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Globally, forests are the most threatened habitats, especially due to tree logging and other disturbances caused mainly by humans [...]

This study investigates the drivers of mammalian functional diversity in Benoué National Park, Cameroon, focusing on the relative roles of environmental filtering, spatial structure, and plant–animal interactions. Using trait‐based approaches, we partitioned the effect of local environmental variables (plant species or land use) and spatial predictors on mammalian functional traits' structure. Based on the first analysis, the presence of tree species as environmental variables highlighted the dual role of vegetation structure as well as the importance of the spatial pattern. Key plant species such as Burkea africana, Gardenia aqualla, and Annona senegalensis were significantly associated with specific functional traits (carnivores, herbivores, and migratory species). According to the second analysis, with land use proportions as environmental variables, the results highlighted strong trait–environment correlations, particularly in response to anthropogenic disturbance and habitat heterogeneity. Species less frequently observed in areas affected by human activities included Lion Panthera leo , Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis , and Giant eland Taurotragus derbianus gigas . On the other hand, some species did not avoid the areas with increased human activity (Kob Kobus kob or Olive baboon Papio anubis ). Conservation strategies should integrate vegetation management, landscape‐scale planning, and spatial connectivity to preserve both taxonomic and functional diversity. Our study emphasizes the ecological importance of plant–mammal interactions in tropical savannah. This study explores the drivers of mammalian functional diversity in Benoué National Park, Cameroon, focusing on the combined effects of environmental filtering, spatial structure, and plant–animal interactions. Results show that both vegetation characteristics and spatial configuration significantly influence trait distribution, highlighting the importance of integrating landscape and plant‐based conservation strategies in tropical savannah ecosystems.

The low survival rate of leverets may significantly contribute to steep population declines and slow recovery of European hares ( Lepus europaeus ). However, the leveret survival rate in farmlands with different landscape structures is poorly understood, and the existing evidence comes mainly from Western Europe. In this study, we explored the survival of leveret hare dummies along linear semi-natural habitats in homogeneous Central European arable farmland during the main part of the European hare reproduction period (March–April) in 2019 and 2020. The survival rate of hare leverets during the 14-day period was only 22.2%, and all predation events were recorded during the first six days of the experiment. Mammalian predators were responsible for 53.1% of predation events, avian predators for 40.8%, and agricultural operations for 6.1%. The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) was the dominant predator in our study area and was the primary cause of leveret dummy mortality (32.7%), but it also had the highest use-intensity and visit frequency of all of the study plots. Predation by avian predators was associated with patches of lower vegetation height and cover (such as plowed fields) and during daylight hours, whereas the opposite was true for mammalian predators. We propose that improving the habitat quality of arable landscapes by increasing the proportion and quality of extensively used non-farmed habitats ( e.g. , set-asides, wildflower areas, extensive meadows, fallow land, and semi-natural habitats on arable land) providing cover and shelter for leverets could be an effective management measure for reducing predation risk on leverets.

Due to mainly opportunistic hunting behaviour of Barn owl can be its diet composition used for assessing local structure of small-mammal community. We evaluated the structure of small-mammal communities in the Mediterranean region by analysing Barn owl diet using own pellets and literature data (85 localities comprising 182,343 prey individuals). Contrary to widely accepted macroecological theory, we found a latitudinal increase of small-mammal alpha diversity, a less distinct west–east increase and lower diversity on islands. The mean prey weight decreased with increasing latitude, while on islands it decreased with increasing island area. The mean prey weight on islands was further negatively affected by mean land modification by human and positively affected by its range. The diet diversity on islands was not affected either by island area or its distance from the mainland. Its composition largely conformed to the main pattern pronounced over whole the region: an unexpected homogeneity of small-mammal community structure. Despite high beta diversity and large between-sample variation in species composition, Crocidura (+  Suncus etruscus ) and murids ( Apodemus , Mus , Rattus , in marginal regions partly replaced by gerbillids, Meriones or Microtus ) composed more than 90% of owl prey in 92% of samples. Peak abundances of these widespread species are associated with a dynamic mosaic of dense patches of sparse herb vegetation and evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands interspersing areas of human activity, the dominant habitat of the inner Mediterranean and richest food resource for foraging Barn owls. The respective small-mammal species can be looked upon as invasive elements accompanying large scale human colonization of the region since the Neolithic and replacing original island biota. Our study documented that desertification of the Mediterranean played an important role in shaping inverse latitudinal gradient in diversity of small-mammals that contradicts to widely accepted mecroecological theory.

Pleistocene mammalian communities display unique features which differ from present-day faunas. The paleocommunities were characterized by the extraordinarily large body size of herbivores and predators and by their unique structure consisting of species now inhabiting geographically and ecologically distinct natural zones. These features were probably the result of the unique environmental conditions of ice age ecosystems. To analyze the ecological structure of Last Glacial and Recent mammal communities we classified the species into biome and trophic-size categories, using Principal Component analysis. We found a marked similarity in ecological structure between Recent eastern Altai-Sayan mammalian assemblages and comparable Pleistocene faunas. The composition of Last Glacial and Recent eastern Altai-Sayan assemblages were characterized by the occurrence of large herbivore and predator species associated with steppe, desert and alpine biomes. These three modern biomes harbor most of the surviving Pleistocene mammals. None of the analyzed Palearctic Last Glacial faunas showed affinity to the temperate forest, taiga, or tundra biome. The Eastern part of the Altai-Sayan region could be considered a refugium of the Last Glacial-like mammalian assemblages. Glacial fauna seems to persist up to present in those areas where the forest belt does not separate alpine vegetation from the steppes and deserts.

Nest boxes represent a popular tool to support secondary cavity-nesting species. Surprisingly, the benefits and limitations of nest boxes for target species in different environments are poorly understood. We performed a 3-years experimental study in two different Central European forests to evaluate nest box use and breeding performance of boreal owl ( Aegolius funereus ) — a species well known for its readiness to occupy nest boxes. Based on territorial vocalisation, two boreal owl populations 200 km apart were similarly abundant in their environments. However, only the boreal owl population in young restored Norway ( Picea abies ) and blue ( Picea pungens ) spruce-dominated forests on mountain plateaus readily occupied nest boxes with the occupancy reaching 8–15%. Nest boxes lost their supporting function for the boreal owl in mature Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris )-dominated forests in the lowland, where the nest box occupancy reached 0–1%. As a result, the population of boreal owls that used nest boxes in the young restored forests produced 10 times more fledglings than the population inhabiting mature Scots pine forests. We explain the differences by the contrasting availability of natural tree cavities between the two study areas being much higher in mature Scots pine forests. For the first time, this study documents differences in nest box use despite similar food availability and population size of the target species. The study provides the findings-related recommendations for deploying nest boxes for boreal owls and points out a general lack of practical guides.

Vertical stratification of avian communities has been studied in both temperate and tropical forests; however, the majority of studies used ground-based methods. In this study we used ground-to-canopy mist nets to collect detailed data on vertical bird distribution in primary rain forest in Wanang Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea (Madang Province). In total 850 birds from 86 species were caught. Bird abundance was highest in the canopy followed by the understory and lowest in the midstory. Overall bird diversity increased towards the canopy zone. Insectivorous birds represented the most abundant and species-rich trophic guild and their abundances decreased from the ground to canopy. The highest diversity of frugivorous and omnivorous birds was confined to higher vertical strata. Insectivorous birds did not show any pattern of diversity along the vertical gradient. Further, insectivores preferred strata with thick vegetation, while abundance and diversity of frugivores increased with decreasing foliage density. Our ground-to-canopy (0–27 m) mist netting, when compared to standard ground mist netting (0–3 m), greatly improved bird diversity assessment and revealed interesting patterns of avian community stratification along vertical forest strata.

Elevational gradients offer valuable opportunities to investigate biodiversity patterns and the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape them. Although tropical mountains are recognized as biodiversity hotspots, the various dimensions of biodiversity in these systems, particularly in equatorial Africa, remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the functional (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of bird assemblages along a primary forest elevational gradient in Cameroon, West‐Central Africa, spanning from lowland forests to the treeline (~2300 m a.s.l.). We analyzed how FD and PD vary with elevation and tested the roles of abiotic filtering and biotic interactions, such as competition, in community assembly. Additionally, we assessed whether taxonomic diversity (TD) increases through niche packing or expansion, based on morphological and resource‐use traits. Using null models and bird occurrence data, we inferred the drivers of FD and PD patterns and evaluated whether species in more diverse assemblages occupied novel functional space compared to less diverse assemblages. Our results showed that both functional richness and TD declined with elevation, whereas functional nearest neighbor distance, functional evenness, and mean nearest taxon distance increased. Traits related to resource use suggested that bird species at higher elevations were functionally less similar than expected by chance, partially supporting the influence of competition consistent with the guild assembly rule. Phylogenetic clustering observed at both low and high elevations pointed to independent species radiations, likely shaped by historical forest dynamics. In species‐rich lowland assemblages, we found evidence of niche packing, suggesting increased specialization or niche overlap. In contrast, niche expansion appeared to contribute to higher TD at elevated sites. Overall, our findings indicate that while abiotic filters along forested elevational gradients and competition in lowland forests play roles in shaping avian diversity, they are not the sole or dominant mechanisms. Nonetheless, partial support for competition aligns with theoretical expectations under the guild assembly framework. On Mt. Cameroon, functional richness and taxonomic diversity decreased with elevation, while functional nearest neighbor distance, functional evenness, and mean nearest taxon distance showed positive trends. Traits related to resource use indicated that higher‐elevation species were functionally less similar than expected by chance, supporting partially competition under the guild assembly rule. Phylogenetic clustering at low and high elevations suggested independent species radiation linked to historic forest dynamics. Low‐elevation, species‐rich assemblages displayed niche packing, while niche expansion contributed to TD increases at higher elevations.

摘要 在巴基斯坦地区，灰狼捕食牲畜导致的人狼冲突，以及缺乏相应的缓解措施是导致灰狼这一濒危的物种种群数量下降的关键威胁因素。本研究于2019年1月至2021年9月期间，通过对从43个不同人类定居点中随机选出的200名牧羊人进行问卷调查获取了人狼冲突以及缓解措施数据。使用二元逻辑广义线性模型（GLM）预测了与人‐狼冲突模式相关的景观特征。在希加尔河谷开展的3年研究中，灰狼在夏季造成963头牲畜死亡，造成受访的200名牧羊人总计2.445亿卢比（约合1,381,388.14美元）的经济损失，在冬季，灰狼导致798头牲畜死亡，经济损失为1.6931亿卢比（约合956,608.1356美元）。问卷调查结果显示，当政府部门的补偿不足时，牧民对灰狼持消极态度。

Illegal bushmeat trade is a significant driver of the decline in wildlife populations within the tropics. Despite the intense trade of bushmeat in Cameroon, there is dearth or no official statistics on the kind of animals sold in the markets in most parts of Cameroon. To abridge this knowledge gap, an inventory of wild animals sold in local markets was carried out. The animal taxa sold within the markets were identified, and their abundance, class diversity and conservation status according to the IUCN Red List of threatened species and Cameroon wildlife classification were assessed. Semi‐structured questionnaires were randomly administered to 200 traders randomly selected in 16 markets. Multivariate analyses were used to compare the proportions of sold taxa among the markets and the proportions of taxa based on their conservation status. Results were summarized as shown below: (1) 476 individuals of animals were recorded, covering 47 taxa, 41 genera, 33 families, 18 orders and 3 classes from bushmeat vendors. (2) Mammals dominated the trade in all markets (by a mean of 74.3% per market), followed by reptiles (16.1%) and birds (9.5%) in terms of both abundance and diversity. (3) Cane rats (Thryonomyidae) and primates (Cercopithecidae) represented the highest proportions of animal specimens recorded. (4) The diversity of mammals sold was highest in Foumbot, followed by Bangangte, Bafousam and Bangoua as the main local markets, and lowest mammalian diversity was found in Batcham and Baham village markets. (5) The most often traded animal species belonged to the least concern category, followed by vulnerable, near threatened, endangered, and critically endangered. In general, we observed that less protected species by the IUCN Red List and Cameroon wildlife classification were often found in village markets and species with higher conservation value were often sold in city markets. Similarly, the main markets hosted the highest diversity of sold animals, especially mammals. The size of the human settlement together with its location nearby protected area and/or placement of the market by the main road are the main drivers determining numbers and diversity of sold animals, and further attention to government conservation activities should be focused on these markets. The size of the human settlement together with its location nearby protected area and/or placement of the market by the main road are the main drivers determining numbers and diversity of sold animals, and further attention to government conservation activities should be focused on these markets.