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Selected factors influencing the spatial relationship between latrines and burrows in rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in a suburban area of Madrid (Spain)

Domínguez-Cebrián I., Javier de Miguel F.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2013

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Vol. 61, nr 4

819--823

EN

Latrines are a key element of maintenance behaviour in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), as well as a very important source of social and territorial information. On the other hand, its location probably carries significant costs associated with risk of predation. This study focuses on the factors involved in the spatial distribution of rabbit latrines in a suburban Mediterranean forest in Madrid (central Spain). In total, 167 latrines associated to 15 burrows were analyzed and the following information recorded: distance from each latrine to the burrow, ease of transit between each latrine and the burrow, visibility from the latrine and plant cover around the latrine. Our results show that, although all these factors are involved in the latrines disposition, their specific weight in the same was unequal, being ease of transit, visibility and plant cover more important than the distance between the latrines and the burrow.

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Detection of otter (Lutra lutra L.) signs in a survey of Central and Eastern Poland: methodological implications

Romanowski J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2013

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Vol. 61, nr 3

597--604

EN

Searching for spraints (excre ments) and tracks is widely used for monitoring of European populations of otters Lutra lutra. Data collected in Central and Eastern Poland were analysed in order to evaluate the environmental factors affecting the detection of otter signs during field surveys. At each out of 1111 sites studied from 1996–1998 numbers of otter spraints and tracks as well as distance searched to detect first sign were noted. At each site several environmental variables were recorded to identify factors that may have affected the survey results. The variation in numbers of spraints and tracks found at each positive site was not related to the habitat quality and any other habitat features (including tree and shrub cover, presence of potential shelters) analysed, except the number of tracks was positively related to bridge potential. The distance searched was the most variable indicator of otter occurrence. It increased with the width of river and at sites with few potential sprainting sites, with bridges of poor potential or with no bridges at all, and where many signs of human and domesticated animals activity were noted. The results indicate that detection of otter signs is partially affected by specific elements unrelated to habitat potential and therefore numbers of spraints should not be used as an indicator of otter habitat preference. At a regional scale variation in number of spraints and tracks, as well as distance searched was related to otter occupancy expressed in the form of percentage of positive sites at three study areas. This study shows that measuring the distance searched provides additional indication of otter status at a regional scale and could be used to identify specific habitats where detection of otter signs during surveys is difficult.

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Spatial distribution of scent marks in the Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes L.) : do red foxes select certain plants as signal posts?

Miguel F., Valencia A. A., Arroyo M., Monclus R.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2009

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Vol. 57, nr 3

605-609

EN

Chemical signals are widely used in inter and intraspecific communication in many animals. The importance of scent marks in communication has led to a variety of strategies in animals to increase the detectability and persistence of their scent marks. We studied the scent marking of foxes in relation to the role of plants as scent posts in a suburban Mediterranean forest in Madrid. Twice a month, from October 2005 to April 2006, we prospected 16 fixed 50 x 50 m plots, randomly distributed along the study area. We registered all fox faeces and their association to different plants, as well as the potential availability of the different plant species in our study area. Our results indicate that faeces were associated with plants mainly in the clearings, foxes preferred wooden species to grasses as scent posts and holm oak shrubs and rockroses to other wooden species. These data suggest that red foxes select certain plants as substrates for their faeces and pose the possibility that they are guided by searching images when looking for scent posts.

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Response of the bank vole Clethrionomys glareaolus (Schreber, 1780) to the odour and presence of heterospecifics as measured by scent marking behaviour and trapping in double traps in an alder forest

Mróz I.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2007

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Vol. 55, nr 3

559-570

EN

The paper addresses the following issues: (1) does the bank vole response to odours of other rodent species by urine and faeces marking (2) does this reaction depend on the species, (3) does the amount of odour influence the marking, and (4) the response of bank voles to the presence of heterospecifics, and its comparison with the response of marking the odour deposited by these species. The study was conducted in a Ribo nigri-Alnetum swamp located in the Kampinos National Park, central Poland (52 [degrees] 20'N and 27 [degrees] 25'E). To observe scent marking, white paper sheets (15 x 21 cm) supplied with sponges (1 cm[^3]) soaked in odour of particular rodent species were exposed in the forest along a line ca 1200 m long. Odour donors were countryside species: a) phylogenetically close to the bank vole, such as Microtus agrestis (L.) and M. oeconomus (Pallas), b) sympatric, such as Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior) and A. sylvaticus (Melchior), or occupying a different habitat A. agrarius (Pallas), and allopatric species such as Meriones unguiculatus (Milne-Edwards), Mesocricetus auratus (Waterhouse), and Octodon degus (Bennet). Also sheets with the odour of bank vole and control sheets without odour were exposed. Marking was analysed basing on the number of marked sheets (marking extensity), and on the number of urine and faeces marks on sheets (marking intensity). During the three study years, a high marking extensity was observed for the odours of phylogenetically close species. The odours of sympatric species were marked less frequently and with a higher variability in successive years. The lowest marking extensity was found for geographically alien (allopatric) species. The mean number of marks per sheet did not differ significantly between the species. To examine the effect of odour quantity on marking, a line (ca 630 m long) made up of sheets provided with 1, 3, and 5 sponges with M. oeconomus and C. glareolus odour, and of control sheets was established. The increase in the number of sponges with heterospecific odour had no effect on the extensity and intensity of marking. Significant difference in marking extensity, but not in marking intensity, was found in the case of conspecific odour. The response of bank voles to the presence of heterospecifics was examined based on the number of captures in double-traps with a live individual. In the forest, a line of 30 double-traps placed every 10 m was established, containing single M. oeconomus, A. flavicollis, or C. glareolus. Bank voles were more often captured in traps with conspecifics than with heterospecofics. Thus, bank voles avoid encounters with heterospecifics but they do not avoid marking their odour (marking the heterospecific odour was not lower than marking conspecifics and control). It may suggest that under natural conditions, interspecific communication is largely mediated through olfactory cues.