Overwinter survival of hibernators is directly influenced by the fat reserves
accumulated during the active season. The European ground squirrel,
Spermophilus citellus, an endangered flagship species of the open grasslands
of central and southeastern Europe, is no exception. Considering
anthropogenic changes affecting its habitats in northern Serbia, we studied
the species? feeding habits by subjecting its feces to microhistological
examination. In addition to identifying plant remains in the feces, we
examined the vegetation of the four study sites located inside a local
mosaic of steppe and saline pastures. Our findings indicate that these
remaining European ground-squirrel sites are diverse and stable grasslands
covered by native flora that represents a complete dietary base for the
species. The diet is dominated by a small number of plant species,
specifically Achillea millefolium, legumes and grasses, with sporadic
contributions from a number of other species. The diet of S. citellus also
differs by location and season in that grasses dominate during the early
season, while A. millefolium takes precedence later in the year. This
dietary information is essential for the development of future species and
habitat management strategies. In light of the predicted impact of climate
change on grasslands in northern Serbia, our findings will be instrumental
for translocations and conservation actions in the future.
The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is an endangered species whose
breeding in Serbia depends almost entirely on nest boxes. The aim of the
present study was to assess the influence of prey availability and foraging
habitat characteristics on nest-box occupancy and breeding parameters. Data
from 20 roller foraging sites over 5 breeding seasons were used in a set of
linear regression models to evaluate which factors affect the diversity and
biomass of roller prey, as well as nest-box occupancy and breeding
parameters. Our analyses revealed that prey availability parameters were
significantly affected by the grazing regime and biophysical parameters. An
area under grassland negatively affected nest-box occupancy, clutch size and
fledging success. In contrast, grazing intensity showed positive effects.
Although grazing negatively affected prey diversity and quantity, it
potentially increased the likelihood of a successful hunt by forming short
vegetation. These results indicate that the habitat characteristics linked
to the ability of the species to hunt successfully should be considered when
installing nest boxes as a part of the broader management of roller breeding
sites. Furthermore, nest-box installation in open agricultural habitats
other than grasslands should be considered in the conservation strategy for
the species in Serbia.
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