During fieldwork from 6 June to 20 July 2016, the first records of the European beaver (Castor fiber)
in south-eastern Slovakia were made. Beavers are mainly nocturnal animals, and as such, they are rarely observed;
therefore, our observations were based on searching for beaver presence signs: damaged trees, dams,
signs of food consumption (chewed/felled trees) and footprints in the mud. The southern part of the Košická
kotlina basin, from the city of Košice down to the state border and the surrounding villages in Hungary, was
checked. We found two beaver locations via feeding signs in the vicinity of the Slovakia–Hungary state border,
at the villages of Milhosť (Miglécnémeti) and Buzica (Buzita), in Slovakia. According to our calculations, the present
total beaver population in Hungary is between 4,000 and 5,000 and 14,600–18,300 beavers with potential
support. For Slovakia, we estimated the potential population size to be 7,700–9,600. Our findings in northern
Pannonian lowland (Slovakia–Hungary border) are an important evidence of beaver expansion. Although we
don’t know the exact origin of investigated population, these new records indicate the possibility of merging the
populations of different origin, which could enable gene flow and increase the genetic diversity. This could lead
to improved recovery of species and its stabilisation in nature. However, it is necessary to carry out a detailed
investigation of the presence of beaver in these regions in future.
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of the wolf and the lynx was evaluated for 15 pelvic and sacral variables in 48 specimens from the Western Carpathians. Our data confirmed small male-biased SSD in the pelvic and sacral bones for both species. We suggest that this can be explained by the need for a compromise between requirements for locomotion and giving birth. We also confirmed that significant differences exist between the species in the size of the pelvic and sacral bones. We discuss our findings in light of the species' different life histories.
Sexual differences in the wildcat were evaluated on 15 variables in 49 pelvic and 38 sacral bones in wildcat from the Western Carpathians. Our data confirmed a male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the pelvic and sacral bones. The effect size was very large for two pelvic (SB, smallest width of the shaft of the ilium; and LAR, length of the acetabulum) and two sacral traits (GB, greatest width across the wings; and BFcr, greatest width of the cranial articular surface). Our different allometric patterns in pelvic and sacral measures in both sexes may also be important in mode of locomotion. These findings highlight the need for morphometric analysis of species at the regional as well global level.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.