Using Lidar Data to Analyse Sinkhole Characteristics Relevant for Understory Vegetation under Forest Cover\u2014Case Study of a High Karst Area in the Dinaric Mountains

In this article, we investigate the potential for detection and characterization of sinkholes under dense forest cover by using airborne laser scanning data. Laser pulse returns from the ground provide important data for the estimation of digital elevation model (DEM), which can be used for further processing. The main objectives of this study were to map and determine the geomorphometric characteristics of a large number of sinkholes and to investigate the correlations between geomorphology and vegetation in areas with such characteristics. The selected study area has very low anthropogenic influences and is particularly suitable for studying undisturbed karst sinkholes. The information extracted from this study regarding the shapes and depths of sinkholes show significant directionality for both orientation of sinkholes and their distribution over the area. Furthermore, significant differences in vegetation diversity and composition occur inside and outside the sinkholes, which indicates their presence has important ecological impacts

A review of raptor and owl monitoring activity across Europe : its implications for capacity building towards pan-European monitoring

ABSTRACT Capsule: A questionnaire identified 1196 raptor monitoring species schemes within 236 monitoring programmes across 37 countries. Aims: To assess the level of monitoring of status/trends of raptors across Europe, to produce a webbased inventory of activities. Methods: A questionnaire promoted by voluntary national coordinators assessed monitoring coverage, focusing on breeding populations. Results: One thousand one hundred and ninety-six species schemes (236 monitoring programmes; 90% active in 2012) were reported from 37 countries. Sixty per cent of schemes were of over 10 years duration and nine countries ran schemes of over 40 years duration. Nineteen species had at least one scheme in 10 or more countries, and 15 species had schemes that ran for over 10 years. Thirteen species had breeding monitoring schemes in over 50% of countries where they breed, including widespread species (e.g. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus) and localized species (e.g. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus). Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus, Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes and Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus had the least representative coverage, and four rare species had no coverage. Coverage was more representative in north and west Europe than further south and east. Coverage was more representative for widespread species and those with more favourable conservation status. Conclusions: Large potential exists to enhance reporting on status/trends, ecotoxicology analyses and volunteer-based monitoring at the pan-European scale. National coordinators provide an ideal network to develop and disseminate best practice guidance across Europe.Peer reviewe

The matrix affects trackway corridor suitability for an arenicolous specialist beetle.

In conserving regional insect diversity dispersal corridors are advocated to counteract fragmentation and for resilience to climate change. However, influences of corridor design and management on their function are poorly understood. Effects of contrasting matrix structure on the suitability and function of trackways as corridors for dispersal of an arenicolous carabid beetle, Harpalus rufipalpis (Sturm), was studied within a plantation landscape using mark-release-recapture. A total of 1,120 marked H. rufipalpis were released into four trackways: two “open” trackways surrounded by pine plantations aged 13–16 years and two “shaded” trackways surrounded by plantations aged 26–37 years. Dispersal was monitored by a grid of pitfall transects placed across trackways at intervals of four meters, extending 44 m north and south of the release point. Numbers of resident and marked recaptured H. rufipalpis, their average daily movement rates and numbers of recaptures in the north and south direction were compared between open and shaded trackways using 238 recaptures. The surrounding matrix affected trackway suitability with greater abundance of resident beetles found in open trackways; however H. rufipalpis was also naturally present in shaded trackways. H. rufipalpis were more active in low quality shaded corridors as inferred from the greater number of recaptures and from greater daily movement rates. Corridor edge permeability differed between trackway types, with more individuals leaving the corridor to enter the matrix in the less suitable shaded trackways. Thus matrix type affected the potential habitat suitability and conduit function of trackway corridors

Conservation potential for heathland Carabid beetle fauna of linear trackways within a plantation forest.

1.Exploring conservation and connectivity potential of landscape linkages implies studies on the level of population and community structure. 2. We examined carabid beetle communities within a network of open linear trackways embedded in a plantation forest, in a region where conservation interest focuses on heathland associated species. The relative importance of environmental characteristics such as width, orientation, age of surrounding plantations and vegetation height on species associated with grassland, heathland and sandy habitats (GHS species) was explored in 36 trackway elements. 3.A total of 3554 individuals were collected of which 1465 were GHS specialists. Linear trackways supported important carabid beetle diversity including 17 GHS species of which six are nationally scarce within the UK. 4.The age of adjacent plantations was the most important factor determining community composition of carabids with GHS species favouring trackways surrounded by younger plantations. For predicting number and abundance of GHS species within a subset of trackways surrounded by younger plantations, models incorporating sward height in verges showed the strongest relationships. But results were statistically significant only for predicting abundance of the dominant GHS species Harpalus rufipalpis, which favoured wider trackways with lower vegetation and greater cover of bare sand. 5.Current conservation management using forage harvesting of trackways does not improve habitat quality for GHS carabids. Seemingly continuous network of linear linkages is interrupted by sections of less suitable habitat surrounded by older plantations. Conservation potential could be enhanced by widening of trackways and management by physical disturbance of soil and vegetation

The value of the trackway system within a lowland plantation forest for ground-active spiders

European forest management guidelines include conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. Within plantation forestry, trackways provide contiguous permanent open-habitat with potential to enhance biodiversity. We examined the ground-active spider assemblage in the trackway network of Thetford Forest, Eastern England, the largest lowland conifer forest in the UK, created by afforestation of heathland and farmland. Results are relevant to other forests in heath regions across Europe. We used pitfall trapping to sample the spider assemblage of trackways within thicket-aged stands (n = 17), mature stands (n = 13) and heathland reference sites (n = 9). A total of 9,314 individuals of 71 species were recorded. Spider assemblages of the trackway network were distinct from those of the heathland reference sites; however, trackways were found to support specialist species associated with grass-heath habitats, including nationally scarce species. Richness of grass-heath species was similar for trackways in thicket-aged forest and heathland reference sites, although the abundance of individuals was three times greater in the reference sites. Trackways in mature stands had lower grass-heath species richness and abundance than both thicket trackways and heath reference sites. Wide trackways within thicket stands contained greater richness and abundance of specialist xeric species than narrower trackways. However, fewer xeric individuals were found in trackways compared to heathland reference sites. Either inferior habitat quality in trackways or poor dispersal ability of specialist xeric species may largely restrict these to relict areas of heathland. Targeted widening of trackways to allow permanent unshaded habitat and creating early successional stages by mechanical disturbance regimes could improve trackway suitability for specialist species, helping to restore connectivity networks for grass-heath biodiversity

Using lidar data to analyse sinkhole characteristics relevant for understory vegetation under forest cover-case study of a high karst area in the dinaric mountains.

In this article, we investigate the potential for detection and characterization of sinkholes under dense forest cover by using airborne laser scanning data. Laser pulse returns from the ground provide important data for the estimation of digital elevation model (DEM), which can be used for further processing. The main objectives of this study were to map and determine the geomorphometric characteristics of a large number of sinkholes and to investigate the correlations between geomorphology and vegetation in areas with such characteristics. The selected study area has very low anthropogenic influences and is particularly suitable for studying undisturbed karst sinkholes. The information extracted from this study regarding the shapes and depths of sinkholes show significant directionality for both orientation of sinkholes and their distribution over the area. Furthermore, significant differences in vegetation diversity and composition occur inside and outside the sinkholes, which indicates their presence has important ecological impacts

Upravljanje prostoživečih živali čezmejnega območja Julijskih Alp na primeru alpskega kozoroga in severnega (alpskega) gamsa

Ekološka povezljivost je osnova, ki omogoča naravne procese vrst, kot so pretok genov, selitev, širjenje arealov vrst, in je pomembna za dolgoročno ohranjanje vrst ter njihovih habitatov. Za zagotavljanje ekološke povezljivosti je bistvena fizična povezanost habitatov in enostavno prehajanje osebkov ter vrst med njimi. Ovira za prehajanje organizmov in ohranjanje vrst med državami so razlike v politikah, zakonodaji in upravljanju prostoživečih živali. Neusklajeno upravljanje s prostoživečimi živalmi na obeh straneh državne meje lahko povzroči težave pri povezovanju populacij nekaterih vrst, ker vpliva na gibanje in vedenje živali. Zato so čezmejna zavarovana območja pomembna za zagotavljanje ekološke povezljivosti med dvema državama ali več. Za alpski prostor sta pomembni vrsti alpski kozorog (Capra ibex) in severni (alpski) gams (Rupicapra rupicapra). Zato smo za čezmejno območje Julijskih Alp (velikost 289.660 ha), ki leži med Italijo in Slovenijo, v projektih AlpBioNet2030 in DINALPCONNECT analizirali stanje in upravljanje obeh vrst ter predlagali izboljšave upravljanja s ciljem izboljšati stanje populacij in zagotoviti ekološko povezljivost habitata za vrste na širšem čezmejnem območju. Od leta 2017 smo izpeljali štiri čezmejne delavnice z deležniki z italijanske in slovenske strani (predstavniki lovcev, lastnikov zemljišč, upravljavcev zavarovanih območij, gozdarjev, odločevalcev na nacionalni in regionalni ravni (ministrstva, občine) ter varstva narave). Rezultat participativnega procesa je čezmejni koncept celostnega upravljanja z alpskim kozorogom in severnim (alpskim) gamsom ter njunima habitatoma, ki vsebuje vizijo in strategijo čezmejnega upravljanja ter akcijski načrt na čezmejnem območju Julijskih Alp.Ecological connectivity enables natural processes such as gene flow, migration, and species range shifts, and is therefore important for the long-term conservation of species and their habitats. To ensure ecological connectivity, the physical connection of habitat patches, and unimpeded movement of the organisms between them are essential. Barriers for transboundary movement of organisms between countries are the differences in the politics, legislation, and management of wildlife. Inconsistent management of wildlife can cause problems in the connectivity of some species’ populations on both sides of the country border, which affects the movement and behaviour of the animals. Therefore, trans-boundary protected areas play an important role in ensuring ecological connectivity between two or more countries. Two important wildlife species for the Alpine area are Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) and northern (Alpine) chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Therefore, in the AlpBioNet2030 and DINALPCONNECT projects, we analysed the condition and management of both species in the Julian Alps trans-boundary area (size 289.660 ha), situated between Italy and Slovenia. Furthermore, we proposed changes in management to improve the populations’ condition and ensure ecological connectivity of the habitat for the species in the wider trans-boundary area. Since 2017, we have carried out four trans-boundary workshops with stakeholders from Italy and Slovenia (representatives of hunters, landowners, protected area managers, foresters, decision-makers on the national and regional level (ministries, municipalities), and nature conservationists). The result of the participative process is a trans-boundary management concept of the Alpine ibex and northern (Alpine) chamois populations and their habitat, which incorporates the vision and strategy of the trans-boundary management and action plan in the Julian Alps trans-boundary area

Invasive Alien Plant Species—Raising Awareness of a Threat to Biodiversity and Ecological Connectivity (EC) in the Adriatic-Ionian Region

Improving ecological connectivity (EC) within landscapes by establishing corridors and ecological networks has been proposed to counteract the negative effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change on biodiversity. To be functional, ecological networks should be kept free of opportunistic invasive species that can disrupt EC between protected areas and cause biodiversity loss. The present study focused on perennial herbaceous species whose occurrence in the Adriatic-Ionian region has increased in the last two decades, namely common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), Bohemian knotweed (Reynoutria × bohemica), giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae). All species have a high potential to spread in grasslands, abandoned agricultural fields, forest edges, and riparian areas and pose a significant threat to native plant communities and biodiversity. Restoring heavily infested sites is a major challenge because these perennial invaders are very persistent and tend to alter the soil environment in invaded habitats and prevent the recolonization of native plant communities. Therefore, early action should be taken to prevent the spread of these environmental weeds in ecological networks and protected areas with high conservation value