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Forests
Special Issues
Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife
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Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 June 2024) | Viewed by 9881

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Linas Balčiauskas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Mammalian Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: hoofed, semi-aquatic, carnivore and small mammal ecology; threatened and invasive mammal species; large carnivores; spatial distribution; population management and computer modeling; biodiversity and ecological diversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As shown in M.L. Hunter (Jr.)'s seminal book Wildlife, Forests and Forestry: Principles of Managing Forests for Biodiversity, published in 1990, and Forest Wildlife Management and Conservation, by D. B. Lindenmayer, published in 2009, forests are essential habitats for biodiversity. Understanding forest wildlife ecology is key to the successful conservation and management of species and communities, balancing conservation, human interests, wildlife use and wildlife appreciation. Any forest management action can affect the availability and quality of resources for forest wildlife populations, and scientific knowledge will therefore improve wildlife management and conservation strategies.

This Special Issue aims to gather articles and reviews on the following topics:

  • The conservation and management of forest wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrate species and communities);
  • Forest as a wildlife habitat (fragmentation, degradation, specialized species);
  • Changes in afforestation in relation to wildlife;
  • The monitoring of forest fauna and flora (long-term results are desirable);
  • Human conflicts with forest fauna and increasing wildlife acceptance;
  • The impact of climate change, forestry activities, hunting and other factors on forest species and communities.

Dr. Linas Balčiauskas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest wildlife
  • conservation
  • management
  • conflict analysis
  • wildlife acceptance
  • influencing factors

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 10088 KiB  
Article
Seed Availability and Small Mammal Populations: Insights from Mediterranean Forests
by César Llanos-Guerrero, Lídia Freixas-Mora, Marc Vilella, Carme Bartrina and Ignasi Torre
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071148 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 857
Abstract
Plant–animal interactions play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, especially through seed dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how small mammal populations respond to seed availability is essential for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of habitat loss and climate change. We conducted [...] Read more.
Plant–animal interactions play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, especially through seed dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how small mammal populations respond to seed availability is essential for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of habitat loss and climate change. We conducted a 10-year study in mixed Mediterranean oak–beech forests to investigate the population dynamics of common small mammal species in response to seed availability. Our findings revealed distinct responses among species, influenced by life history traits, foraging behaviour, and diet. Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) showed a rapid population increase with seed availability both in the same year of seed fall and the following year, suggesting a flexible foraging strategy and a dependence on arboreal seed producers. Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) revealed immediate population increases in response to seed availability in the autumn, probably because of their arboreal habits and preference for exploiting seeds prior to maturation. Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) showed responses with population peaks in years following high seed availability, indicating a slower demographic response to resource abundance. Surprisingly, the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) responded indirectly to seed availability in Mediterranean forests, suggesting complex interactions with seed-associated invertebrates or dependence on other variables not considered. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding how changes in seed availability influence the population ecology of small mammals, with significant implications for the conservation and management of Mediterranean forest ecosystems in the context of climate change and recurrent droughts. These results emphasise the need to consider species interactions, resource availability, and climate change in the conservation and management of evolving ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife)
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14 pages, 3022 KiB  
Article
Spatial Conservation Prioritization of Persian Squirrel Based on Habitat Suitability and Climate-Induced Forest Mortality Risk
by Omid Ghadirian Baharanchi, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami and Rasoul Yousefpour
Forests 2024, 15(2), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020290 - 3 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1295
Abstract
The Zagros forests in Iran are currently experiencing an exacerbation of climate-induced mortality, placing the Persian squirrel, a keystone species reliant on these ecosystems, in jeopardy. Addressing this imminent threat, our research employed a spatial prioritization methodology, integrating assessments of habitat suitability and [...] Read more.
The Zagros forests in Iran are currently experiencing an exacerbation of climate-induced mortality, placing the Persian squirrel, a keystone species reliant on these ecosystems, in jeopardy. Addressing this imminent threat, our research employed a spatial prioritization methodology, integrating assessments of habitat suitability and mortality risk. Utilizing a weighted ensemble approach, incorporating the strengths of diverse models and expert rules, we discerned that approximately 62% of surveyed forests are at risk, with 7% classified as high risk and 17% as very high risk. Notably, 83% of the forests exhibited varying degrees of habitat suitability, with 11% and 12% demonstrating high and very high suitability, respectively. Employing a conservation prioritization framework, we systematically categorized habitats into priority classes, with 8%, 17%, 29%, and 46% assigned to very high, high, moderate, and low conservation priority classes, respectively. Significantly, areas classified as very high priority demand immediate restoration efforts due to ongoing mortality, while other priority classes underscore the importance of protection and prevention in unaffected habitats. Acknowledging the irreversible nature of current climatic conditions in the Zagros forests, our strategic emphasis aligns with conservation triage principles, prioritizing the preservation of intact habitats yet to succumb to irreversible mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife)
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17 pages, 6513 KiB  
Article
First Report on a Cliff-Nesting Pair of Black Storks (Ciconia nigra Linnaeus, 1758) and Their Nestlings
by Pierangelo Freschi, Carlo Cosentino, Fabio Napolitano, Corrado Pacelli, Danilo Manicone, Egidio Mallia, Marco Ragni, Rosanna Paolino and Ada Braghieri
Forests 2023, 14(10), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101941 - 24 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1583
Abstract
The black stork is an endangered species in many countries, due to its low adaptability to environmental changes and its sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances. In Italy, the most recent report on the species’ nesting sites lists only 36 pairs, of which 16 are [...] Read more.
The black stork is an endangered species in many countries, due to its low adaptability to environmental changes and its sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances. In Italy, the most recent report on the species’ nesting sites lists only 36 pairs, of which 16 are in Basilicata, 7 are in Calabria, 4 are in Piedmont and Molise and 1 is in Campania. This study focuses for the first time on the behavior of a Ciconia nigra pair in the Basilicata region, where the species nests exclusively on cliffs rather than in trees, as is more frequent elsewhere. The video recordings were used to observe the species during the pre- and post-hatching periods and to refer to the 2012 nesting season, as in that year, the video recordings covered the entire reproductive period. In the pre-hatching phase, the activity for which most time is spent is brooding, which lasts on average 43′ in the morning and in evening and more than 49′ at midday. In the post-hatching phase, a large part of the recording period is spent on activities related to parental care. There were no moments of inactivity during this phase, the parents were frequently observed setting up the nest and preening themselves, while they were rarely seen in a huddled position. The alert activity was also very frequent, especially at midday. Our study has shown that the black stork, a shy and cautious species, may return to nest in increasing numbers given the development of the promising Lucanian nucleus, if attention is paid to the habitat quality and feeding areas, where human activities should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife)
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12 pages, 2261 KiB  
Article
The Distribution and Activity of the Invasive Raccoon Dog in Lithuania as Found with Country-Wide Camera Trapping
by Marius Jasiulionis, Vitalijus Stirkė and Linas Balčiauskas
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071328 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1547
Abstract
The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834) is an invasive mammal widespread in northern, eastern, and central Europe, where it damages biodiversity and carries a wide range of pathogens. Surveys of this species in Lithuania ceased before 2000, so there is a [...] Read more.
The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834) is an invasive mammal widespread in northern, eastern, and central Europe, where it damages biodiversity and carries a wide range of pathogens. Surveys of this species in Lithuania ceased before 2000, so there is a lack of scientific information on its distribution and relative abundance. In 2019–2022, we carried out a nationwide recording of raccoon dogs using camera traps (101 sites, sampling effort of 15,563 trapping days). The species was found at 64 sites (63.4% of the sites surveyed), with an average relative shooting frequency of 4.30 photographs per 100 days. The frequency of raccoon dogs was higher at camera sites where lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758) or wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) were recorded compared to sites where predators were absent (7.95 vs. 3.21 photos/100 days, p < 0.05). The highest raccoon dog activity (69.5% of records) was observed at night and at temperatures between −3 and +5 °C. Below −15 °C, animals were not active, while above 25 °C, there was very little activity. Diurnal activity (36.1% of daytime records in April–June) increased during estrus, gestation, and rearing of pups. We conclude that wide-scale camera trapping is a suitable method for raccoon dog surveys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife)
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17 pages, 23969 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Roadkill on Cervid Populations in Lithuania
by Linas Balčiauskas, Andrius Kučas and Laima Balčiauskienė
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061224 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
Cervid roadkill, including moose, red deer and roe deer, can pose a risk to drivers and are frequently registered. However, the roadkill influence on overall cervid populations is not fully known, especially by roadkill that are not officially registered. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Cervid roadkill, including moose, red deer and roe deer, can pose a risk to drivers and are frequently registered. However, the roadkill influence on overall cervid populations is not fully known, especially by roadkill that are not officially registered. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cervid roadkill on population abundance, evaluating (i) the proportion of ungulate–vehicle collisions not registered by official bodies, (ii) the number of roadkill in relation to hunted animals and (iii) the proportion of roadkill that occurs in forest habitat. The number of unreported roadkill was calculated based on a roadkill index assessed during 3815 registration sessions on main and national roads in Lithuania from 2002–2022. During this period, 373 moose, 712 red deer and 9179 roe deer roadkill were unreported, correlating to 13.8%, 95.8% and 31.1% of those registered by the Traffic Supervision Service. In conclusion, 39.5%, 17.5% and 20.1% of roadkill were registered on roads through forests. Moose roadkill amounted to a figure corresponding to 10% of those hunted, with the same figure for red deer being 1.8%, neither adding much mortality. At 16.5%–16.6%, the figure for roe deer might be important. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife)
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