Field survey data in Central Poland revealed that the proportion of sites inhabited by muskrats decreased from 44% to 7% over one decade. This corresponded to the decline in hunting bags of muskrat over the whole of Poland. The largest hunting harvest of muskrat was recorded in 1987/1988 (66,416 individuals), the smallest in 2007/2008 (4,567 individuals). The decline in hunting bags occurred in all regions analysed; however, it was most rapid in the north and north-east. Before the expansion of mink, which started in northern Poland at the beginning of the 1980s, muskrat densities in particular regions depended on the availability of aquatic habitats. A comparison of hunting bags of muskrat and American mink in years 2002-2008 indicated a significant negative correlation between the numbers of these two species harvested in seven regions of Poland. The negative correlation between numbers of muskrat and mink suggests that mink predation is one of the most important factors in the decline of the muskrat population in Poland.

The increase in Eurasian otter Lutra lutra populations in their natural range and recolonization processes are recently observed in several European countries. We address the process of otter recolonization and habitat utilization in Central Poland over 14 years. Field surveys in 1998 and 2007 documented increase in occurrence of the species. The frequency of positive sites denoted 15 % in 1993, 38 % in 1998, and 89 % in 2007. Otter occurrence at study sites was positively affected by river width while negatively affected by presence of buildings at the site and river regulation. During the most intensive colonization process in the 1990s, the habitat preferences of the otter did not change. However, the sites inhabited by otters after 1998 were characterized by lower river width and tree cover and were more often located on regulated river sections, suggesting change in habitat tolerance during expansion. The otter abundance in transformed habitats is a result of increasing population numbers and the necessity to inhabit suboptimal sections of watercourses. Thus, it seems that presence–absence data for otter populations cannot be considered a reliable indicator of habitat quality, being depended of the population density.

Sparrows from central Poland were examined by a hemagglutination-inhibition test (titer > or = 20) for the presence of antibodies to arboviruses, between 1995 and 1996. In house sparrows (Passer domesticus) (n = 179), antibodies to Sindbis, West Nile, tick-borne encephalitis, Tahyna, and Calovo viruses were detected at seroprevalences of 1.1%, 2.8%, 1.1%, 2.8%, and 1.1%, respectively. In tree sparrows (P. montanus) (n = 33), antibodies to the Sindbis, West Nile, and Tahyna viruses were detected at seroprevalences of 9.1%, 12.1%, and 3.0%, respectively.

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A bstract: Analyses of tawny owl pellets were used to determine the species composition and distribution of small mammals in Kampinos National Park and its protection zone (central Poland). The total material collected from 58 localities contained the remains o f 11,235 vertebrates (including 8,335 mammals). The study revealed 29 species of small mammals o f the following orders: Soricomorpha -4, Chiroptera -9, Rodentia -14, Lagomorpha -1 and Carnivora -1. These included two bat species o f special interest (Myotis myotis and Barbastella barbastellus) listed in the 2nd Annex to the Habitats Directive o f the European Union. Muscardinus avellanarius, a rodent typical o f broad leaved woodland, appeared to be relatively common and abundant in suitable habitats. Species inhabiting wet habitats, M icrotus oeconomus and Neomys fodiens, were found in many localities, whereas Arvicola amphibius was rarer and less abundant. Some important refuges o f small mammals were found, mostly in strictly protected areas. Although the studies conducted to date in this area likely reveal a complete list o f small species o f Soricomorpha and Rodentia, it is possible that 3-5 species of Chiroptera and 2 small species of Carnivora may remain to be identified.

During this study, Coccinellidae were collected and observed at 25 sites located along the coast and inland of the island of Fuerteventura during 2016 and 2017. A total of 2825 Coccinellidae specimens belonging to 22 species was recorded, of which 11 species are newly recorded from Fuerteventura. In the case of three species taxonomical decisions are proposed. Scymnus incisus (Har. Lindberg, 1950) is transferred to the genus Nephus Mulsant and placed in the nominate subgenus as Nephus (Nephus) incisus (Har. Lindberg, 1950), comb. nov. Scymnus medanensis Eizaguirre, 2007, is redescribed and placed in the subgenus Pullus Mulsant. Coccinella algerica Kovář, 1977, is synonymized with Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758, syn. nov. We propose retaining the taxonomic distinction of the North African and Canarian populations of this species as the subspecies Coccinella septempunctata algerica Kovář, stat. nov. Nephus peyerimhoffi (Sicard, 1923) is deleted from the list of ladybird beetles inhabiting the Canary Islands.

A note on the diet of stone marten in southeastern RomaniaJerey ROMANOWSKI and Grzegorz LESIŃSKI Romanowski J. and Lesiński G. 1991. A note on the diet of stone marten in southeastern Romania. Acta theriol. 36: 201 -204.We studied the diet o f stone martens M aries fo in a (Erxleben, 1777) inhabiting the ruins of Byzantine temple near Enisala (southeastern Romania). Based on analysis o f 103 excrements, birds and mammals predominated in the diet, constituting 45.2% and 36.1% o f consumed biomass. Reptiles, amphibians, insects and fruits were supplementary food. W e also found bats, items rarely reported in the m arten's diet. The diet was characterized by a high contribution o f animals associated with steppe habitat and by a low share o f anthropogenic food.