@article{SchlaegelMaedlow2022,
  author    = {Schl{\"a}gel, Ulrike E. and M{\"a}dlow, Wolfgang},
  title     = {All-season space use by non-native resident Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) in northeastern Germany},
  series = {Journal of ornithology / publ. by Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft},
  volume    = {163},
  journal   = {Journal of ornithology / publ. by Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {2193-7192},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10336-021-01932-7},
  pages     = {71 -- 82},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Patterns of space use are often subject to large temporal and individual-level variation, due to seasonality in behaviour and environmental conditions as well as age- or sex-specific needs. Especially in temperate regions, seasonality likely influences space use even in non-migratory birds. In waterfowl of the family Anatidae, however, few studies have analyzed space use of the same individuals across the full annual cycle. We used a resident population of Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) in northeast Germany to study their year-round space use in relation to season, sex, and age. We marked 172 birds with colour rings and surveyed relevant water bodies for re-encounters for several years. As space-use patterns we derived home ranges from minimum convex polygons and the number of water bodies used by individual birds. Our analysis revealed that individuals shifted their space use between seasons, in particular extending their home ranges during the non-breeding season. Between years, in contrast, birds tended to show season-specific site fidelity. Sex differences were apparent during both breeding and non-breeding season, males consistently having larger home ranges and using slightly more water bodies. No difference was found between first-year and adult birds. Our study demonstrates that mark-resighting can provide valuable information about space use in species with suitable behaviour and readily accessible habitat. In such cases, it may be a valid alternative to more expensive GPS-tracking or short-term manual radio telemetry, particularly within citizen-science projects.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TeckentrupGrimmKramerSchadtetal.2018,
  author    = {Teckentrup, Lisa and Grimm, Volker and Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie and Jeltsch, Florian},
  title     = {Community consequences of foraging under fear},
  series = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog},
  volume    = {383},
  journal   = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0304-3800},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.05.015},
  pages     = {80 -- 90},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Non-consumptive effects of predators within ecosystems can alter the behavior of individual prey species, and have cascading effects on other trophic levels. In this context, an understanding of non-consumptive predator effects on the whole prey community is crucial for predicting community structure and composition, hence biodiversity patterns. We used an individual-based, spatially-explicit modelling approach to investigate the consequences of landscapes of fear on prey community metrics. The model spans multiple hierarchical levels from individual home range formation based on food availability and perceived predation risk to consequences on prey community structure and composition. This mechanistic approach allowed us to explore how important factors such as refuge availability and foraging strategy under fear affect prey community metrics. Fear of predators affected prey space use, such as home range formation. These adaptations had broader consequences for the community leading to changes in community structure and composition. The strength of community responses to perceived predation risk was driven by refuge availability in the landscape and the foraging strategy of prey animals. Low refuge availability in the landscape strongly decreased diversity and total biomass of prey communities. Additionally, body mass distributions in prey communities facing high predation risk were shifted towards small prey animals. With increasing refuge availability the consequences of non-consumptive predator effects were reduced, diversity and total biomass of the prey community increased. Prey foraging strategies affected community composition. Under medium refuge availability, risk-averse prey communities consisted of many small animals while risk-taking prey communities showed a more even body mass distribution. Our findings reveal that non-consumptive predator effects can have important implications for prey community diversity and should therefore be considered in the context of conservation and nature management.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZiegeHermannKriestenetal.2020,
  author    = {Ziege, Madlen and Hermann, Bernd Timo and Kriesten, Stefanie and Merker, Stefan and Ullmann, Wiebke and Streit, Bruno and Wenninger, Sandra and Plath, Martin},
  title     = {Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes},
  series = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
  volume    = {65},
  journal   = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Heidelberg},
  issn      = {2199-2401},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13364-020-00490-2},
  pages     = {607 -- 614},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Various mammals, particularly carnivores, reportedly establish smaller home ranges in urban compared with rural areas. This may be because urban environments provide optimal resources within a small area, negating the requirement to range further, or because habitat fragmentation constrains ranging behavior. Comparable information on urban populations of herbivorous mammalian species (such as European rabbits) is scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we radio-tracked 13 individuals (seven females and six males) equipped with radio collars in a suburban and an urban study site in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Germany during the reproductive season (March to September) of 2012. The study sites differed in levels of habitat fragmentation. We report the smallest home ranges ever described for this species, with mean 95\% minimum convex polygons (MCPs) covering 0.50 ha, while no consistent differences between sites were uncovered. We occasionally tracked individuals crossing streets underground (in burrows), suggesting that streets may restrict the ranging behavior of rabbits-and possibly other burrowing species-to a much lesser extent than previously thought. We conclude that heterogeneous landscape structures, made up of a diverse mosaic of buildings, parks, and gardens, provide sufficient food and shelter in close proximity to burrows at both study sites. Therefore, our data support the hypothesis that optimal resources constrain ranges in this case rather than habitat fragmentation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MayerUllmannHeinrichetal.2019,
  author    = {Mayer, Martin and Ullmann, Wiebke and Heinrich, Rebecca and Fischer, Christina and Blaum, Niels and Sunde, Peter},
  title     = {Seasonal effects of habitat structure and weather on the habitat selection and home range size of a mammal in agricultural landscapes},
  series = {Landscape ecology},
  volume    = {34},
  journal   = {Landscape ecology},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Dordrecht},
  issn      = {0921-2973},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10980-019-00878-9},
  pages     = {2279 -- 2294},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Context Human land use intensified over the last century and simultaneously, extreme weather events have become more frequent. However, little is known about the interplay between habitat structure, direct short-term weather effects and indirect seasonal effects on animal space use and behavior. Objectives We used the European hare (Lepus europaeus) as model to investigate how habitat structure and weather conditions affect habitat selection and home range size, predictors for habitat quality and energetic requirements. Methods Using > 100,000 GPS positions of 60 hares in three areas in Denmark and Germany, we analyzed habitat selection and home range size in response to seasonally changing habitat structure, measured as vegetation height and agricultural field size, and weather. We compared daily and monthly home ranges to disentangle between direct short-term weather effects and indirect seasonal effects of climate. Results Habitat selection and home range size varied seasonally as a response to changing habitat structure, potentially affecting the availability of food and shelter. Overall, habitat structure and seasonality were more important in explaining hare habitat selection and home range size compared to direct weather conditions. Nevertheless, hares adjusted habitat selection and daily home range size in response to temperature, wind speed and humidity, possibly in response to thermal constrains and predation risk. Conclusions For effective conservation, habitat heterogeneity should be increased, e.g. by reducing agricultural field sizes and the implementation of set-asides that provide both forage and shelter, especially during the colder months of the year.},
  language  = {en}
}