At the end of the project, we organized a professional-scientific conference "Problematic of game species in non-hunting areas" (in agreement with the project co-funder, the conference was on 27 March 2021 as the Covid-19 epidemic disabled the organization of a quality event in 2020). Aiming to better disseminate the research results to the end-users, the event was organized in collaboration with the Scientific Council of Hunting Association of Slovenia, i.e. as the 12th Slovenian Hunting Day. The event was held in the form of a videoconference with the participation of more than 150 participants, among them also several representatives of all relevant decision makers and key end-users of the project results: the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, the Slovenia Forest Service, the Hunting Inspectorate, and the Hunting Association of Slovenia. The total of 21 talks were divided into three parts: (i) the situation in Slovenia and domestic experiences (seven presentations by representatives of relevant institutions and hunting ground managers); (ii) experiences from Europe (introductory overview of the situation prepared within the framework of the CRP project, and three invited presentations by eminent experts from Great Britain and Spain); (iii) knowledge and findings of Slovenian wildlife researchers (ten presentations, eight of which were prepared within the framework of the CRP project). We prepared the Abstract book in Slovenian and English (https://www.lovska-zveza.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Zbornik-izvleckov_12.-Slovenski-lovski-dan_27.3.2021.pdf), and the event was also well covered by the media (https://www.lovska-zveza.si/tag/problematika-divjadi-na-nelovnih-povrsinah/), including a stand-alone 29-minute TV reportage (https: //www.lovska-zveza.si/publikacije/oddaja-dober-pogled/).
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 57345027Many animal species are more and more likely to live in settlements and other anthropologically altered habitats, which often results in various conflict situations. Such conflicts can affect the society, activities and interests of people, and can provoke a negative attitude towards wildlife and even violent interventions against it. Therefore, it is very important to find integrated solutions for game management in non-hunting areas. In order to better understand the problematic and to facilitate the active management of game species in the urban environment, we analysed all cases of reported damages on non-hunting areas in Sovenia, i.e. for all game species and several different types of damages caused in the period 2008–2018. In this period, there was a total of 1,570 reported conflict events caused by the following game species: red deer (N=410, 26%), wild boar (N=297, 19%), red fox (N=209, 13%), roe deer (N=193, 12%), stone marten (N=179, 12%), and Eurasian jay (N=130, 8%); moreover, several conflicts were caused also by hooded crow, brown hare and European badger, and a sporadic damage cases were related to edible dormouse, fallow deer, pheasant and mouflon. Regardless the species, most of the damage was done on crops (N=846, 54%), followed by livestock and pets (N=285, 18%), objects and materials connected to agriculture (N=177, 11%), real estate (N=148, 9%), plants (N=79, 5%), and vehicles (N=26, 2%), respectively.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 29220355Across its pan-European distribution, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) faces a wide diversity of environmental and climatic conditions, therefore several factors shape its life-history traits and cause significant variability in parameters of fitness. However, the effect of genetics (e.g., heterozygosity) on fitness and reproductive performance of roe deer has been understudied so far. Therefore, we aimed to determine throughout Slovenia: (i) spatial distribution of neutral and immunogenetic variation, (ii) connection between neutral vs. adaptive potential and environmental conditions, (iii) effect of genetic variation on body mass and reproductive ability (measured by the presence and number of corpora lutea in ovaries) of yearling roe deer does. Genetic analysis was performed on 15 neutral loci (microsatellites) and adaptive major histocompatibility complex (MHC; DRB exon 2) using the next generation approach. Our results show a positive relationship between mean microsatellite heterozygosity, standardized body mass and reproductive ability (potential litter size) of primiparous does. This suggests that genetic diversity has an important influence on fitness and increment rates in roe deer. Moreover, our data also confirm that gene flow plays a prominent role in shaping MHC polymorphism across large spatial scale, while the interplay between gene flow and selection is stronger in connected populations.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 1541586372Cemeteries represent an important part of our environment and are usually located in the vicinity of towns and settlements. Therefore, they represent a hotspot of conflicts between wildlife and humans as wild animals frequently visit cemeteries and cause damage. The biggest problem at cemeteries is usually related to game species which are subjected to hunting laws and population management. Generally, game management is needed because natural conditions and interactions are demolished; however, in non-hunting areas population management is very difficult or even impossible. Hunting is usually realized by firearms, and due to this it has certain restrictions where it is allowed. Therefore, it is essential to seek for other solutions related to maintain problems with game on cemeteries as well as for procedures that would be acceptable both for graveyard managers and residents of Slovenia. Amongst answers received by graveyard managers, most commonly given solution was passive protection, i.e. fences which have been proven as game efficient. Their answers also include statements that game-related problems are of minor importance as more severe problems are caused by snails, pigeons, and domestic cats. In an online survey, we tried to find out if interviewees visit graveyards, how often, and which ones. We were also interested if they have seen animals whilst visiting graveyards, how often, and which species. Answers portrayed birds and cats as the most commonly seen species, while other animals have been rarely observed at cemeteries. However, they noticed animal faeces/excrements more often. We also asked whether they would or would not agree with certain measures for reducing game-related problems at cemeteries. The majority strongly opposed measures due to which animal would perish. On the contrary, majority completely agreed with implementation of a passive protection.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 35491843Invasive alien species are a perceived global problem due to the many negative impacts they have on ecosystems and on many human activities. In the thesis, we focused on coypu (nutria), which has been successfully spreading across Slovenia. The purpose of our research was to find out people’s knowledge and opinion, aiming to use this information when it comes actual for management of invasive mammal species. We created an online questionnaire which included the following topics: (a) questions about direct experiences with nutrias; (b) opinion about the acceptability of different measures regarding management of the species in an urban and natural environment; (c) opinion about nutrias in an urban and natural environment; (d) the current knowledge about nutrias; and (e) sources from which respondents acquired their knowledge about nutrias. There were 464 respondents in total, living all around Slovenia. We found out that: (a) respondents received the majority of information from the media; (b) the most acceptable management measure would be capturing, sterilization and up-following release of nutrias; (c) people understand alien species as equal to the native ones, and they even think that they are more interesting from a scientific point of view; (d) respondents have good knowledge about the research subject. Based on the results, we believe that the correct measures would be the ones that are non-lethal; moreover, they should be accompanied by educating people and informing them about the necessities for such actions.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 25036291