Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development
In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sciendo
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Folia Oecologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2021-0017 |
| _version_ | 1831773374742790144 |
|---|---|
| author | Petluš Peter Petlušová Viera Baláž Ivan Ševčík Michal Lešová Andrea Hapl Ervín |
| author_facet | Petluš Peter Petlušová Viera Baláž Ivan Ševčík Michal Lešová Andrea Hapl Ervín |
| author_sort | Petluš Peter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel colonies have been implemented. The aim in supporting the population of the European ground squirrel is to increase the number of birds of prey and to ensure a food base for them. In this paper, we focus on evaluating the success rate of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) management measures. The research was realized at two localities in the Protected Bird Area Slovenský kras (Hrhov and Gemerská Hôrka) in the years 2015–2018. Activities were focused on the management of grassland and supplemental feeding during the breeding period. As a result of the management measures and the supplemental feeding, we managed to maintain a positive trend in the populations’ development, as there was an increase observed in all the monitored seasons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:35:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36f234e478c04d0397a4236ac5aae1b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1338-7014 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:35:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Folia Oecologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-36f234e478c04d0397a4236ac5aae1b02022-12-21T18:32:22ZengSciendoFolia Oecologica1338-70142021-07-0148216917910.2478/foecol-2021-0017Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population developmentPetluš Peter0Petlušová Viera1Baláž Ivan2Ševčík Michal3Lešová Andrea4Hapl Ervín5Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaState Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 28B, 974 01Banská Bystrica, SlovakiaRaptor Protection of Slovakia, Trhová 54, 841 01Bratislava, SlovakiaIn the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel colonies have been implemented. The aim in supporting the population of the European ground squirrel is to increase the number of birds of prey and to ensure a food base for them. In this paper, we focus on evaluating the success rate of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) management measures. The research was realized at two localities in the Protected Bird Area Slovenský kras (Hrhov and Gemerská Hôrka) in the years 2015–2018. Activities were focused on the management of grassland and supplemental feeding during the breeding period. As a result of the management measures and the supplemental feeding, we managed to maintain a positive trend in the populations’ development, as there was an increase observed in all the monitored seasons.https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2021-0017bird of preyfeeding landscape managementpopulation densityrestitutionspermophilus citellus |
| spellingShingle | Petluš Peter Petlušová Viera Baláž Ivan Ševčík Michal Lešová Andrea Hapl Ervín Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development Folia Oecologica bird of prey feeding landscape management population density restitution spermophilus citellus |
| title | Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development |
| title_full | Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development |
| title_fullStr | Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development |
| title_short | Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development |
| title_sort | impact of management measures on the european ground squirrel population development |
| topic | bird of prey feeding landscape management population density restitution spermophilus citellus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2021-0017 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petluspeter impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment AT petlusovaviera impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment AT balazivan impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment AT sevcikmichal impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment AT lesovaandrea impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment AT haplervin impactofmanagementmeasuresontheeuropeangroundsquirrelpopulationdevelopment |