A species' susceptibility to environmental change might be predicted by its ecological and life-h... more A species' susceptibility to environmental change might be predicted by its ecological and life-history traits. However, the effects of such traits on long-term bird population trends have not yet been assessed using a comprehensive set of explanatory variables. Moreover, the extent to which phylogeny affects patterns in the interspecific variability of population changes is unclear. Our study focuses on the interspecific variability in long-term population trends and annual population fluctuations of 68 passerine species in the Czech Republic, assessing the effects of eight life-history and five ecological traits. Ordination of life-history traits of 68 species revealed a life-history gradient, from 'r-selected' (e.g. small body mass, short lifespan, high fecundity, large clutch size) to 'K-selected' species. r-selected species had more negative population trends than K-selected species, and seed-eaters declined compared with insectivores. We suggest that the r-selected species probably suffer from widespread environmental changes, and the seed-eaters from current changes in agriculture and land use. Populations of residents fluctuated more than populations of short-distance migrants, probably due to the effect of winter climatic variability. Variance partitioning at three taxonomic levels showed that whereas population trends, population fluctuations and habitat specialization expressed the highest variability at the species level, most life-history traits were more variable at higher taxonomic levels. These results explain the loss of statistical power in the relationship between life histories and population trends after controlling for phylogeny. However, we argue that a lack of significance after controlling for phylogeny should not reduce the value of such results for conservation purposes.
The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) and the firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) are sympatric over a larg... more The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) and the firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) are sympatric over a large part of Europe, but with different abundance ratios. We studied the effects of geographical location, vicinity of the species range boundaries, habitat and climate factors on the goldcrest/firecrest abundance ratio. At the continental scale, a weighted multiple linear regression model resulted in four significant covariates: temperature, precipitation, forest type and occurrence rate (representing the vicinity of the species' range boundaries). The firecrest dominates in warmer and more humid areas and its dominance is more pronounced in mixed forests. The projection of the model showed that in any combination of temperature, precipitation and occurrence rate, the probability to encounter the goldcrest is higher in coniferous forests. Studies in Croatia and the Czech Republic showed regional differences in habitat preferences related to forest type. A significant effect of the seasonal dynamics of precipitation was confirmed in Croatia. Climate change and changes in forestry may influence the distribution and abundance of these two Regulus species in Europe.
Bat activity in the Czech and Polish part of the Krkonoše Mts.revealed by bat detectors
The Krkonose Mts. in 70-ties and 80-ties of the XXth century were exposed to industrial emissions... more The Krkonose Mts. in 70-ties and 80-ties of the XXth century were exposed to industrial emissions and recently are also threaten by more intense tourism and deforestation incident to new skiing areas. Bats are vulnerable to anthropogenic environmental changes in particular, so they are good bioindicator of habitats quality. We studied bat activity in different habitats of Krkonose Mts. in three growing seasons (2012-2014). We aimed to determine (1) species diversity and flight activity of bat assemblages in selected habitats, (2) changes in flight activity and species composition throughout the season and in various altitudes, (3) the usage of small watercourses as potential flight corridors and (4) species diversity and bat flight activity in the forests with different management type. Bat activity was measured using echolocation calls units recorded by means of time expansion and automatic Lunar-2 detectors. Water surfaces, urban areas and forb-rich beech forests were the most spe...
The paper summarises data on occurrence of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) in the t... more The paper summarises data on occurrence of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) in the territory of the present Czech Republic in 1946–2011. Altogether 129 individuals were ringed, 85 visual observations of 108 birds were made and 3 dead specimens were recorded during the study period. In both ringed and observed individuals, records from the period of spring migration prevail. Based on ringing data, the spring passage peaked in the 3rd ten-day period of April. Concerning the records of observed birds, the passage did not show any distinct peak (most observations come from the 1st–3rd ten-day period of May). In the breeding season (1 June – 19 July), no birds were captured but 22 observations of 25 individuals, including singing males, were made. However, breeding of the species has not been documented in the country so far. The autumn migration occurred from the 3rd ten-day period of July with a peak in the 1st or 2nd ten-day period of September (ringing data and visual ob...
Contribution to the birds and mammals of Ladakh (N India)
Oecologia Montana, 2011
Altogether 86 bird and 11 mammal species were observed during two one-month visits to eastern, so... more Altogether 86 bird and 11 mammal species were observed during two one-month visits to eastern, southern and central Ladakh (ca 3300–5500 m asl) in 2007 and 2011: they are listed, and more detailed information added for some of them. Data on abundance and family size of Anser indicus on the lake Tso Moriri are given, a detailed map with numbers of Equus kiang in visited areas is provided, and occurrence of the endangered species Grus nigricollis and Panthera uncia is confirmed. A new bird species ( Emberiza stewarti ) is added to the list of Ladakh’s vertebrates.
Krkonose byly v 70 a 80 letech poskozeny emisemi a v soucasnosti jsou pod silných tlakem roustouc... more Krkonose byly v 70 a 80 letech poskozeny emisemi a v soucasnosti jsou pod silných tlakem roustouciho turismu a rozvoje lyžařských arealů. Netopýři jsou zranitelnou složkou bioty a jevi se jako vhodna bioindikacni skupina. Studovali jsme druhove složeni a letovou aktivity netopýrů v různých biotopech ceských i polských Krkonos.
Výskyt velkých šelem-rysa ostrovida (Lynx lynx), vlka obecného (Canis lupus) a medvěda hnědého (U... more Výskyt velkých šelem-rysa ostrovida (Lynx lynx), vlka obecného (Canis lupus) a medvěda hnědého (Ursus arctos)-a kočky divoké (Felis silvestris) v České republice a na západním Slovensku v letech 2012-2016 (Carnivora)
Migratory strategies of animals are broadly defined by species’ eco-evolutionary dynamics, while ... more Migratory strategies of animals are broadly defined by species’ eco-evolutionary dynamics, while behavioural plasticity according to the immediate environmental conditions en route is crucial for energy efficiency and survival. The Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea is known for its remarkable migration capacity, as it performs the longest migration known by any animal. Yet, little is known about the ecology of this record-breaking journey. Here, we tested how individual migration strategies of Arctic terns are adapted to wind conditions and fuelling opportunities along the way. To this end, we deployed geolocators on adult birds at their breeding sites in Svalbard, Norway. Our results confirm fundamental predictions of optimal migration theory: Arctic terns tailor their migration routes to profit from (1) tailwind support during the movement phase and (2) food-rich ocean areas during the stopover phase. We also found evidence for seasonally distinct migration strategies: terns prioritiz...
Climate change is among the most important global threats to biodiversity and mountain areas are ... more Climate change is among the most important global threats to biodiversity and mountain areas are supposed to be under especially high pressure. Although recent modelling studies suggest considerable future range contractions of montane species accompanied with increased extinction risk, data allowing to test actual population consequences of the observed climate changes and identifying traits associated to their adverse impacts are very scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we estimated long-term population trends of montane birds from 1984 to 2011 in a central European mountain range, the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše), where significant warming occurred over this period. We then related the population trends to several species' traits related to the climate change effects. We found that the species breeding in various habitats at higher altitudes had more negative trends than species breeding at lower altitudes. We also found that the species moved upwards as a response to warming climate, and these altitudinal range shifts were associated with more positive population trends at lower altitudes than at higher altitudes. Moreover, long-distance migrants declined more than residents or species migrating for shorter distances. Taken together, these results indicate that the climate change, besides other possible environmental changes, already influences populations of montane birds with particularly adverse impacts on high-altitude species such as water pipit (Anthus spinoletta). It is evident that the alpine species, predicted to undergo serious climatically induced range contractions due to warming climate in the future, already started moving along this trajectory.
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