicators, but their cost/benefit ratio does not justify their introduction to Slovenia for regular game management purposes.  Wild boar. Body mass of (particularly juvenile) females is reliable predictor of the future population increment. The extent of damage in agriculture determines the socio-economic capacity for wild boar.  Chamois. Currently used indicators are unreliable for monitoring of population trends. We advise the introduction of kilometric index as an indicator of relative population density. Presence of sarcoptic mange should further be used as an indicator of upper tolerable limit of the population growth. Keywords: adaptive management, indicators, roe deer, red deer, wild boar, chamois 1 2

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Stergar Matija; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia Pokorny Boštjan, PhD, professor; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation; Environmental Protection College, Velenje, Slovenia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jelenko Turinek Ida, PhD; ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation, Velenje, Slovenia Miklavčič Viktor; Slovenia Forest Service, Litija, Slovenia Bartol Matej; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jerina Klemen, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Stergar Matija, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

OPTIMIZATION OF SEX AND AGE STRUCTURE OF THE ANNUAL HARVEST TO INCREASE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF RED DEER (Cevus elaphus) MANAGEMENT Srnec U.1, Jerina K.2

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the main game species in many parts of Europe, some parts of Africa, Asia and in New Zealand. Red deer is also the third most widespread species of ungulates in Slovenia. Since the economic objective of game management planning in Slovenia is not a priority it is understandable that also economic efficiency of game management is poorly understood. Similarly holds true also for the entire European and world scale. This study is the first in Slovenia that explores the economics of the red deer management in the sense of maximizing of permanent income from the annual harvest. Firstly we used four different methods to reconstruct demography of a population of red deer in Slovenia (abundance, sex and age structure) using data from entire country; afterwards, we calculated age- and sex-specific non-hunting mortality that was also used for further analysis. Estimated sex- and age-specific probabilities of survival have major influence on calculated values of meat, trophies and total value of the animal up to a given age (and of each sex), and hence also on economic sense of preserving animals up to a certain age for the purpose of a cull. The main purpose of the study was to estimate how different age and sex structures of red deer populations (within the same density) influence financial outcome of the red deer management. We financially valorised different combinations of harvest scenarios and identified which combinations permanently maximize harvest incomes. We concluded that current strategy of red deer management could be considerably financially improved; according to our estimates it would be possible to almost permanently double the value of the annual harvest by altering sex and age structure of culled animals. It is noteworthy that the increased economic efficiency could be attained without increasing the abundance of the population, without major interference with the viability of the population and therefore presumably also without notable changes of the population's influence on the environment. Study utilised huge amount of domestic data gathered in the whole country, thus the robustness of our results is likely very high.

Keywords: red deer, economic efficiency of the management, sex and age structure, meat and trophy value, non-hunting mortality

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Srnec Urška, MSc; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries Directorate, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jerina Klemen, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Srnec Urška, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

EFFECT OF SIMPLE MITIGATION MEASURE ON MOWING CAUSED MORTALITY OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) FAWNS Doler K.1, Kos I.2, Potočnik H.3

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is the most abundant cervid species occurring in most of Europe. It has a high economic, cultural, and ecological importance. Its habitat requirements are flexible and it is found in a wide variety of environments. It is considered to be adapted to forest habitats of early successions. Besides red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation, mowing is among the most important mortality factors of roe deer fawns in predominant agricultural areas. Hay-fields prior to cutting represent popular bedding habitat for roe deer fawns. They are known as “hiders” and lie hidden in seclusion for most of the time during their first two months of life. In that period they are frequently killed during mechanised hay cutting every year. Two studies were carried out in six study areas with typical mosaic-like structure of agricultural land and forest patches in Slovenia. Total of 525 farms on 209 km2 and with 3.167 ha of hay-fields were included into analyses. We collected data on land use, altitude and type of cutting for every single farm. In the first study, a set of 100 farms were included in the experiment, in which simple scaring devices were used in order to decrease the mortality rate of roe deer fawns due to mowing. The scaring devices consisted of a black sack attached to a 1.80 m long pole. During the experiment 13 roe deer fawns were killed by mowers, twelve of them by tractor mowers and one by a sickle mower. The highest rate of mortality was perceived in the beginning and in the middle of June, that is 4.5 killed fawns per 100 ha of hay fields. The control group suffered a loss of 3.5 fawns per 100 ha of mowed meadows, while the experimental group suffered a loss of 2.0 fawns per 100 ha. In the second study, a questionnaire was carried out in a set of 425 farms after the first mowing in a season. On the basis of answers, we recorded 81 fawns that had been killed during mowing. The mowing caused mortality ranged from one fawn per 77 ha of hay-fields to one fawn per 17 ha (on average 1 fawns/35 ha). Mowing mortality thus appears as a considerable roe deer mortality factor in a major part of Slovenia. It seems that simple scaring devices decrease the mortality rate of roe deer fawns, but to a lesser degree than expected. The extent of mowing mortality suggests its strong impact on roe deer population demography, therefore mitigation measures against such mortality should not be neglected in game management actions.

Keywords: roe deer, mowing caused mortality, scaring devices, fawns, demography, game management

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Doler Katarina; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Kos Ivan, PhD professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Potočnik Hubert, PhD; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author:, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WITH HOODED CROWS (Corvus cornix) IN URBAN AREAS: ATTITUDES OF SLOVENE CITIZENS TOWARD MITIGATION MEASURES Špur N.1, Pokorny B.2, Šorgo A.3

The population of hooded crows (Corvus cornix) in Slovenia has significantly increased in past years, and several conflicts between inhabitants and crows in both rural and urban environment were reported recently. Therefore, with an online survey we tried to found out what are public opinions about coexistence of crows and humans and toward suggested actions for management of populations of crows, what are their emotions about crows, and which (if any) negative experiences they had with crows. 1042 respondents completed the whole survey in January and February 2015. We carried out descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, multiple regression and calculated effect sizes. The reliability of data of survey scales were checked by calculation of Cronbach alpha coefficients. The results of survey would serve as a basis for the selection of management actions toward crow population that would be acceptable by public. Revealed from results of the survey, the majority of respondents are interested in problems with crows. On the other side, however, most respondents do not agree with suppression of crows without limitations. The most acceptable management actions are shooting adult crows in agricultural areas and in nature, and persecution of crows from towns/cities by help of domesticated birds of prey (i. e. falconry). The majority of respondents believe that people are at fault for problems, caused by crows, and they want to know more about relations between crows and humans. The most frequent negative experiences that people have already had with crows are two nonaggressive experiences, observing crows: (i) during eating fruits and consequently provoking some economical loss, and (ii) during ripping garbage bags and consequently making some aesthetical problems. The majority of respondents wish to solve problems we have with crows, but they can neither decide for just one action nor support any of them very strongly. Negative experiences that respondents had with crows in the past have the most frequent impact on opinions about need for and acceptance of management actions toward crows.

Keywords: crows, hooded crow, problems, management, actions, opinions.

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Špur Natalija, University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Maribor, Slovenia Pokorny Boštjan, PhD, professor, ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation; Environmental Protection College, Velenje, Slovenia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Šorgo Andrej, PhD, professor, University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Maribor, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Špur Natalija, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S3: GAME MANAGEMENT – SOME RECENT SLOVENE CHALLENGES __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk GENETIC INVENTORY OF BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) POPULATION IN WESTERN CARPATHIANS Paule L.1, Krajmerová D.2, Bakan J.3, Klinga P.4, Slivková V.5

Population size and sex ratio estimates are the most important characteristics for decision on the management of any wildlife population. Despite their importance they are not easy to estimate. The best option for wildlife populations is to use the non-invasive sampling of faeces and genetic typing of samples. The Capture-Mark-Recapture (C-M-R) procedures enable us to estimate the population size. During the past 50 years the brown bear population size estimates in Slovakia were done on census numbers of individual hunting units. During the first 25 years they were corrected regarding the possible overlap of neighboring hunting units, while after 1990 they represented the sum of numbers in individual units. This procedure led to overestimation, and according to the hunting statistic the population size was over 2000 individuals, while the expert estimates were between 700 and 900 individuals. The State Nature Conservancy initiated in 2013 a project „Research and monitoring of large carnivores and wild cat populations in Slovakia“, financed by the Operational Program Environment of the EU. Within this project we participated in the activity „Estimation of population size of free living animals using the genetic analysis of non-invasive faeces samples“. Sampling of faeces was carried out in two autumn sampling seasons (2013 and 2014). For genotyping, a set of 12 nuclear microsatellites and one sex primer (SRY) were used. For statistical evaluation the C-M-R procedure and simulation procedures were used. During two seasons, 2734 faeces samples, 85 tissue samples of culled individuals or individuals killed at road accidents and 89 samples from adjacent territories in Poland (Tatras and Bieszczady) were collected. The isolation success rate was 53.5% for non-invasive samples. This figure varied in different regions because the first sampling season (in 2013) was very dry. The number of unique brown bear genotypes for Slovakia was estimated to be 1060, while the detailed estimates using the C-M-R procedures require more simulations.

Keywords: Ursus arctos, genetic inventory, population size, Western Carpathians

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Paule Ladislav, PhD, professor; Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovakia Krajmerová Diana, PhD; Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovakia Bakan Jana, PhD; Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovakia Klinga Peter, PhD; Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovakia Slivková Veronika, MSc; Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Zvolen, Slovakia

Corresponding author: Paule Ladislav, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk GENETIC DIVERSITY OF THE SIKA DEER (Cervus nippon) IN LITHUANIA Pūraitė I.1, Paulauskas A.2

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) is considered to be an invasive species in Europe. The main problem that the European free-living sika deer pose is damage to forests as well as hybridisation with the local red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic diversity of the sika deer and the red deer in Lithuania. 30 individuals of sika deer from enclosures and 33 hunted free-ranging red deer were studied by using tissue samples. Genotyping was based on seven microsatellites loci (STR) of nuclear DNA. The STR loci were variable, with 1 to 17 alleles and higher than intermediate values of heterozygosity (sika deer: Ho = 0.695, He = 0.694; red deer: Ho = 0.626, He = 0.624). Inbreeding coefficient (Fis) and probability of significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P) ranged between -0.229 and 0.205 (mean = - 0.025, SE = 0.093). The PCoA analysis showed that the sika deer samples differed from the red deer samples; however, two red deer individuals from the free-ranging population (harvested in Panevėžys and Ukmergė regions) which mixed with the individuals of the sika deer were identified. According to the phenotype, these animals were attributed to the red deer; however, according to a fixed genotype, they were closer to the sika deer. Moreover, three sika deer individuals mixed in a 2D space with the red deer individuals. Therefore, it can be concluded that population of freeranging red deer in Lithuania contains also the hybrids between the red deer and the sika deer.

Key words: Cervus nippon, Cervus elaphus, sika deer, red deer, genetic diversity, microsatellites

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Pūraitė Irma; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania Paulauskas Algimantas, PhD, professor; Vytautas Magnus University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

Corresponding author: Paulauskas Algimantas, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk GENETIC DIVERSITY OF EUROPEAN ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) FROM SERBIA AS INFERRED FROM mtDNA Djan M.1, Veličković N.2, Stefanović M.3, Kovačević M.4, Matejević M.5, Obreht Vidaković D.6, Ristić Z.7

Roe deer represents one of the most popular game species in Serbia. During the last century, roe deer populations in Europe passed to local extinctions, reintroductions and translocations. These human-induced events may have great influence on their genetic diversity. The main aim of this study was characterization of genetic diversity of roe deer populations from Serbia based on mtDNA sequences. Partial fragment of mtDNA control region was amplified and sequenced for 16 roe deer individuals from Vojvodina, in addition to 178 previously published roe deer sequences from Serbia. In total, 23 haplotypes were detected based on 24 polymorphic sites. Haplotype diversity was Hd = 0.921±0.007, nucleotide diversity π = 0.014 and average number of pairwise differences k = 5.292. Population expansion model was supported based on the insignificant SSD value (SSD = 0.019; p = 0.17). Even though neutrality tests yielded non-significant results, the majority of them showed negative values further supporting population expansion model (Fu’s Fs = -1.245, p = 0.45; Tajima’s D = 0.795, p > 0.1; Fu and Li’s D = -0.746, p > 0.1; Fu and Li’s F = -0.214, p > 0.1). Our results indicate high level of genetic diversity present in roe deer populations in Serbia, and future management plans should be narrowed to maintain this level of genetic variability. Genetic signal of expansion indicates population fluctuations. In order to define management units for roe deer populations in Serbia nuclear molecular markers should be employed.

Keywords: genetic variability, Capreolus capreolus, mtDNA sequences, population expansion, Serbia

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Djan Mihajla, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Veličković Nevena, PhD, assistant professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Stefanović Milomir, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Kovačević Milutin, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad, Serbia Matejević Milosava, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad, Serbia Obreht Vidaković Dragana, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Ristić Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad, Serbia

Corresponding author: Mihajla Djan, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF ROE DEER (Capreolus capreolus) IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE Plis K.1, Niedziałkowska M.2, Jędrzejewska B.3

Phylogenetic studies on European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus.) have so far covered southern, western and south-eastern parts of Europe. Three major mtDNA lineages (western, central and eastern) were recognized. They probably originated from three different glacial refugia located in south-western and south-eastern Europe. However, studies on phylogeography of roe deer in the northern, central and eastern parts of the continent are very scarce. In our study, we analysed samples collected in the central-eastern part of the species ranges: from northern Scandinavia to the Balkans and from western Poland to eastern regions of the European part of Russia. In total, we found 66 haplotypes among over 400 samples analysed. Most of mtDNA haplotypes (54) belonged to European roe deer, and they mainly clustered with the central lineage of the species (44). Six haplotypes clustered with the eastern lineage, three with the western one, and one (found in Poland and Belarus) was genetically very distinct from all lineages known from previous studies. Additionally, the presence of 9 mtDNA haplotypes of Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) was discovered. They were present in Poland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary.

Keywords: mtDNA, hybridization, mtDNA haplotype, Siberian roe deer

1 2 3

Plis Kamila; Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland Niedziałkowska Magdalena, PhD; Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland Jędrzejewska Bogumiła, PhD, professor; Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland

Corresponding author: Kamila Plis, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

THE INFLUENCE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ON GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION IN BROWN HARE (Lepus europaeus) POPULATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH MORAVIA (CZECH REPUBLIC) Novák L.1, Matoušková J.2, Svobodová K.3, Janata P.4, Ernst M.5

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of highway traffic on genetic structure of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in central and south Moravia, the part of the Czech Republic. For this purpose, highways D1 and D2 and the expressway R46 were selected. Since they are not fenced, there are numerous car collisions with animals, including the brown hares. Thus these pathways adversely affect the size of populations and may act as a partial migration barrier. We collected 213 samples of brown hare from 11 sites located along pathways, namely from Náměšť na Hané (NH), Žabčice (Zb), Žatčany (Zt), Sokolnice (Sk), Rajhrad (Rj), Pivín (Pv), Otaslavice (Ot), Vrchoslavice (Vr), Ivaň (Iv), Kojetín (Kj) and Moravský Žižkov (MZ). DNA was isolated by the Genomic DNA MiniKit Tissue GENEAID. Microsatellite analysis was selected to determine genetic structure of populations. The total of 10 microsatellites were analysed (Lsa1, Lsa2, Lsa3, Lsa6, Lsa8, Sat2, Sat5, Sat8, Sat12, SOL08). Microsatellite markers were analysed by the ABI PRISM 310 (Life Technologies) genetic analyser. Fragmentation analysis was evaluated by the GeneScan 3.7 and Genotyper 3.7 (Life Technologies). Geneland software was used to estimate the real brown hare (sub)populations and to calculate F-statistics (iterat.: 100,000; thinning: 100; allele frequency model: correlated). The total of five brown hare subpopulations were defined: 1 – Zt, Sk; 2 – NH, Pv, Vr, Iv, Kj; 3 – Zb, MZ; 4 – Rj; and 5 – Ot, respectively. Subpopulations 1, 2, 3 and 5 show high values of inbreeding (FIS = 0.16-0.20), which may indicate advanced inbreeding. Coefficients FST varied between 0.01 and 0.03, indicating very low differences among subpopulations. However, even these low differences among groups can prove the existence of partly migration barriers, especially in cases where borders of subpopulations correspond to the existence of pathways between these subpopulations. This suggests that highways D1 and D2 and the expressway R46 cause gene flow limitation, which leads to differentiation of subpopulations.

Keywords: brown hare, population genetics, microsatellite analysis, highway traffic, diversity

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Novák Luboš, MSc; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Matoušková Jarmila; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Svobodová Kateřina, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Janata Přemysl, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Ernst Martin, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Novák Luboš, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S4: GAME GENETICS __________________________________________________________________________________

CONSERVATION GENETIC ISSUES FOR BULGARIAN CHAMOIS (Rupicapra r. balcanica) Suchentrunk F.1, Markov G.2, Ben Slimen H.3, Zhelev P.4

Chamois (Rupicapra r. balcanica) are protected by law in Bulgaria and the Conservation Action Plan recommends to assess their genetic diversity, level of inbreeding, and extent of introgression by Alpine chamois (R. r. rupicapra) that were released in the last century in the Rhodope Mountains. A total of 81 chamois tissue samples collected in 2009–2013 at the „Izvora State Hunting Reserve” (ISHR) in the western Rhodopes, a major source population for chamois translocations in Bulgaria, was genotyped for allelic variability at twelve micorsatellite loci, and compared to genotypes of 135 chamois (R. r. rupicapra) from six populations in the Austrian Alps. Genetic variability was significantly lower in the ISHR population than in the Alpine populations. A significant bottleneck signal was obtained for the ISHR population, but no pronounced inbreeding due to non-random mating. F-statistics, Cavalli-Sforza-Edwards distances, Bayesian STRUCTURE and assignment analyses, as well as a factorial correspondence analysis concordantly indicated distinct genetic differences between the ISHR population and all Austrian chamois, concordant with their subspecific classification. Some few ISHR chamois displayed possible signals of introgression by Alpine chamois; however, applying more molecular markers should help to ascertain or refute that interpretation. Coalescence theory-based (ONeSAMP) estimates revealed a low effective population size (Ne) of ca. 50 chamois for the ISHR population. A reduction of yearly shooting quotas, a reinforcement of poaching control and introductions of chamois from other Bulgarian populations might help to increase its Ne and thus prevent further loss of genetic variability. The genetic screening should be extended to other Bulgarian populations, particularly to those where Alpine chamois were released in the past; and it should accompany all translocations, to prevent dissemination of chamois by Alpine genes.

Keywords: chamois, Bulgaria, microsatellites, effective population size, genetics

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Suchentrunk Franz, PhD; University of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria Markov Georgi, PhD, professor; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Slimen Hichem Ben, PhD; University of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria; UR Génomique des Insectes Ravageurs des Cultures d´Intérêt Agronomique (GIRC), El-Manar, Tunisia Zhelev Petar, PhD, professor; University of Forestry, Kliment Ochridsky, Sofia, Macedonia

Corresponding author: Suchentrunk Franz, e-mail: [email protected]

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GENETIC VARIABILITY OF NORTHERN WHITE-BREASTED HEDGEHOGS (Erinaceus roumanicus) FROM SERBIA Stefanović M.1, Veličković N.2, Ćosić N.3, Ćirović D.4, Djan M.5

Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) is a small mammal distributed in the eastern Europe and Ponto-Mediterranean region. Even though there is no evident population decline throughout its range, some studies indicated higher mortality due to the frequent road fatalities and possible lack of gene flow in populations distributed in habitats surrounded by roads. Since genetic variability underpins a populations long-term potential for survival and adaptation, the aim of this study was to estimate genetic diversity in E. roumanicus populations from Serbia. Partial fragment of mt DNA control region was amplified and sequenced for 74 road killed individuals. In total, 12 haplotypes were detected with haplotype diversity Hd = 0.827±0.001, nucleotide diversity π = 0.0036 and average number of nucleotide differences k = 1.490. Spatial clustering of individuals based on the mtDNA variability indicated presence of three groups named approximately after sampling localities as Eastern (E), south-central (SC) and southwestern-western-central (SWC) group, with haplotype and nucleotide diversity as follows: Hd = 0.733±0.024, π = 0.0034; Hd = 0.897±0.003, π = 0.0045; Hd = 0.725±0.002, π = 0.0030, respectively. AMOVA further supported genetic differentiation (FST = 0.148, p = 0.002), even though the most of the variability is due to the within group variation. Eastern group showed higher genetic differentiation (E-SWC FST = 0.221; E-SC FST = 0.192), while FST value between SC and SWC was 0.106. No shared haplotypes were found between E and two other groups, in contrast to 5 shared of 7 detected in both SC and SWC groups. Mismatch distribution was unimodal, with insignificant SSD values supporting a pattern of demographic expansion, while none of the neutrality tests (Fu’s Fs and Tajima’s D) was significant, but both yielded negative values, except for the group E. The results of this study indicate a moderate genetic diversity and signal of population expansion in E. roumanicus from Serbia, as well as possible influence of European route E-75 in differentiation of E group. More comprehensive sampling and further genetic monitoring with additional molecular markers are suggested.

Keywords: E. roumanicus, genetic variability, mtDNA, Serbia

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Stefanović Milomir, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Veličković Nevena, PhD, assistant professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Ćosić Nada, PhD; Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, Belgrade, Serbia Ćirović Duško, PhD, assistant professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia Djan Mihajla, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia

Corresponding author: Stefanović Milomir, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S5: DISEASES OF GAME AND HEALTH CARE + GAME NUTRITION __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk THE CONSEQUENCES OF MISUSE OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTS IN INTENSIVE FARMING TO THE GAME OF SERBIA Beuković M.1, Beuković D.2, Popović Z. 3

In everyday life, people use a huge number of compounds of chemical origin that are toxic to wildlife. Their controlled use is intended either to eliminate part of the population of animal species which are considered as vermin or to destroy weed plants in agriculture. These procedures could conditionally be called approved or planned poisoning. Their implementation can have fatal consequences to domestic and wild animals, which are not the target group. This type of poisoning is present in a small percentage or has a seasonal character. Such events are relative to illegal and deliberate poisoning of animals and could be called random or accidental poisonings. They are difficult to predict, prevent and to control. Intensive farming implies active fight against vermin (rodents), especially in years when there is an outbreak of their populations due to mild winters. Moreover, because of increased costs of crop protection, farmers often use either prohibited chemicals or legal ones, but however not in adequate (acceptable) manner. Collateral victim of these procedures is game that has access to the treated fields. The consequence is a massive mortality of many species of game which move in the contaminated habitat. Most countries in the world, including Serbia, have legal provisions to protect the survival and welfare of free-ranging animals. However, the problem is not in the punishing policy, but rather in preventing the consequences of the aforementioned harmful effects. In doing so, farmers should be educated and large landowners should be obliged by law to consult the advisory service unless they have skilled professional employees. In Serbia, accidental or direct poisonings used to be frequent during autumn and spring planting, especially in the case of wheat and corn which were dusted with insecticides or rodenticides against insects/rodents, which may damage the seed germ. During recent years one of the most widely used insecticides was carbofuran (carbamate pesticide) under the trade name Furadan. One of its characteristics is very high toxicity (poison of the first group), also to birds and mammals. The issue of the misuse of pesticides has become more and more important during recent years due to increasing pressures for more intensive agricultural production. On one side, there is a fight for greater agricultural profit and higher yield. On the other side, there is a need for mitigation of harmful effects of overpopulated vermin species because of the global climate changes and their impacts to habitats.

Keywords: chemical products, intensive farming, game, Serbia Acknowledgement: The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, which financed these investigations within the project TR31009.

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Beuković Miloš, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Popović Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Beuković Miloš, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S5: DISEASES OF GAME AND HEALTH CARE + GAME NUTRITION __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk (Full paper available on page 97) THE ROLE OF BROWN RAT (Rattus norvegicus) IN THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF Salmonella INFECTION ON PHEASANT (Phasanius colchicus) FARM Đorđević M.1, Pešić B.2, Radenković Damnjanović B.3, Despot D.4

Bacteria that belong to the genus Salmonella are significant causes of food poisoning in humans, and may also cause serious diseases in poultry, and thus also in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). The most important serovars for the health of pheasants belong to the species S. enterica. One of the reasons for the presence of Salmonella on pheasant farms is the presence of infected rodents, primarily brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the holding yards and in the interior of farm buildings. The brown rat through secretions and excretions excretes Salmonella, which usually per os enters the digestive tract of pheasants and causes infection. In order to assess the risk of the presence of brown rats in a pheasant farm from the point of introduction of Salmonella in farm, we organized the experiment with the aim of capturing and detection of the presence of Salmonella in brown rats. The experiment was organized in the pheasant farm „Rit“ near Belgrade in April 2015 by using specialized rat traps. During the experiment 24 specimens of brown rat were trapped. Control of specimens for the presence of Salmonella ascertained the presence of S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis in 4 (16.6%) individuals.

Keywords: Salmonella, infection, Rattus norvegicus, pheasant, pheasant farm

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Đorđević Milutin, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Pešić Branislav, MD; Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia Radenković Damnjanović Brana, PhD, professor; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Despot Dragana; Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Đorđević Milutin, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S5: DISEASES OF GAME AND HEALTH CARE + GAME NUTRITION __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk BACTERIAL ZOONOTIC DISEASES IN CROATIAN WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa) POPULATION Slavica A.1, Janicki Z.2, Konjević D.3, Sindičić M.4, Severin K.5, Dežđek D.6, Milas Z7

Wild boar can play different roles in zoonotic or shared diseases, such as primary reservoirs, mechanical vectors, accidental or “spill-over” hosts. Concerning management of wild boar populations it is very important to know different parameters such as the geographical distribution, the population size, the population density and of course health status of the species. In 2007, we started a research project aimed to detect selected zoonotic pathogens in wild boar in Croatia, and to determine factors that can affect their prevalence, such as type of habitat (natural vs. residential), host abundance and season appearances. This work describes the epidemiological situation on major bacterial zoonoses of wild boar such as leptospirosis, brucellosis and mycobacteriosis. Over the period of three years (2010–2013) in total 935 blood and tissue samples were examined, and the following results were found: (i) Leptospirosis was serologically (by microscopic agglutination test) detected in 33% of all serum samples (154 positive out of 466 samples). Most frequently found serovar was Australis (29.3%), followed by serovars Pomona (20.9%) and Tarassovi (17.1%), while serovars Australis and Pomona recorded the highest AB titre (3200) and showed statistical significant frequency in cross-reactions. (ii) Brucellosis was serologically (iELISA, RBT, CFT, SAT) detected in 24.2% of all serum samples (73 positive out of 302 samples). After isolation on the basis of different bacteriological indicators Brucella suis was identified and biovar 2 was detected by PCR and confirmed by AFSSA. (iii) Different Mycobacterium species were successfully isolated from 167 wild boar tissue samples (19 positive samples or 11.4%). By microbiological and molecular methods isolated strains were identified as: Mycobacterium avium hominissuis (11 isolates), M. fortuitum (3 isolates), M. avium subsp. avium (2 isolates), M. caprae (2 isolates) and M. peregrinum (1 isolate), respectively. According to our results, wild boar can be declared as reservoirs and vectors for bacterial zoonotic diseases. Therefore, the aim of this work is also to discuss available management possibilities and to highlight current health monitoring priorities. Wildlife-related zoonoses are a diverse and complex issue that requires a close collaboration between forestry managers, wildlife ecologists, veterinarians and public health professionals. A few risk factors can be identified in most of the relevant wild boar zoonotic diseases. Among them are the introduction of diseases through movements or translocations of wild or domestic animals, the consequences of wild boar overabundance, the risks of open air livestock breeding, vector expansion and the expansion or introduction of hosts on suitable habitats.

Keywords: wild boar, bacterial zoonotic diseases, epidemiology, Croatia

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Slavica Alen, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia Janicki Zdravko, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia Konjević Dean, PhD, associate professor; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia Sindičić Magda, PhD; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia Severin Krešimir, PhD; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia Dežđek Danko, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia Milas Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Veterinary Faculty, Zagreb, Croatia

Corresponding author: Slavica Alen, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S5: DISEASES OF GAME AND HEALTH CARE + GAME NUTRITION __________________________________________________________________________________ (Full paper available on page 101)

LEAD AND CADMIUM IN BROWN HARE (Lepus europaeus) LIVER FROM DIFFERENT HUNTING GROUNDS IN VOJVODINA, SERBIA Beuković D.1, Beuković M.2, Popović Z.3 Krstović S.4, Jajić I.5, Lavadinović V.6

Levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in liver of 150 brown hares, harvested in 9 hunting grounds in Vojvodina region were determined. Samples were collected during the autumn hunt season 2014. Samples of liver were homogenized with chopper and then digested in vacuum tubes using the digestion mixture (concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid in ratio 3:1, v/v) for 2.5 h at 80 °C. After digestion, tubes were allowed to reach room temperature and the digested samples were quantitatively transferred into a 100 cm3 volumetric flask using deionized water. The cadmium and lead determination was carried out using Perkin-Elmer PinAAcle 900T THGA/FL atomic absorption spectrometer, with a longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction system, equipped with a transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) and the AS900 auto sampler. Hollow cathode lamps (HCL) were used for cadmium and lead detection. The average Pb and Cd contents in brown hare liver in Vojvodinawere165.6 ppb and 231.2 ppb, respectively. The range for Pb was from not detectable up to 900.0 ppb, and for Cd from not detectable up to 987.0 ppb. The highest individual Pb level was recorded in the hunting ground Novi Bečej, and the highest Cd level in the hunting ground Donji Petrovci. Considering Pb contents in brown hare liver, hunting grounds can be divided into three groups: (i) Ostojićevo, Novi Bečej and Čantavir with a higher average Pb levels (between 219 and 262 ppb), (ii) Sonta and Bačka Palanka with a middle average Pb levels (between 149 and 209 ppb), and (iii) Budisava, Brestač, Stejanovci and Donji Petrovci with a lower average Pb levels (between 78 and 138 ppb). Among groups, there were statistically significant differences (p<0.01; p<0.05) in Pb contents. Considering average Cd contents hunting grounds can be divided in two groups as follows: (i) Novi Bečej, Brestač, Donji Petrovci, Sonta and Stejanovci with a higher average Cd levels (between 225 and 319 ppb), and (ii) Ostojićevo, Čantavir, Budisava and Bačka Palanka with a lower average Cd levels (between 113 and 184 ppb), respectively. Data from this study may serve as a base to evaluate the exposure and trends in contamination of brown hare in Vojvodina, Serbia. Further work is however needed to investigate the source of contamination in order to preserve the health of humans and animals.

Keywords: cadmium, lead, brown hare, liver, Vojvodina

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Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Beuković Miloš, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Popović Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia Krstović Saša, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Jajić Igor, PhD, assistant professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Beuković Dejan, e-mail: [email protected]

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BODY DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICIAL DOG RACE Todorov N.1, Popović Z.2, Lavadinović V.3

Military working dogs (MWD) are highly useable agents in the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) for multiple tasks, like security, patrolling, searching or rescuing. The purpose of this research is to determine the variability of physical characteristics (height, length, chest circumference and body mass) and working abilities (temperament, character and aggressiveness) for the dog breeds that are in use as MWD in SAF, based on a standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Additional aim is to determine the heritability for these characteristics and, based on those results, to provide guidance for breeding program in order to raise a higher quality of MWD with better working abilities. The tested physical characteristics are highly satisfying in comparison to the breed standards for the tested breeds (German shepherds and Belgian malinois). However, the working abilities showed lower results. The coefficient of variation was 1.15% to 6.9%, showing that those characteristics are more dependent on hereditary basis. Same coefficient for working abilities was from 7.94% (temperament in Belgian malinois which is breed characteristic) to 32.57% (character for the same breed), which suggests that these characteristics are more dependent on environmental influences. Results for the heritability led to the same conclusion. Measures were proposed to do a quality selection program for official dog breed in the SAF, with a clearly defined breeder aim, which should be a priority to improve working abilities of MWDs, while retaining the desired physical characteristics.

Keywords: military working dog, physical characteristics, working abilities, line breeding, selection program

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Todorov Nenad, PhD; Military Academy of Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Popović Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Todorov Nenad, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

Invited talk CAN HIGH QUALITY MONITORING OF »THE LARGE CARNIVORE« BE COST AND AWARENESS EFFECTIVE? Potočnik H.1, Kos I.2, Majić Skrbinšek A.3, Jelenčič M.4, Krofel M.5, Černe R.6, Skrbinšek T.7

After centuries of persecution wolves (Canis lupus) are now recovering across many areas of Europe due to favourable legislation, ban on poisoning, recovery of wild ungulate populations and enhanced public awareness. Accordingly, a wide range of conflicts have reappeared and intensified, including the economically costly depredation on livestock and pets. Nevertheless, wolf populations across the Europe are still facing a number of threats and some small isolated populations remain critically endangered. Since the wolf is listed in Annexes II and IV or V (varying between European countries) of the Habitats Directive, monitoring of their conservation status is a legal obligation. Monitoring of wolves is crucial for their management and conservation, especially if sustainable harvesting is a part of management actions. Robust monitoring of this species at acceptable costs has long been an elusive goal for many countries. Combining traditional and new methods, e.g. utilizing systematic »howling tests« with involvement of volunteers, non-invasive genetic sampling and modern genetic methods, and mark-recapture modelling, makes the goal more achievable. We are evaluating cost-benefits of monitoring standards for surveillance of conservation status of the wolf population in Slovenia, developed within LIFE+ SloWolf Project, and adopted by »National Wolf Action Plan«. It includes governmental institutions concerned with wildlife management, as well as academic institutions and non-governmental organizations that coordinate involvement of volunteers, including hunters. The goal was to achieve synergy of advanced monitoring methods and organizations/volunteers involved to maximize cost effectiveness, raise public awareness and at the same time, to maintain high quality monitoring needed for sustainable/conservation management of the species.

Keywords: wolf monitoring, non-invasive genetic methods, howling tests, sustainable/conservation management

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Potočnik Hubert, PhD; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Kos Ivan, PhD, professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Majić Skrbinšek Aleksandra, MSc; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jelenčič Maja; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Krofel Miha, PhD, assistant professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia Černe Rok; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Tomaž Skrbinšek, PhD, assistant professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Potočnik Hubert, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

POPULATION LEVEL APPROACH TO BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos) MANAGEMENT Černe R.1, Majić Skrbinšek A.2, Jonozovič M.3, Marenče M.4, Jerina K.5, Krofel M.6, Skrbinšek T.7

Brown bears require large habitats that often transcend political boundaries. This is especially true in the case of the Dinaric-Pindos and Alpine bear populations, which span through several national borders and need to maintain connectivity in order to meet long term viability thresholds. Management and monitoring efforts often end at national or even regional borders and this causes “management fragmentation”. It is difficult to imagine successful conservation and management of a species like the brown bear without strong cooperation among countries that share the same population. To overcome this obstacle partners from Slovenia, Austria, Italy and Croatia joined efforts and in 2013 applied for the LIFE DINALP BEAR project. Within this project we recognize the critical need to monitor, manage, and conserve a shared brown bear population. We are developing a joint monitoring program as a basis for future transboundary management. Additionally, we are working to improve outlooks for maintaining connectivity of bear habitat in the project area. This is crucial for connection of the Dinaric-Pindos and Alpine populations and for the long term viability of the Alpine population. On the other hand, each participating country is facing different problems and need different solutions for solving these problems on local scale. Partners in the LIFE DINALP BEAR project are collaborating with communities which are living with bears and face various problems in achieving coexistence with them. The main effort is focused on reducing human-bear conflicts with the use of effective tools like bear-resistant garbage or compost bins, and improved protection of livestock and beehives. We are also reducing traffic-related mortality of bears by installation of fences or acoustic deterrents on the most critical sections of highways, regional roads and railways. Finally, we are developing opportunities for local communities to gain economic benefits from bear presence through ecotourism as well as through producing and solving bear friendly products. We believe that our multi-scaled partnership-oriented approach will help ensure long term coexistence of people and bears at local and national scales and thus improve outlooks for connectivity and conservation of the northern Dinaric-Pindos and Alpine populations of brown bear. Keywords: bear, population, management, coexistence, LIFE DINALP BEAR

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Černe Rok; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia Majić Skrbinšek Aleksandra, MSc.; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jonozovič Marko; Slovenia Forest Service, Ljubljana, Slovenia Marenče Miha; Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia Jerina Klemen, PhD, Professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia Krofel Miha, PhD, assistant professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia Skrbinšek Tomaž, PhD, assistant professor; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Černe Rok, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

A PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CARNIVORE CONFLICTS IN MONTANA, USA: WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD WE BE ASKING? Wilson M. S.1

Human-bear conflict (HBC) is a global issue and involves all eight species of bears. In North America, brown bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) and people come into conflict in three major ways: (1) undesirable damage to human property, (2) injuries or death to people by bears, and (3) perceived risk of conflicts with bears by people. With wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction and recovery in the Western United States, conflicts with people generally fall into three major types: (1) livestock losses, i.e. direct losses and indirect economic impacts, (2) concerns by hunters about possible impacts of wolves to ungulate populations and hunting opportunity, and (3) political and symbolic conflicts that wolves generated during reintroduction. This preliminary analysis focuses on Montana and offers a broad look at some of the economic benefits and costs of having large carnivores alongside people. We focus on the Blackfoot watershed of western Montana as a case study and illustrate a few examples using: (1) property damage by black bears, (2) beehive damages, and (3) job creation as a result of using preventative practices to reduce conflicts with carnivores. Additionally, several questions are posed with the intention of shedding light on future research topics that may be important for better understanding some of the economics associated with large carnivores.

Keywords: economics, large carnivores, costs, benefits

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Wilson M. Seth, PhD; University of Montana, Missoula, Montana and Research Associate, Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative (NRCC), Jackson, Wyoming

Corresponding author: M. Wilson Seth, [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

SMALL SCALE EFFECTS OF LOGGING ON THE BIRD COMMUNITY de Groot M.1, Flajšman K.2

Most of the forests are managed by logging, which varies from very intensive logging with large clear-cuts to less intensive forest management by individual tree selection. Disturbances, which are a consequence of logging, can affect bird communities in the forests. In the view of sustainable forest management, it is important to investigate and determine the influence of logging intensity on the forests. The study took place in several areas of fir-beech (Abieti-Fagetum) forests in Slovenia within the ManFor C.BD. project. Due to restrictions of Slovenian legislation, which does not allow large clear-cuts, we focussed on small scale effects of logging intensity on bird communities. Research plots with a radius of 35 m were established in three study areas: Kočevski rog, Snežnik and Trnovski gozd. On the plots, three logging intensities were used: (i) 0% logging (control plots), (i) 50% logging, and (iii) 100% logging. In each study area, every class of logging intensity was replicated trice. Birds were counted by using point counts, which were repeated twice, in April and in the May–June period. We compared the species richness, bird community and individual occurrences of species by using only absence/presence data. To compare the number of species, we used a generalized mixed model (GLMM) with the area as a random effect. For the bird community we used a permutational MANOVA with a Jaccard index and area as block effect, and for the individual level we used the IndVal method to observe which species preferred which intensity of logging. We compared the share of new species to the number of species found over the whole area. The results showed a significant decrease in species richness with increased logging intensity. The bird composition did not differ significantly between the 0% and 50% logging, but changed significantly on the plots with 100% logging intensity. The indicator species for the control plots was the Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). The species which were indicative for both control and 50% logging were coal tit (Periparus ater), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla). There were no indicator species for the plots with 100% logging. On the scale of the area, only a few species which occur in open areas were added to the total species composition, as it mainly consisted of forest species. Most of the species were bound to the trees, either by breeding in the canopy or living on the stems. Therefore, it is not surprising that these species were the most affected by the logging intensities. We observed a strong effect of different small scale logging intensities on the bird community. Further research should focus on small scale logging effect on the larger scale and determine the threshold of the logging surface. Keywords: logging intensity, forest management, birds, bird community, indicator species, species composition dissimilarity Acknowledgment: This study was supported by the ManFor C.BD (Managing forests for multiple purposes: carbon, biodiversity and socio-economic wellbeing) project. 1 2

de Groot Maarten, PhD; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Flajšman Katarina; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Maarten de Groot, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium S6: CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE – NETWORKING OF TWO Life+ PROJECTS __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

POSTERS

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE GREY PARTRIDGE REINTRODUCTION PROJECT IN EASTERN CROATIA Bošković I.1, Florijančić, T.2, Ozimec, S.3, Degmečić, D.4

Grey partridge (Perdix perdix L.) is a farmland bird which has been declining across Europe due to intensification of agriculture, use of herbicides, habitat destruction and predation pressure. It has been managed for hunting in most countries where it occurs. Grey partridge releasing experiment was carried out during the hunting year 2014/2015 in the selected hunting ground near the village of Cerić, eastern Croatia. 60 birds were released from three portable release pens. Loss of three birds was recorded inside the release pen, caused by disturbance of vagrant dogs. Three to four broods with about 30–40 birds, which formed pairs successfully, survived a winter period. Monitoring during the next summer confirmed presence of 14 breeding pairs with chicks in the hunting ground. In July 2015, we started with a large experimental release of grey partridges into 12 interconnected hunting grounds. Total of 1,100 birds were released from 55 portable released pens, each contained 20 birds. Adaptation to habitat conditions and low-protein grain food had lasted for six weeks, after which the birds were released in the area of the hunting grounds. Mortality in the release pens amounted to 87 individuals, and additional 68 birds died after releasing. According to results of permanent observations in the period of two months after the release along the feeding-sites and in the field, breeding abundance was 53 coveys with 11–18 individuals each. Reintroduction success will be known in summer 2016, i.e. after surviving the winter, by performing spring count of formed breeding pairs and assessing success of natural reproduction. Evaluation of obtained results will help in selection of the most convenient releasing and rearing techniques for reintroduction of this important native game species.

Keywords: grey partridge, bird, release, hunting, Croatia

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Bošković Ivica, PhD, assistant professor; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek, Croatia Florijančić Tihomir, PhD, professor; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek, Croatia Ozimec Siniša, PhD, professor; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek, Croatia Degmečić Dražen, PhD, assistant professor; Croatian Forests Ltd., Forest Administration Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Corresponding author: Ozimec Siniša, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

THE CONSEQUENCE OF DAMAGING THE BARK OF FOREST TREES BY BIG GAME Tomljanović, K1., Grubešić, M 2

The large game species are generally residents of forest stands, which inevitably lead to mutual influences between forest habitats and free-ranging ungulates. One of the negative influences is stripping of bark. For reducing damages made by wildlife in lowland forests, forest stands before the beginning of regeneration are usually fenced to prevent big game entry. This prevents the undermining (rooting) of young plants by wild boar (Sus scrofa), and prevents the losses of buds and leaves due to nibbling of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). This enables the forest regeneration and the young plants can come out of the phase in which they are sensitive to rooting, and the bud peaks can grow into the bud zone. However, in areas with high density of red deer damages also occur due to bark peeling. Although it is reliably known that damages occur mainly due to activity of red deer, and it is also known that females peel bark intensively in January and February, very little is known why these damages happened and what do they mean for the future development of young stands. Our study area was placed in the second age class of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) stands where intense bark damage had been noticed mainly on ash trees. There, wildlife avoids stripping of other tree species such as oak (Quercus sp.), common alder (Alnus glutinosa), willow (Salix sp.), indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa), etc. Typically the bark damage starts at a phase when the bark is thin and can easily be bitten of and lasts until trees grow to a diameter of 15 cm, when the bark becomes too thick to be chewed off. In order to determine the consequences of damage to older trees (>50 cm in diameter) sectioning was performed in a manner that cross-sections were analysed on every 25 cm of height in the area of damage. With dendrochronological methods we attempted to clarify the changes that occur after closing of wounds made by bark stripping, and it was attempted to determine to which extent the decrease in technical value of damaged trees wood happened due to bark stripping.

Keywords: big game, red deer, forest regeneration, ash, standing trees damage

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Tomljanović Kristijan, PhD, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Zagreb, Croatia Grubešić Marijan, PhD, professor; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry, Zagreb, Croatia

Corresponding author: Tomljanović Kristijan, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

HOME RANGE SIZE AND SPATIAL ACTIVITY OF RED DEER IN THE HUNTING AREA LIBAVÁ (CZECH REPUBLIC) Svobodová P.1, Dvořák J.2

Information on ethology and spatial activity of red deer (Cervus elaphus) serve as a basis for deeper insight into red deer migration patterns, its natural range and habitat use (forests and other areas). These data are also important for proper sustainable wildlife management with focus on damage caused by large herbivores to forest stands. The telemetric collars with GPS, GSM module, temperature and mortality sensor were fitted in February 2014 and 2015 on 8 red deer of different age classes. To determine an individual red deer home range minimum convex polygon (MCP) was used. The MCP polygon displays the desktop where the animal occurred. It encloses the largest territory within an irregular polygon. The Libavá Military Training Area is situated in northeast of Olomouc city in the Jeseníky Mountains. The total area is 32,724 hectares, the area has much coniferous forests (70%), dominated by spruce (65%). The average altitude of the territory is about 600 meters above sea level. The area is managed by Military Forests and Estates of the Czech Republic (VLS, s.p.), division Lipník nad Bečvou. To determine the home range size of red deer we used data from period after the deer left the overwintering enclosure to the rut period. The expansion of the monthly home range size was obvious in the late spring period (April, May). The average spring size of the monthly home ranges was 10 km2. The size of summer home ranges was reduced by half. The minimum of red deer activity was reached during the winter months due to feeding and concentration of red deer in overwintering enclosures. Evaluation of telemetric data provides information on the habitat use, seasonal migrations and spatial behaviour. The size of home range provides information about area from which red deer gather into overwintering enclosures. Running of overwintering enclosures has a positive contribution for reducing damage caused by red deer on the young and middle-aged forests.

Keywords: red deer, telemetry, minimum convex polygon (MCP), home ranges, spatial activity

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Svobodová Pavla; Mendel University, Faculty of Forestry and Wood technology, Brno, Czech Republic Dvořák Jan, PhD; Mendel University, Faculty of Forestry and Wood technology, Brno, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Svobodová Pavla, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

START OF REPRODUCTION OF WILD BOAR IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: WHY TO BE YOUNG MOTHER? Drimaj J.1, Zeman J.2, Hošek M.3, Kamler J.4, Plhal R.5, Hrbek J.6

Abundance of wild boar (Sus scrofa) has unprecedentedly increased in recent decades almost all over Europe, as a result of changed environmental conditions which comply with specific characteristics and demands of wild boar. The knowledge on the reproduction capability is very important for understanding of the population growth of the species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the reproductive potential, i.e. the status of reproductive organs of harvested wild boar juveniles of both genders. Study was conducted during the hunting season from November 2014 to January 2015. Sexual organs and glands of piglets (1–12 months) were removed at common hunts across the Czech Republic. We determined sex, age and body mass of each individual, and made biometrical, histological and microscopic analyses of their reproductive organs. We obtained 241 samples of piglets, 51% of them were females. They began to be cyclically active around 6 months of age, with the first ovulation around 7–8 months and when weighing more than 25 kg. The majority of females had the first or second oestrus during the January, as was revealed considering the status of the ovaries. In the case of successful fertilization, the majority of piglets of the up-following cohort would therefore be born in May. The same conclusion follows (for a current cohort) from the estimated age of harvested piglets – the peak of their births falls into the May/June. The huge majority of males had sperm in testicles and epididymis, with the threshold weight of testicles (without epididymis) about 13 g, and threshold of body mass again at 25 kg, respectively. We conclude that in response to sufficient supply of food in the growing season and in winter (due to supplementary feeding) piglets very quickly reach the threshold of body mass needed for starting the sexual activity. Therefore, particularly the young mothers (their early fertilization) are/is responsible for the population explosion of the species. Keywords: wild boar, Sus scrofa, reproduction, piglet, ovary, testicle

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Drimaj Jakub; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Zeman Jaroslav; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Hošek Martin, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Agronomy, Department of Animal Breeding, Brno, Czech Republic Kamler Jiří, PhD, professor; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Plhal Radim, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Hrbek Jan; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Drimaj Jakub, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

IMPACT OF CLIMATIC FACTORS ON THE BROWN HARE (Lepus europaeus) POPULATION DYNAMIC IN THE BANAT DISTRICT Beuković M.1, Popović Z.2, Beuković D.3, Lavadinović V.4, Đorđević N.5

Climatic factors, especially temperature and precipitation, greatly affect the population dynamic of brown hare (Lepus europaeus). Climatic factors either directly affect the physiological and reproductive processes of both individuals and entire populations, or have some indirect effects, through influencing the availability of food, competition with other species, predation etc. The age structure of the hare population at the end of the period of reproduction is an important indicator of the population growth that is used for planning the level of harvesting (hunting) of hares. The rational use of hare population is one of the most important conservation procedures and should be well monitored and controlled by the hunting professionals and end-users. We used the average monthly temperature and the sum of monthly precipitation in the brown hare reproductive period (March–September) during ten years (2000–2009), together with the percent of juveniles in the hare population in the territory of Banat, Serbia, for the multiple regression (stepwise) analysis. Results of this analysis show association between the percentage of young hares and the climatic factors. The temperatures in July and March are the strongest predictor of the increment (i.e. percent of juveniles) in the hare population in Banat. According to the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.49) climatic parameters explained 49% of variance in the percentage of young hares in the Banat district. Multiple regression correlation coefficient of all factors together was R = 0.70, which is on the border between medium and high correlation. With sudden, extreme climatic seasonal variations in the upcoming period expectations may be directed to the growing influence of climatic factors on the population dynamic of brown hares.

Keywords: brown hare, percent of young hare, climate factors, Banat

Acknowledgement: Authors wish to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, which financed these investigations within the project TR31009.

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Beuković Miloš, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Popović Zoran, PhD, professor, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia Đorđević Nenad, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Beuković Dejan, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa) AND ITS DEPENDENCE ON HUMAN BASED FOOD SUBSIDIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC Ježek M.1, Holá M.2, Kušta T.3

Human-based food subsidies (i.e. field crops and supplementary food provided by hunters during lean periods to assist population persistence or to bait animals for hunting purposes) are available to wild boar all year-round in the Czech Republic. We used data on wild boar stomach contents (303 samples) collected during 2008–2013 in four areas differing in land use and in extent of supplementary feeding. The consumption of human-based food subsidies in individual study areas and its possible differences between seasons (i.e. spring, summer, winter), sexes and age classes (i.e. juveniles and subadults) were evaluated using generalized linear models (GLMs). Also, we used telemetry data collected during 2012–2015 from 14 wild boar (11 females and 3 males) equipped with GPS collars in order to determine the frequency of visits at feeding places throughout the year. Human based food subsidies represented the most frequent diet item in wild boar diet throughout the whole year, while being the most abundant during the winter period. The consumption of this diet item did not differ between sexes and age classes. The average number of visits at the feeding places was 15-20 per month. Females in June/July visited the feeding places most frequently. In order to design efficient and biologically based management measures for wild boar, such knowledge of importance of human-based food subsidies in wild boar diet as well as the role of supplementary feeding in affecting movement patterns of wild boar is essential.

Keywords: wild boar, supplementary feeding, stomach contents, movement

Acknowledgment: This study was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Grant No. QJ1220314.

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Ježek Miloš, PhD; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic Holá Michaela, MSc; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic Kušta Tomáš, PhD; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Prague, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Ježek Miloš, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium POSTER SESSION __________________________________________________________________________________

METHODS OF WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa) DIET RESEARCH Zeman J.1, Hrbek J.2, Drimaj J.3, Plhal R.4, Kamler J.5, Kudláček T.6, Heroldová M.7

Wild boar shows dramatic population increase throughout Europe. Its impact on native plant communities and their biodiversity is very high in many countries, as well as great damages inflicted on agricultural crops. Wild boar diet composition highly reflects the level of its damaging effect. For this reason we tried to find out a simple and reliable method of wild boar diet analysis which is suitable for practical use. To achieve this objective we compared three different wild boar dietary assessment methods and tested similarity of their results. Gastrointestinal tracts of 27 wild boar were sampled, with the stomach and faecal contents of each individual being analyzed. Both analyses were done by identification of food items and measuring their quantity volumetrically. The third method, so called “veterinarian”, was the simplest one using pure estimation to determine percentage content of each diet item diluted on a tray. Comparison of Shannon-Weaver diversity indices among samples (done by means of bootstrapping method) showed no significant differences among the three methods used, even though the “veterinarian” method showed some distinctness from the other two. Qualitative similarity of all three samples was expressed by the community coefficient (CC) modified for multiple-samples similarity measurement. Quantitative Sørensen index was used to calculate quantitative similarity. Additionally, PERMANOVA and SIMPER methods were implemented for in-depth similarity analysis. All major types of food components were easily identified by use of all three analytical methods. Easily digestible food sources, such as herbs, fruits and beet root, are usually not well discernible in faeces, thus these items were less represented there. Basically, results imply that all three methods are relevant in terms of quantitative and qualitative dietary assessment of wild boar nutrition.

Keywords: wild boar, diet, dietary assessment methods, stomach, faeces

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Zeman Jaroslav; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Hrbek Jan; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Drimaj Jakub; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Plhal Radim, PhD; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Kamler Jiří, PhD; professor; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Kudláček Tomáš; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic Heroldová Marta, PhD, professor; Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Brno, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Zeman Jaroslav, e-mail: [email protected]

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FIRST OCCURRENCE OF Thelazia callipaeda IN FOXES (Vulpes vulpes) IN SERBIA Pavlović I.1, Jakić Dimić D.2, Kureljušić B.3, Ćirović D.4, Jezdimirović N.5, Cvetojević Đ.6

Thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic eyeworm, parasitizing at the conjunctiva sac of domestic and wild carnivores (dogs, cats, foxes, wolves), and humans. It is also known as the “oriental eyeworm” because of its occurrence in the Far Eastern and in the extreme eastern end of the former Soviet Union. Over the last decade, infestation with mentioned spirudida has been increasingly occurring in dogs and cats in the numerous European countries (e.g. Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain) including the Balkans countries (Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina). In Serbia, first cases of infestation in dogs and cats were reported in 2014. In Europe, this parasite usually occurs in dogs and cats and there are only few reports about its occurrence in wild canids, especially foxes. In the West Balkan region infestations of foxes were reported in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2014. In Serbia we also found infestation with this parasite in foxes during 2014. Adult nematodes were retrieved from the conjunctival sacs of 3 animals (two from Belgrade area and one from Braničevo district), hunted during controlling the effect of oral vaccination of foxes against rabies. In total, we extracted 23 parasites, 10 males and 13 females. All parasites were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda based on the keys given by Skrjabin et al. Male worms ranged from 10.21–13.46 mm in length, and 337–442 μm in width. Female worms ranged from 14.51–17.45 mm in length, and 401–433 μm in width. This is the first report of autochthonous cases of T. callipaeda infestation in red foxes in Serbia.

Keywords: Thelazia callipaeda, foxes, Serbia

1 2 3 4 5 6

Pavlović Ivan, PhD; Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Jakić Dimić Dobrila, PhD; Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Kureljušić Branislav, PhD; Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Ćirović Duško, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia Jezdimirović Nemanja; Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Cvetojević Đorđe; Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Pavlović Ivan, e-mail: [email protected]

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ADVANCEMENT REPORT ON POPULATION GENETIC STUDY OF BROWN HARE (Lepus europaeus) POPULATIONS IN CENTRAL- AND EASTERNEUROPEAN REGION Soós N.1, Djan, M.2, Kusza Sz.3

The present phylogenetic status of most European mammal species is eminently the result of the last Pleistocene glaciation. In the case of brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pall.) in addition to that more recent effects such as fragmentation of natural habitats, hybridization among different Lepus species or competition for decreased food resources should also be considered. The brown hare is present all over Europe from Spain to Asia Minor and is an important game species which makes it a reasonable subject for population genetic researches. The purpose of our study is to gather data on the genetic diversity of Central- and EasternEuropean brown hare populations with the aim of revealing the genetic history of the species in the studied region, from which data are scarce despite the fact that the species is well-studied on the whole continent. In our research mtDNA cytb and D-loop regions along with the MC1R and ASIP genes are going to be studied. Until now 179 samples have been collected from different countries of Europe and Georgia. 50 of them, originated from Hungary (n = 14) and Serbia (n = 36), have already been sequenced and analysed for the D-loop region. Based on a 411 bp alignment we found a high level of haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.958) with an overall 30 haplotypes, and the nucleotid diversity of π = 0.0167. Our ongoing research shows high genetic diversity of the brown hare in the studied region and indicates genetic distinction among the studied populations though these results need confirmation by further studies.

Keywords: brown hare, mitochondrial DNA, diversity, Central Europe, Eastern Europe Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

1

2

3

Soós Noemi; Institute of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary Djan Mihajla, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Kusza Szilvia, PhD; Institute of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

Corresponding author: Kusza Szilvia, e-mail: [email protected]

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GENETIC VARIABILITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF GREY WOLF (Canis lupus) FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Šnjegota D.1, Trbojević I. 2, Veličković N. 3, Stefanović M.4, Ćirović D.5, Djan M.6

Previous analysis of mtDNA control region sequence variability for grey wolf (Canis lupus) population from Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed its high genetic variability and absence of population structure. Therefore, additional analyses of population structure were done by application of higher polymorphic genetic markers. Highly polymorphic genetic markers, microsatellites, were applied in order to explore population structure, level of genetic variability, possible genetic drift, inbreeding and signals of bottleneck. Eighteen microsatellites were amplified in a total sample of 20 grey wolves, from different localities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Multilocus genotypes were analyzed using adequate software. Observed values of the basic genetic parameters indicated high level of genetic variability, similar to other subpopulations belonging to the Dinaric-Balkan population of grey wolf. Structure analysis showed differentiation into two subpopulations. These results are important for future management plans and determination of the conservation units. Signals of bottleneck were not observed.

Key words: Bosnia and Herzegovina, grey wolf, microsatellites, genetic differentiation

1 2 3

4 5 6

Šnjegota Dragana; University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Science, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Trbojević Igor, University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Science, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Veličković Nevena, PhD, assistant professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Stefanović Milomir; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Ćirović Duško, PhD, assistant professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia Djan Mihajla, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia

Corresponding author: Dragana Šnjegota, e-mail: [email protected]

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MANAGING FORESTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES: CARBON, BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELLBEING (Life+ PROJECT ManFor C. BD) Vilhar U.1, Kutnar L.2, Simončič P.3

Forest covers about 60% of Slovenia and is a symbol of the country’s recognition as well as reflection of its attitude towards sustainable and close-to-nature forest management system for multiple ecosystem services. Sustainable forest management principles are continuously challenged by innovative forest management practices. Therefore, an European Life+ project ManFor C.BD (LIFE09ENV/IT/000078) was established in Italy and Slovenia with the aim to test and verify in the field the effectiveness of forest management options in meeting multiple objectives (timber production, environment protection and biodiversity conservation, etc.), but also in providing data and in ensuring guidance and indications of the best-practices. In this project, 7 test areas in Italy and 3 in Slovenia were established, that include production forests, protected forests, Natura 2000 sites and priority habitats. Traditional management practices are compared with new ones developed by the project. Data on the impact of different forest management options on carbon cycling and the biodiversity of selected forest ecosystems are collected, analysed and disseminated. Several indicators have been proposed to assess sustainable forest management. However, detailed information on these indicators is generally lacking. Furthermore, some of the indicators are of a basic character while processes in forest ecosystems are generally complex. Hence there is the need to collect data on sustainable forest management indicators and to relate them to specific forest management practices. The key objectives of the project are to: (1) get, analyse and disseminate data and policy relevant information to document the impact of different forest management options on carbon cycling and biodiversity of selected forest ecosystems in Italy and in Slovenia; (2) collect, compare and disseminate updated data related to the pan-European indicators for sustainable forest management, with a particular emphasis on those indicators related to carbon cycle/sequestration and biodiversity; (3) define, test and evaluate additional quantitative indicators related to forest management in order to fulfil the needs of international conventions and European action plans; (4) evaluate carbon sequestration, structural features and biodiversity of managed forests at the forest patch and landscape scales, taking into account the ecological connectivity, the ecosystem fragmentation and the interactions with the man-made component; (5) provide a list of “good practices” on forest management options suited for conserving and enhancing carbon stocks, increase carbon sequestration, protect and possibly enhance biodiversity at forest patch and at the landscape scales and to enrich ecosystems’ connectivity. As such, this project is generating connection between local stakeholders’ institution responsible for forest policies and technical/scientific communities by providing “Best forest management practice manual”. Keywords: sustainable forest management, environment protection, carbon, biodiversity conservation, indicator 1 2 3

Vilhar Urša, PhD, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Kutnar Lado, PhD, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia Simončič Primož, PhD, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Vilhar Urša, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium 5-7 November 2015, Velenje, Slovenia __________________________________________________________________________________

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FULL PAPERS

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THE ROLE OF BROWN RAT (Rattus norvegicus) IN THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF Salmonella INFECTION ON PHEASANT (Phasanius colchicus) FARM Đorđević M.1, Pešić B.2, Radenković Damnjanović B.3, Despot D.4

Abstract Bacteria that belong to the genus Salmonella are significant causes of food poisoning in humans, and may also cause serious diseases in poultry, and thus also in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). The most important serovars for the health of pheasants belong to the species S. enterica. One of the reasons for the presence of Salmonella on pheasant farms is the presence of infected rodents, primarily brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the holding yards and in the interior of farm buildings. The brown rat through secretions and excretions excretes Salmonella, which usually per os enters the digestive tract of pheasants and causes infection. In order to assess the risk of the presence of brown rats in a pheasant farm from the point of introduction of Salmonella in farm, we organized the experiment with the aim of capturing and detection of the presence of Salmonella in brown rats. The experiment was organized in the pheasant farm „Rit“ near Belgrade in April 2015 by using specialized rat traps. During the experiment 24 specimens of brown rat were trapped. Control of specimens for the presence of Salmonella ascertained the presence of S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis in 4 (16.6%) individuals. Keywords: Salmonella, infection, Rattus norvegicus, pheasant, pheasant farm

Introduction Pheasant farms are semi-closed production facilities with several production units that are cyclically linked, which are bred different age groups of pheasants. Production units are aviary for the parent flock, a room for storing eggs, a hatchery, and facilities for the breeding of young pheasants and aviaries with outlets where young pheasants are bred until they are released to the hunting grounds (Pavlović and Floristean 2004; Đorđević et al. 2012, 2013). To make pheasant production successful and economically justified, i.e. to obtain a sufficient number of healthy individuals in good condition it is necessary to have appropriate facilities with the usage of appropriate production technologies as well as to provide continued implementation of biosafety measures defined in biosafety protocols. Salmonella are the most important cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans and are responsible for 24% of food-borne diseases caused by known pathogens in the United States (Tauxe 2002), therefore their importance is large. Considering the fact that the pheasant hunting is popular in Serbia and that a large number of people consume meat of pheasants, we decided to do the experiment which would provide a risk assessment adopted by the presence of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) from the point of introduction and spread of Salmonella in pheasant farm. Prevention of entering zoonotic agents in primary production largely depends on the implementation of biosecurity measures on farms. Rodents can largely transmit zoonotic bacteria and bring them to the farm (Gratz 1994; Leirs et al. 2004). Salmonella are rod-shaped, motile Gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. More than 2300 serotypes have been described (Popoff and Le Minor 1997), most of which are non-hostspecific (Jensen et al. 2004). Salmonella are facultative anaerobes. Bacteria colonies grow on plain agar, at an optimal temperature of 37°C. 1 2 3 4

Đorđević Milutin, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Pešić Branislav, MD; Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia Radenković Damnjanović Brana, PhD, professor; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Despot Dragana; Institute for Biocides and Medical Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Đorđević Milutin, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ Control and better elimination of zoonotic pathogens, which include also Salmonella, is a priority of today farm production. This includes also the breeding of pheasants in pheasant farms because the presence of Salmonella leads to a decrease in the production rate; moreover, in the case that animal products derived from such animals reach the market this can also transmit the disease to the people. Besides the risk of serious human infections the presence of Salmonella in the pheasant farms can significantly affect the viability of farm raising pheasants. The economic losses are reflected in dropping of eggs production, higher mortality of young pheasants, and weak condition of the adults with their poor exterior. As the pheasant farms are mostly located in areas outside the villages in the rural areas, the risk of rats entering into farms is thus higher, because they find ideal food and habitat conditions within the neighbouring yards. Good zoo-hygienic and deratization measures can greatly reduce the number of rodents present on the farm, but they can never be completely removed. For this reason, it was necessary to determine the status of Salmonella in brown rats in the holding yards in order to see what is the real danger of entering of Salmonella infections in pheasant farms.

Material and Methods Pheasant farm "Rit”, on which the experiment was conducted, is located near Belgrade, outside the settlement. The total area of the farm is 22.4ha. Around the farm there is no fence, in surrounding there are agricultural areas with crops. The space between facilities and aviaries is relatively arranged with dirt tracks and mown grass. Collecting of rodents was carried out using the live catch cage rat traps. Traps were baited with chicken feed and various kinds of grains and seeds. The traps were placed in 3 zones with 4 traps. The first zone was on the edges of holding yards, second zone was around the production units and the third zone was in the interior of the production units (Figure 1). Traps were checked every day. In the case that the target rodent caught in the trap, the trap was brought to vivarium where it was kept until the beginning of the test (up to 3 days); food and water were provided on a daily basis.

Figure 1: Location of rodents traps on the pheasant farm “Rit”.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ Before dissection, each animal was first stunned with ether and the body mass was measured; afterwards, carcases were anesthetized with pentobarbital in a dose of 40-60mg/kg intraperitoneally. For anesthetized animals total length (from tip of the nose to the tip of the tail), the length of the body with the head and tail length were measured. The animals were tied on the back on dissecting board, limbs were fixed and cut was made along the linea alba side to the sternum. To analyse the presence of Salmonella, sample of faeces was taken from the rear part of colon. The corpses of treated animals were packed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer till the transport to the pound where they were destroyed. Individuals were categorized based on the body mass in 3 categories: juveniles with weight up to 100g, subadults with a body mass between 100 and 200g, and adults with a mass exceeding 200g, respectively. For the isolation of Salmonella spp., 1 gram of faeces from each animal was taken. The sample was primarily enriched on non-selective media Buffered Peptone Water (BPW), and incubated on 37°C for 18h. Up-following procedure was done on a selective secondary enrichment media RV (RappaportVassiliadis), e.g. medium were incubated for 24h at 41.5°C. The selective isolation and identification were made on xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. Another selective medium was incubated in the accordance with the manufacturer's instructions (BGA, Rambach). Suspicious colonies were transferred on nutrient agar.

Results During April, a total of 24 individuals of brown rats were caught. Of that number, 13 individuals were male (54%) and 11 were females (46%). The age structure of caught animals was as follows: 6 juveniles (3 females, 3 males), 7 subadults (4 females, 3 males), and 11 adults (4 females, 7 males), respectively. 18 individuals were caught in the first zone, 4 in the second zone, 2 in the third zone, one in the food storage and one in aviary for the parent flock, respectively. Of the 24 analysed individuals, 4 (16.6%) were positive on the presence of Salmonella (Figure 2). All of them were adults (3 males, 1 female). In all 4 cases we found S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis.

Number of rats

20

18

18 16 14 12 10 No. rats

8 6 3

4

positive

4 2

2

1

0

0

1

2

3

Zone Figure 2: Distribution of Salmonella positive rats in different zones of the pheasant farm.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ Discussion Considering the total number of caught rats and the area of catching within the farm we can conclude that rodents’ infestation is low in this farm. As the largest number of individuals (18) were caught in the first zone, i.e. in the edges of neighbouring yards, a fewer in the second zone (4), and only 2 in the third zone it seems that the zoo-hygienic and zoo-technic measures in this pheasant farm are well implemented, primarily because of strict adherence to biosecurity protocol which was introduced three years ago. Age structure and sex ratio of caught animals correspond to the status of the wild rodent population for this time of year. Considering the fact that only 4 of the 24 specimens were positive on Salmonella enteritidis and that three of them were caught in the first zone, i.e. on the edges of the pheasant farm, and one in the third zone, i.e. in the aviary for the parent flock, we can conclude that the rats in the future period, by ensuring continued implementation of biosafety protocol, would not be a very important way of entering Salmonella on the farm.

Conclusions Continuous implementation of biosecurity measures on the basis of defined protocols directly affects the regulation of the number of brown rats in the holding yards and consequently reduces the health risks that potentially infected rats with Salmonella bring on farms facility. The low level of infestation and the low number of positive animals indicate a low level of risk of Salmonella infection entering the farm through the brown rat.

Acknowledgment We thank the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia, which financed this paper from the project TR-31009.

References Gratz N.G. 1994. Rodents as carriers of disease. In A. P. Buckle and R. H. Smith (eds.), Rodent pests and their control. CAB International, Oxford, England, p. 85–108. Đorđević M., Pavlović I. , Kulišić Z. 2012. Biosigurnosne mere u fazanerijama. 1. Međunarodni simpozijum o lovstvu, Savremeni aspekti održivog gazdovanja populacijama divljači, Beograd, Srbija, p. 91–97. Đorđević M., Jevremović J., Pesić B., Radanović O. 2013. Dezinfekcija kao biosigurnosna mera u fazaneriji. 2. Međunarodni simpozijum o lovstvu, Savremeni aspekti održivog gazdovanja populacijama divljači, Novi Sad, Srbija, p. 209–214. Jensen A.N., Lodal J., Baggesen D.L. 2004. High diversity of Salmonella serotypes found in an experiment with outdoor pigs. J. Life Sci., 52:109–117. Leirs H., Lodal J., Knorr, M. 2004. Factors correlated with the presence of rodents on outdoor pig farms in Denmark and suggestions for management strategies. J. Life Sci., 52:133–143. Pavlović I., Floristean I. 2004. Fazani – odgoj i zdravstvena zaštita (3), Biologija i fiziološke karakteristike (I). Živinarstvo, 49:12–13. Popoff M., Le Minor L. 1997. Antigenic Formulas of the Salmonella Serovars (2nd ed.). Institute Pasteur, Paris. Tauxe R. 2002. Emerging food-borne pathogens. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 78:31–41.

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LEAD AND CADMIUM IN BROWN HARE (Lepus europaeus) LIVER FROM DIFFERENT HUNTING GROUNDS IN VOJVODINA, SERBIA Beuković D.1, Beuković M.2, Popović Z.3 Krstović S.4, Jajić I.5, Lavadinović V.6 Abstract Levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in liver of 150 brown hares, harvested in 9 hunting grounds in Vojvodina region were determined. Samples were collected during the autumn hunt season 2014. Samples of liver were homogenized with chopper and then digested in vacuum tubes using the digestion mixture (concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid in ratio 3:1, v/v) for 2.5 h at 80 °C. After digestion, tubes were allowed to reach room temperature and the digested samples were quantitatively transferred into a 100 cm3 volumetric flask using deionized water. The cadmium and lead determination was carried out using Perkin-Elmer PinAAcle 900T THGA/FL atomic absorption spectrometer, with a longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction system, equipped with a transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) and the AS900 auto sampler. Hollow cathode lamps (HCL) were used for cadmium and lead detection. The average Pb and Cd contents in brown hare liver in Vojvodinawere165.6 ppb and 231.2 ppb, respectively. The range for Pb was from not detectable up to 900.0 ppb, and for Cd from not detectable up to 987.0 ppb. The highest individual Pb level was recorded in the hunting ground Novi Bečej, and the highest Cd level in the hunting ground Donji Petrovci. Considering Pb contents in brown hare liver, hunting grounds can be divided into three groups: (i) Ostojićevo, Novi Bečej and Čantavir with a higher average Pb levels (between 219 and 262 ppb), (ii) Sonta and Bačka Palanka with a middle average Pb levels (between 149 and 209 ppb), and (iii) Budisava, Brestač, Stejanovci and Donji Petrovci with a lower average Pb levels (between 78 and 138 ppb). Among groups, there were statistically significant differences (p<0.01; p<0.05) in Pb contents. Considering average Cd contents hunting grounds can be divided in two groups as follows: (i) Novi Bečej, Brestač, Donji Petrovci, Sonta and Stejanovci with a higher average Cd levels (between 225 and 319 ppb), and (ii) Ostojićevo, Čantavir, Budisava and Bačka Palanka with a lower average Cd levels (between 113 and 184 ppb), respectively. Data from this study may serve as a base to evaluate the exposure and trends in contamination of brown hare in Vojvodina, Serbia. Further work is however needed to investigate the source of contamination in order to preserve the health of humans and animals. Keywords: cadmium, lead, brown hare, liver, Vojvodina

Introduction Toxic metals have been known as environmental or accidental pollutants for a long time. These contaminants are transferred into food chains mostly by plants and following ingestion by animals, they can be therefore found in animal products. The most common sources of heavy metal contamination of the environment are metalliferous mining and processing, inadequate waste management, smelting and effluent and waste disposal, and fertilizers (nitrogen and phosphorus) (Baker et al. 1999). Bioindicators, either plants or animals, can be used to evaluate the degree of environmental contamination. Game animal species inhabiting the area of interest are easily collected plausible bioindicators (Wajdzik 2006). In Serbia, the most numerous game population among mammals is brown hare (Lepus europaeus), with the population estimated to be >264,000 individuals (Beuković et al. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Beuković Dejan, PhD; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Beuković Miloš, PhD, professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Popović Zoran, PhD, professor; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia Krstović Saša, MSc; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Jajić Igor, PhD, assistant professor; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia Lavadinović Vukan, MSc; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia

Corresponding author: Beuković Dejan, e-mail: [email protected]

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ 2013), and therefore can be considered as a valuable bioindicator of environmental pollution. Furthermore, the brown hare has a relatively rapid reproductive potential; females can have up to 8 litters and produce up to 20 weaned young during a year (Slamečka et al. 2014). Some authors point to the significant impact of climate change on the biology and reproductive potential of this species, mainly due to the impact of rainfall and high temperatures, but remarkable negative effects of several anthropogenic influences have also been recorded (Beuković et al. 2013). Heavy metals have the potential of being accumulated in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in high concentrations, thus impairing the health of animals and humans across the land, food intake, inhalation of dust and contaminated air or through the skin. This phenomenon is called bio-accumulation or biomagnification and represents an increase in the content of chemical substances in organisms over time compared to the concentration of these substances in the environment. The main threat to human health in terms of exposure to heavy metals is exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. The main route of contamination of herbivores is the consumption of food (plant species) contaminated with heavy metals. By entering into the body through the digestive tract, 5-10% of inorganic lead compounds present in plant foods is absorbed. Lead is present in the form of fine particles, and aerosols in the air are introduced into the respiratory tract, where resorption is possible up to 40% (Đurić and Petrović 1996). Most plant species which herbivores take as a food accumulate very small amount of lead in the soil (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 1984; Sheppard and Sheppard 1991; Manninen and Tanskanen 1993; Underwood and Suttle 1999; Rous and Jelinek 2000).

Material and Methods Sample collection was conducted during the autumn hunting season 2013 on several hunting grounds in Vojvodina (Figure 1). Sampling was organized by the random selection of hunting grounds on the basis of schedule for brown hare harvesting. After completion of harvesting, sampling of biological material (liver) for analysis was performed. The total of 150 samples of brown hare liver were used for analysis, harvested in 9 hunting grounds (Figure 1). Samples of liver were homogenized with chopper and then digested in vacuum tubes using the digestion mixture (concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid in ratio 3:1, v/v) for 2.5h at 80°C. After digestion, tubes were allowed to reach room temperature and the digested sample was quantitatively transferred into a 100 cm3 volumetric flask using deionized water. The cadmium and lead determination was carried out using Perkin-Elmer PinAAcle 900T THGA/FL atomic absorption spectrometer, with a longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction system, equipped with a transversely-heated graphite atomizer (THGA) and the AS900 auto sampler. Hollow cathode lamps (HCL) were used for cadmium and lead detection. Variable were grouped according to the location, and tested by t-test and post-hoc analysis. We performed descriptive statistics, showing the minimum and maximum as well as the standard deviation. For statistical analysis, we used the Statistica13 software package. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Figure 1: Position of hunting grounds included in the study.

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CAN – Čantavir OST – Ostojićevo BUD – Budisava NOB – Novi Bečej BRE – Brestač SON – Sonta DOP – Donji Petrovci STE – Stejanovci BAP – Bačka Palanka

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Results and Discussion Results obtained in this study are shown in Table 1, which presents levels of Pb and Cd in the liver of brown hares at several locations (hunting grounds) in the region of Vojvodina. Table 1: Levels of Pb and Cd in brown hare liver, at hunting grounds in Vojvodina, Serbia. Hunting ground location N 45° 55' 27.892'' E 19° 44' 16.152'' N 45° 53' 22.906'' E 20° 10' 3.813'' N 45° 17' 0.43'' E 19° 59' 50.643'' N 45° 36' 3.963'' E 20° 8' 29.541'' N 44° 52' 10.667'' E 19° 55' 23.189'' N 45° 34' 56.654'' E 19° 3' 18.85'' N 44° 57' 28.145'' E 19° 59' 5.675'' N 45° 2' 59.14'' E 19° 43' 46.149'' N 45° 14' 59.019'' E 19° 23' 48.371''

n

CAN

20

OST

18

BUD

10

NOB

19

BRE

11

SON

20

DOP

11

STE

20

BAP

21

Total

150

Pb (ppb) Min-Max Average range 219.3A ND - 675.0 ±189.5 262.2A 58.0 - 620.0 ±133.9 138.7B ND - 426.9 ±116.0 228.7A ND - 900.9 ±227.9 122.8B ND - 261.8 ±88.2 149.8c ND - 631.8 ±158.8 78.3B ND - 476.2 ±145.4 80.7B ND - 873.7 ±198.6 209.9c ND - 679.0 ±162.9 ND - 900.0 165.6

Cd (ppb) Min-Max Average range 183.0 18.9 - 834.0 ±237.4 184.9 ND - 549.0 ±174.2 152.1 ND - 568.6 ±174.1 317.0 ND - 668.0 ±179.2 316.7 42.64 - 829.8 ±265.5 282.2 118.1 - 468.7 ±120.6 305.2 49.3 - 987.4 ±352.5 225.7 ND - 840.9 ±273.9 113.9 27.7 - 342.0 ±92.7 231.2 ND - 987

Cd statistical significance: p>0.05: AA, CC, cc, Aa, Ca, ca, ba, aa, bc, CA; p<0.05: Ab, Ca; p<0.01: Cb. Pb statistical significance: p>0.05: AA, BB, cc; p<0.05: Ac, Bc; p>0.01: AB. Hunting grounds: CAN: Čantavir, OST: Ostojićevo, BUD: Budisava, NOB: Novi Bečej, BRE: Brestač, SON: Sonta, DOP: Donji Petrovci, STE: Stejanovci, BAP: BačkaPalanka.

300 PB

250

Cd

ppb

200 150 100 50 0 CAN

OST

NOB

BUD

BRE

SON

DOP

STE

SON

BAP

Hunting grounds

Figure 2: Average level of Pb and Cd in brown hare liver, at hunting grounds in Vojvodina, Serbia.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ We determined the maximum value of Pb at the location NOB (900 ppb), while the maximum value of Cd was 987 ppb, determined at the location DOP. However, considering average values, the highest value of Pb was detected at location OST (262 ppb), and of Cd at location NOB (317 ppb) (Table 1, Figure 2). We found statistically significant differences among hunting grounds in contents of both Pb and Cd. The level of Pb was statistically significantly (p<0.01) higher in the hare liver at localities CAN, OST, and NOB in comparison with localities BUD, BRE, DOP, and STE, respectively (Table 1). Hunting grounds SON and BAP had significantly lower levels of Pb (p<0.05) in comparison with localities CAN, OST and NOB, but also significantly higher (p<0.05) contents of lead compared to locations BUD, BRE, DOP and STE. Cd contents in the hare liver at the hunting ground NOB was significantly (p<0.01) lower as in the hunting ground BAP, and also lower (p<0.05) compared to the localities BRE, SON and DOP. Other data of statistical comparison among hunting grounds are shown in Table 1.

BAP STE DOP

5,0

Pb (%)

SON BRE NOB 0,0

5,0

10,0

15,0

20,0

25,0

30,0

Cd (%)

BUD OST

Figure 3: Percent of brown hare with higher contents of Pb and Cd in liver than allowed.

According to the number of hares shown in Table 1, the percentage of highly contaminated hares’ liver with Pb and Cd is shown on Figure 3, which represents percentage of values exceeding allowed levels of 500 ppb (EC 2001; MAFW RS 2014). We found that only two hunting grounds had a highly contaminated livers with Pb, with more than 5% of hare micro-population being heavily contaminated. Much worse situation was in terms of Cd (Figure 3), and the hunting ground BRE had over 25% hares with Cd contents higher than allowed 500 ppb (EC 2001; MAFW RS 2014). Increased values of Cd in the tissue of hares originating from agro biotypes could be indicators of the presence of Cd in soil and in plants, mostly as a consequence of application of phosphate fertilizers which contain significant amounts of cadmium (Oosterhuis et al. 2004). But the presence of Cd and other heavy metals in phosphorous fertilizers depends primarily on the origin of raw phosphate (Kastori 1995, Lin et al. 2010). According to Veltman et al. (2007), there is a significant connection between accumulation of Cd in liver and in kidneys of wild mammals with total Cd content in soil. Massanyi et al. (2003) observed seasonal variations in accumulation of cadmium in hare tissue. Within the scope of this paper, the analysis of soil was not performed, and therefore it is not possible to make any comparisons in that sense. Cadmium, as opposed to Pb, has more intensive adopting and trans-locates to vegetate in above ground parts of plants (Kastori 1995). The intensity of the translocation of cadmium in overhead organs of plants is positively correlated with its concentration in the nutrient medium (Petrović and Kastori 1994). In this regard, results of our research show that average content of Cd in brown hare liver and the share of number of hares with higher values of Cd than allowed express higher figures than in the case of Pb.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ In the research papers that took into consideration the content of lead in hare tissues (Kleiminger and Holm 1985; Tataruch and Kierdorf 2003; Petović 2013), higher content of Pb was found in the liver, mostly in older individuals. However, there were no differences in Pb content in kidney between younger and older animals. Investigations regarding the level of toxic metals in the organs of hares from the territory of western plains of Slovakia (Massányi et al. 2003) and Serbia (Petović 2013) showed seasonal variations of Pb content in liver and in kidneys. The level of average values of accumulated lead depends on the sex of individuals, as reported by Massányi et al. (2003), and was 220 ppb for the liver of males, which was higher compared to females (136 ppb). Average values found in our study (165 ppb) was in the middle of these data. Another group of authors from Slovakia (Kramárová et al. 2005) reported the data for Pb in the tissues of the game species and compared bioaccumulation of lead in the liver of European brown hare (221 ppb) and in the population of free-ranging deer (1,904 ppb) as well as in the kidneys of hare (115 ppb) and deer (561 ppb). These results are in accordance with previous data for Vojvodina, while in the region of Central Serbia significantly higher values were found (Petrović 2013).

Conclusion Based on our results it can be concluded that hares from studied localities contain lower mean content of Pb compared to Cd. In observed hunting grounds we found a higher number of individuals with extreme values (more than allowed) of Cd than Pb. Contaminated hare liver with Pb and especially with Cd might be connected with intensive use of fertilizers in crop farming. But in our research the analysis of soil was not performed, therefore the prior ascertainment cannot be absolutely accepted. Further work is needed to investigate the source of contamination in order to preserve the health of humans and animals.

Acknowledgment This work was financially supported by the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry by project „Heavy metal accumulation in liver and kidney of hare (Lepus europaeus Pall.) in the hunting grounds of Vojvodina”, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, which financed this study within the project TR-31009.

References Baker A.J.M., McGrath S.P., Sidoli C.M.D, Reeves R.D. 1994. The possibility of in situ heavy metal decontamination of polluted soils using crops of metal-accumulating plants. Resources Conservation Recycling, 11:41–49. Beuković M., Popović Z., Beuković D. 2013. Sustainable management in hare populations in Vojvodina in the year 2012, along with a review of the last ten years. In: International Symposium on hunting „Modern aspects of sustainable management of game populations“. Novi Sad, Serbia, p. 29–38. Beuković M., Beuković D., Popović Z., Đorđević N., Đorđević M. 2013. Impact of climatic factors to the percentage of young in the population of brown hare (Lepus europaeus P.) in the Bačka district. Acta Veterinaria, 63:111–122. Đurić B.D., Petrović Lj.J. 1996. Zagađenje životne sredine i zdravlje čoveka – ekotoksikologija. Velarta, Beograd, 312−324. European Commission (EC). Commission Decision 466/2001 of 8 March 2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuff. Official Journal of the European Union L, 77:1–13. Kabata-Pendias A., Pendias H. 1984. Trace elements in soil and plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Kastori R. 1995. Zaštita agroekosistema, Novi Sad, 199–284. Kleiminger J., Holm J. 1985. Constructing a cause-oriented system for monitoring the contamination of game by harmful substances. 4. Choosing a suitable bioindicator of harmful substances. Fleischwirtschaft, 65:394– 399.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium FULL PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________________ Lin J., Wuyi W., Yonghua L., Linsheng Y. 2010. Heavy metals in soil and crops of an intensively farmed area: a case study in Yucheng City, Shandong Province, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 7:395–412. MAFW RS – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, republic of Serbia. 2014 Regulation of the maximum allowable residues of pesticides in food and feed, and about food and animal feed for which is determined the maximum allowable amounts of residues of plant protection products. Official gazette RS 29/2014 and 37/2014. Massányi P., Tataruch F., Slamečka J., Toman R., Jurčík R. 2003. Accumulation of lead, cadmium, and mercury in liver and kidney of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in relation to the season, age, and sex in the West Slovakian Lowland. J. Environ. Sci. Health. A, 387:1299–1309. Manninen S., Tanskanen N. 1993. Transfer of lead from shotgun pellets to humus and three plant species in a Finnish shooting range. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 24:410–414. Oosterhuis F.H., Brouwer F.M., Wijnants H.J.A. 2002. Possible EU wide charge on cadmium in phosphate fertilizers: Economic and environmental implications, Final report to the EU Commission, Report number E00/02, (commissioned by the EC). Petrović N., Kastori R. 1994. Heavy metals and plants. J. Food Physics, 1:71–73. Petrović Z. 2013. Procena biomonitorskog potencijala zeca (Lepus europaeus) na osnovu akumulacije teških metala u tkivima. Doktorska disertacija. Fakultet veterinarske medicine, Beograd. Rous P., Jelinek P., 2000. The effect of increased soil contamination with heavy metals on their content in some rabbit tissues. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 45:319−324. Sheppard S.C., Sheppard M.I. 1991. Lead in boreal soils and food plants. Water Air Soil Poll., 57-58:79–91. Slamečka J., Jurčík R., Mertin D., Rajský M. 2014. Reproductive parameters of farmed brown hare (Lepus europaeus) for restocking purposes, Balkan J. Wildl. Res., 1:26–33. Tataruch F., Kierdorf H. 2003.Trace metals and other contaminants in the environment. In: Bioindicators & Biomonitors – Principles, Concepts and Applications, Chapter 20, p. 737–772. Underwood E.J., Suttle N.F. 1999. The mineral nutrition of livestock. 3rd ed. New York: CABI Publishing. Veltman K., Huijbregts M.A.J., Hamers T., Wijnhoven S., Hendriks A.J. 2007. Cadmium accumulation in herbivorous and carnivorous small mammals: Meta-analysis of field data and validation of the bioaccumulation model optimal modelling for ecotoxicological applications. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 26:1488–1496. Wajdzik M. 2006. Contents of cadmium and lead in liver, kidneys and blood of the European hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas 1778) in Małopolska. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria 5:135–146.

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium INDEX OF AUTHORS __________________________________________________________________________________

F Flajšman, Katarina: 27, 69 Florijančić, Tihomir: 73 Furtek, Jakub: 19

INDEX OF AUTHORS A Al Sayegh Petkovšek, Samar: 23

G Gančević, Pavao: 25 Grubešić, Marijan: 75

B Bakan, Jana: 39 Barišić, Domagoj: 21 Barišić, Delko: 21 Bartol, Matej: 31 Ben Slimen, Hichem: 49 Beuković, Dejan: 7, 9, 53, 59, 81 Beuković, Miloš: 53, 59, 81 Bobek, Bogusław: 19 Borowik,Tomasz: 27 Bošković, Ivica: 73

H Heroldová, Marta: 85 Holá, Michaela: 17, 83 Hošek, Martin: 79 Hrbek, Jan: 79, 85 J Jajić, Igor: 59 Jakić Dimić, Dobrila: 87 Jakša, Jošt: 1 Janata, Přemysl: 47 Janicki, Zdravko: 57 Jędrzejewska, Bogumiła: 27, 45 Jelenčič, Maja: 63 Jelenko Turinek, Ida: 29, 31 Jerina, Klemen: 11, 25, 29, 31, 33, 65 Jezdimirović, Nemanja: 87 Ježek, Miloš: 17, 83 Jonozovič, Marko: 3, 65

C Cvetojević, Đorđe: 87 Č Černe, Rok: 63, 65 Ć Ćirović, Duško: 51, 87, 91 Ćosić, Nada: 51 D de Groot, Maarten: 69 Degmečić, Dražen: 73 Despot, Dragana: 55 Dežđek, Danko: 57 Djan, Mihajla: 43, 51, 89, 91 Doler, Katarina: 35 Drimaj, Jakub: 79, 85 Dvořák, Jan: 77

K Kamler, Jiří: 79, 85 Klansek, Erich: 15 Klinga, Peter: 39 Knauer, Felix: 15 Kolevska, Dana Dina: 9 Konjević, Dean: 57 Kos, Ivan: 35, 63 Kovačević, Milutin: 43 Krajmerová, Diana: 39 Krofel, Miha: 63, 65 Krstović, Saša: 59 Kudláček Tomáš: 85 Kureljušić, Branislav: 87 Kusak, Josip: 21 Kusza, Szilvia: 89 Kušta, Tomaš: 17, 83 Kutnar, Lado: 93

Đ Đorđević, Milutin: 55 Đorđević, Nenad: 81 E Ernst, Martin: 47

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4th International Hunting and Game Management Symposium INDEX OF AUTHORS __________________________________________________________________________________

L Lavadinović, Vukan: 7, 9, 59, 61, 81

S Sándor, Gyula: 5 Severin, Krešimir: 57 Simončič, Primož: 93 Sindičić, Magda: 57 Skrbinšek, Tomaž: 63, 65 Slavica, Alen: 57 Slivková, Veronika: 39 Soós, Noemi: 89 Srnec, Urška: 33 Stefanović, Milomir: 43, 51, 91 Stergar, Matija: 31 Stojčevski, Dejan: 9 Suchentrunk, Franz: 15, 49 Svobodová, Kateřina: 47 Svobodová, Pavla: 77

M Majić Skrbinšek, Aleksandra: 63, 65 Maletić, Vladimir: 9 Marenče, Miha: 65 Markov, Georgi: 49 Matejević, Milosava: 43 Matoušková, Jarmila: 47 Miklavčič, Viktor: 31 Milas, Zoran: 57 Miller, Christine: 13 N Náhlik, András: 5 Niedziałkowska, Magdalena: 45 Novák, Luboš: 47

Š Šnjegota, Dragana: 91 Šorgo, Andrej: 37 Šprem Nikica: 21, 25 Špur, Natalija: 37

O Obreht Vidaković, Dragana: 43 Ozimec, Siniša: 73

T Tari, Tamás: 5 Todorov, Nenad: 61 Tomljanović, Kristijan: 75 Trbojević, Igor: 91

P Paulauskas, Algimantas: 41 Paule, Ladislav: 39 Pavlović, Ivan: 87 Pešić, Branislav: 55 Piria, Marina: 21 Plhal, Radim: 79, 85 Plis, Kamila: 45 Pokorny, Boštjan: 23, 27, 29, 31, 37 Popović, Zoran: 7, 53, 59, 61, 81 Potočnik, Hubert: 35, 63 Pūraitė, Irma: 41

V Veličković, Nevena: 43, 51, 91 Vilhar, Urša: 93 W Wilson, Seth: 67 Wojciuch Płoskonka, Marta: 19 Z Zeman, Jaroslav: 79, 85 Zhelev, Petar: 49

R Radenković Damnjanović, Brana: 55 Ristić, Zoran: 43 Rohrmoser, Sigmund: 13

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