The Reproduction of the Weddell Seal Leptonychotes weddellii (Phosidae) in the Waters of the Argentine Islands Archipelago

Objective. The study of Leptonychotes weddellii (Phocidae) reproduction in the waters of the Argentine Islands archipelago. The inventory of Weddell seals was carried out on the islands of the archipelago by the route method with an inspection of the places where seals are likely to be located. Moving to the islands, depending on the ice situation, the weather conditions, was carried out on the sea ice or using a boat. The identification of L. weddellii was carried out in accordance with common methods.Мета. Дослідити розмноження Leptonychotes weddellii (Phocidae) в акваторії архіпелагу Аргентинські острови. Облік L. weddellii проводили на островах архіпелагу маршрутним методом з оглядом місць ймовірного знаходження тюленів. Переходи до островів, у залежності від льодової ситуації, погодних умов, здійснювали по морському льоду або з використанням човна. Ідентифікацію L. weddellii проводили згідно загальноприйнятої методики

Allelopathic potential and cytostatic activity of Antarctic moss Sanionia georgicouncinata (Amblystegiaceae)

From the first half of the XX century, the maritime Antarctic was a region with high regional warming rates. At the beginning of the XXI century, regional warming strongly slowed down, but during the next twenty years the near-surface temperatures and mean annual precipitation at the Antarctic Peninsula will most probably increase. Higher temperatures and precipitation make the conditions in the maritime Antarctic more favourable for plants, including invasive species. Moreover, the increasing number of Antarctic tourists unintentionally transport thousands of seeds to the Antarctic on their clothes and equipment. In such circumstances, it is important to evaluate possible defensive mechanisms of native plant species, including their allelopathic potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic potential and cytostatic activity of Sanionia georgicouncinata. This species is widespread in the maritime Antarctic and is one of the most abundant moss species on the Argentine Islands (Wilhelm Archipelago). Seeds of cucumber Cucumis sativus, radish Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus, wheat Triticum vulgare, and amaranth Amaranthus paniculatus were used as bioassay species. Fresh green biomass of S. georgicouncinata was used to prepare aqueous extracts with 1 : 10, 1 : 50, and 1 : 100 plant to water ratios. The average root length of wheat sprouts and cucumber sprouts in distilled water did not differ significantly from those in plant extracts. The root length of radish sprouts in 1 : 50 plant extract was significantly shorter than in distilled water. Meanwhile, in 1 : 50 and 1 : 100 water extracts, roots of amaranth plants were significantly longer than in water. The number of lateral roots of cucumber sprouts in water and studied aqueous extracts varied from 1 to 6 with medians from 3 to 4. The medians of control (distilled water) and sample groups (aqueous extracts) did not differ significantly, but only 38.1 ± 6.1% of cucumber sprouts developed lateral roots in the 1 : 10 aqueous extract of S. georgicouncinata, and even less – 28.3 ± 7.5% in the 1 : 50 aqueous extract. The results of this study show that the allelopathic potential of S. georgicouncinata is low. However, a significant cytostatic activity of the studied extracts shows that this species may still affect other plants and animals. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of the studied extracts on root growth and germination of the invasive plants, particularly Poa annua

Wildlife population changes across eastern europe after the collapse of socialism

When political regimes fall, economic conditions change and wildlife protection can be undermined. Eastern European countries experienced turmoil following the collapse of socialism in the early 1990s, raising the question of how wildlife was affected. We show that the aftermath of the collapse changed the population growth rates of various wildlife taxa. We analyzed populations of moose (Alces alces), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), and gray wolf (Canis lupus) in nine countries. Population growth rates changed in 32 out of 49 time series. In the countries that reformed slowly, many species exhibited rapid population declines, and population growth rates changed in 83% of the time series. In contrast, in countries with fast post- socialism reforms, many populations increased rapidly, and growth rates changed in only 48% of time series. Our results suggest that the direction and frequency of the changes were associated with socioeconomic conditions, and that wildlife populations can be greatly affected by socioeconomic upheavals

Monitoring of the situation “man and bear”

Meeting of man with Ursus arctos has been analyzed in three mountain areas of Ukraine. Almost in 90 % cases of the meeting with man a predator escapes, almost 8 % cases finished by the attack of beast, provoked by man. Recommendations of the behaviour of man at the meeting with a predator are proposed

Monitoring of the leopard seal population (Hydrurga leptonyx) in waters of the Argentine Islands (Antarctica)

The state of the leopard seal population (Hydrurga leptonyx Blainville, 1828) in waters of the Argentine Islands was studied during the periods April 2015 — March 2016 and April 2018 — March 2019 according to the objectives of the State Target Scientific and Technical Research Programme of Ukraine in Antarctica for the period 2011–2020. During the study period, 14 males and 16 females were recorded within the archipelago (1M : 1.1F ratio). About 7 % of the seals were young individuals and more than 90% were adults. Leopard seals were recorded during all periods of the year. In the summer-autumn period, within the archipelago, there were 2 to 4 individuals simultaneously. The maximum period of stay of the predators in waters of the archipelago was about two weeks. Two individuals for at least two weeks were recorded twice in waters of the archipelago. The maximum period of absence of the seals in waters of the archipelago was 118 days. It was found that the occurrence of leopard seals and hence the traces of their life activities in various years were of different nature. In the autumn (April–May) of 2015, they were seen less frequently, on average every 6.3 ± 2.5 days, and in the autumn of 2018, on the contrary, more frequently, on average every 2.5 ± 0.5 days. The activity of the leopard seal in the winter (June, August) of 2015 decreased by half. It was recorded that the animals appeared in waters of the archipelago on average every 12.7 ± 5.5 days, and in the winter of 2018 — 5.5 ± 1.9 days. In the autumn of 2018, the predators and traces of their vital activities were seen less often — every 6.6 ± 1.6 days. During the study period, out of 78 recorded cases of the leopard seal’s occurrence, about 56 % of cases were recorded when they were on ice floes, in other cases (44 %) — when they were in water. In addition, several crabeater seals were recorded three times on an ice floe at an insignificant distance from a leopard seal. One of the main prey items for leopard seals within the archipelago are birds, in particular the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), as well as crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus). The presence of two penguin colonies on Galindez Island attracts leopard seals to the archipelago. During the study period, successful leopard seal predation on penguins was recorded more than 20 times. Penguins were the most frequent prey of leopard seals in spring and summer, while crabeater seals in winter

The peculiarities of bear numbers dynamics in the Eastern Carpatians

There have been two periods of change in the dynamics of bear population in the Eastern Carpathians. The first period lasted over 50 years, starting in the late 1940s and ending in the year 2001. The second period started in the early 21st century. The bear population reached its maximum- of about 1100 individuals - in the early 1970s. Over 85% of recorded bear deaths have resulted from poaching

ASSESSMENT OF THE HUNTING GROUNDS QUALITY AT THE YAVIR PLUS LLC

Одним із напрямків мисливськогосподарської діяльності товариства з обмеженою відповідальністю "Явір плюс" є вольєрне розведення мисливських звірів. Товариство в угіддях Державного підприємства "Ківерцівське лісове господарство" влаштувало вольєр площею 208,1 га і в 2013 р. завезло Cervus elaphus та Sus scrofa. У межах вольєри оцінено якості мисливських угідь. Угіддя характеризуються для Cervus elaphus ІІІ.4 бонітетом і для Sus scrofa ІІІ.2 бонітетом, тобто середніми кормовими і захисними властивостями. Щільність Cervus elaphus на 1 га становить 5,8 особин, а Sus scrofa – близько 2 особин. У вольєрі здійснюють підгодівлю звірів.Одним из направлений охотохозяйственной деятельности общества с ограниченной ответственностью "Явор плюс" является вольерное разведение охотничьих зверей. Обществом в угодьях Государственного предприятия "Киверцовское лесное хозяйство" устроен вольер площадью 208,1 га и в 2013 г. завезено Cervus elaphus и Sus scrofa. В границах вольера проведена оценка качества охотничьих угодий. Угодья характеризуются для Cervus elaphus ІІІ.4 бонитетом и для Sus scrofa – ІІІ.2 бонитетом, то есть средними кормовыми и защитными свойствами. Плотность Cervus elaphus на 1 га составляет 5,8 особей, а Sus scrofa – около 2 особей. В вольере проводится подкормка зверей.One of the areas of the hunting economic activities of the limited liability company Yavir Plus is captive breeding of game animals. The company constructed an enclosure of 208.1 ha in area in the grounds of the Kivertsi Forestry State Enterprise, and in 2013 Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa were introduced there. The assessment of the quality of the hunting grounds was carried out within the enclosure. Concerning Cervus elaphus, the grounds are characterized by site class III.4, and for Sus scrofa – by site class III.3, i.e. the average forage and protective properties. The density of Cervus elaphus per hectare is 5.8 individuals, and is about 2 individuals for Sus scrofa. The animals in the enclosure are provided with supplementary feeding

Мировой опыт ведения вольерного охотничьего хозяйства

Проаналізовано ведення вольєрного господарства у Новій Зеландії, країнах Європи, Америки, Африки. Основними об'єктами вольєрного розведення є Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, Dama dama та ін. Величина трофеїв (вага, розміри) є показником стану популяції, а також правильного ведення мисливського господарства. Вольєрне мисливське господарство є рентабельніше, ніж тваринництво, що призвело, в деяких європейських країнах, до переорієнтації сільського господарства на розведення оленеподібних. У світі створені асоціації з розведення ратичних видів, які виділяють кошти на наукові дослідження. Результати прикладних наукових досліджень надають перевагу їх власникам у розведенні ратичних видів над конкурентами.Captive hunting game management in New Zealand, European countries, America, and Africa is examined. The main objects of captive breeding are Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, Dama dama and others. The size and weight of trophies are indicators of population status as well as proper hunting management. Captive hunting game management is more profitable than cattle breeding, which has made some European countries reorient agriculture to cervids breeding. Worldwide, associations dealing with ungulates breeding have been created that allocate funds for conducting research. The use of the results of applied research in practice provides the beneficiaries with advantages over their competitors in ungulates breeding.Проанализировано ведение вольерного хозяйства в Новой Зеландии, странах Европы, Америки, Африки. Основными объектами вольерного разведения является Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, Dama dama и др. Величина трофеев (вес, размеры) является показателем состояния популяции, а также правильного ведения охотничьего хозяйства. Вольерное охотничье хозяйство рентабельнее, чем животноводство, что привело, в некоторых европейских странах, к переориентации сельского хозяйства на разведение оленевидных. В мире созданы ассоциации по разведению копытных видов, которые выделяют средства на научные исследования. Результаты прикладных научных исследований предоставляют преимущество их владельцам в разведении копытных видов над конкурентами

Habitats and diet of the European bison in the Tsumanska Pushcha National Nature Park (Ukraine)

The conservation and restoration of the bison (Bison bonasus L.) is one of the fundamental issues of international importance in the Tsumanska Pushcha National Nature Park, Ukraine. The distribution of bison in the territory of the park and adjacent areas is associated with the specific requirements of the species regarding food and protective properties of the terrain. In spring, with the beginning of the growing season, the grass cover is thin and the amount of food is insufficient, so bison prefer swampy biotopes. In March–April, birch–alder and aspen–birch–alder stands provide optimal feeding conditions for the animals. Within the territory of spring distribution of bison, the biotopes they inhabit are represented by wet and fairly fertile sites (types C3 and C4,), as well as moist and fairly infertile pine site (type B3). Biotopes these animals inhabit during the spring–summer period (March–August) cover an area of about 1640 hectares, of which 350 hectares are within the national park, and the rest are part of the territory of the Muravyschensky and Sokyrychivsk forests of the Kivertsi Forestry State Enterprise. The territory of the forest districts is characterised by a mosaic structure of stands, alternating areas of broad-leaved and coniferous species, wetlands and grass glades with good feeding conditions for the animals. The animals have adapted to almost all types of forest biotopes. During the entire growing season, the trophic activity of bison is particulary high in pastures, forest clearings, and swampy meadows adjacent to woodlands. The main bison biotopes are located at a large distance from human settlements and characterised by poorly developed road network, low level of disturbance, and favourable living conditions. The current size of the bison population in the national park is 21 individuals, and the presence of calves and young animals is a sign of favourable conditions and positive population dynamics that may lead to further increase in the future. In order to minimise the impact of negative factors, relevant measures should be implemented to maintain the stability of the subpopulation, to protect the habitats of the animals, and to conduct active educational and informational activities in the park. The technologies of forest felling, harvesting of minor forestry products, and other forestry works must include elements aimed at preventing negative effects on bison