The short-finned eel Anguilla bicolor is known to be subdivided in two distinct subspecies (i.e. A. bicolor bicolor and A. bicolor pacifica), each subspecies being geographically distributed in allopatry. The present survey intends to describe genetic differentiation, population structure, molecular variance and phylogeny of both subspecies of A. bicolor in Indonesian waters. The genotypes of seven microsatellite locus and sequences of the entire cytochrome b were analyzed on 180 specimens collected in 10 representative locations, where one of the two subspecies spend their freshwater life. The results showed high heterozygosity (0.767 < He < 0.891). Significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were essentially detected on AjTR04 and Aro63 loci. No diagnostic microsatellite loci was observed between the subspecies which shared most of their alleles. Genetic Reynolds distances computed for each population ranged between 0.029 and 0.073 among A. bicolor pacifica populations, between 0.045 and 0.149 among A. bicolor bicolor populations and between 0.042 and 0.114 among populations of different subspecies. Both the mitochondrial and the microsatellite markers confirm the subdivision into two subspecies while microsatellite loci suggest a moderate differentiation between subspecies.

Morphological differences between female and male spined loaches belonging to five species from the Adriatic basin were examined. Besides the presence of the Canestrini scale and the length of the pectoral fins, sexual dimorphism is also visible in the position of the pectoral fins, as well as in the length of the pelvic fins. Both pectoral and pelvic fins are significantly longer in males than in females, whereas pectoral fins of females are located more anteriorly then in males. Differences in the length of pectoral and pelvic fins among species are also revealed. The role of the secondary sexual characters in males is probably connected with their special mating behaviour. Furthermore, a hypothesis that habitat conditions have greater impact on body dimensions of females than males is proposed.

Several aspects of invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) biology are based on sporadic observations or anecdotal reports only, e.g. they are night feeders, they prey on eggs and larvae of native fish and male feeding ceases or is highly restricted during breeding due to nest-guarding. To test the general validity of such hypotheses, we assessed diel and inter-sex differences in diet and feeding intensity of 232 gobies (144 female [54 day:90 night] and 88 male [39 day:49 night]) caught during the breeding season. Gobies took primarily aquatic insect larvae and did not predate on eggs, larvae or juveniles of native fish. Unlike previous studies, we observed no diel difference in feeding intensity or diet composition; hence no universal diel pattern can be implied for round goby feeding. On the other hand, we observed significant inter-sex differences in both feeding intensity and diet composition, with males consuming less food than females, presumably due to restricted feeding activity during nest-guarding. Inter-sex shifts in both diet composition and amount of food were less than expected, however, suggesting that, under most conditions, there is no reason to expect a fatal decrease in male energy intake, as suggested by some earlier studies.

Brno Reservoir (259 ha) is one of the most intensively utilised waterbodies in the Czech Republic, being used simultaneously for recreation, sport, fisheries, boating and electric power production. Despite this, no consistent fish survey has yet been performed at the reservoir. Between 2009 and 2012, a number of measures, including fish biomanipulation, were applied to improve water quality. Large cyprinids (mainly common bream Abramis brama) were removed and predatory fish (e.g. pike Esox lucius, zander Sander lucioperca) stocked. In September 2012 and 2013, we carried out an extensive study of the fish community in order to describe the present fish assemblage and evaluate the success of biomanipulation. Fish were sampled at 11 locations using electrofishing (inlet zone) and beach seining (lake zone). Twenty-three species and one hybrid were recorded (inlet zone — 20, lake zone — 14), with roach Rutilus rutilus and bleak Alburnus alburnus (plus perch Perca fluviatilis) dominant in inlet samples, but carp Cyprinus carpio dominant by biomass; and white bream Blicca bjoerkna and roach dominant in the lake zone, both by abundance and biomass. Predatory species represented 14-17 % of biomass in both the inlet and lake zones in both years. The final results of biomanipulation were questionable. While a low proportion of adult bream suggests successful removal, populations of small cyprinids, such as roach and white bream, increased in compensation. There was little evidence for an increase in predatory fish following stocking, probably due to angling pressure. Our results indicate that biomanipulation to improve ecological water quality in reservoirs is unlikely to be successful when they are managed specifically for carp and predator angling.

In birds of prey, food availability affects the entire breeding process, including reproductive success. Sequential polyandry, sometimes documented in raptors and owls, has been observed occasionally in Tengmalm's owl in years of high food availability. In this study, the effect of food supply on the reproductive strategy of the central European Tengmalm's owl population has been investigated. The availability of the main prey of owls was significantly below average in the study year 2014. This resulted in low breeding density of owls, delayed egg laying, small clutch sizes, and low reproductive success. Nevertheless, successful sequential polyandry of one Tengmalm's owl female was recorded during the breeding season. The polyandrous female laid four eggs in each nests, and 50 % and 75 % of four hatched nestlings left the nest during the first and second breeding, respectively. In both nesting attempts, the two-year old female was of a substandard body mass and she abandoned the fledglings before they left the nests. Prey delivered by males to both nests was comprised mainly of alternative prey (birds and shrews). The results of this study suggest that there are probably some other factors, in addition to food availability, that may play a role in Tengmalm's owl's decisions in matters of parental care.

The observations of Sunda pangolin reproductive parameters in this paper were based on the wild-caught animals and those that had spent time in captive environments, however, when analyzing the results, we did not consider differences in terms of breeding habits between the two. Still, this research has led to an increase in knowledge of the breeding habits of the Sunda pangolin. Our results suggest that there is no breeding season or season of parturition for the Sunda pangolin, which breeds all year round. We estimated the gestation period in this species to be around six months. Sexual maturity occurred at one year old or as early as six-seven months old in some individuals, and requires further investigation. Each Sunda pangolin in this study gave birth to one offspring at a time. The sex ratio at birth was 0.875:1 (♀:♂) (n = 15); and the weaning age was estimated at four months with a weight of 1.19 ± 0.50 kg (n = 3), which concurs with recent research. Findings in this study will contribute to future analyses of population dynamics, species conservation, and both in situ and ex situ management of the Sunda pangolin. Despite this contribution, further studies are needed on the reproductive parameters of Sunda pangolin.

Research on arboreal mammals living in Mediterranean forests is poor. Molecular research assessed the existence of an evolutionary significant unit in the edible dormouse populations living in south Italy, Sicily and Sardinia, and we decided to investigate the environmental factors capable of explaining its occurrence and abundance in Sicily, for a better management of these populations. We assessed the species habitat preferences by setting 25 large and 25 small nestboxes in five sample areas along an altitudinal gradient of the Madonie Range, and recorded habitat variables, food availability, and demographic data for two years. To obtain synthetic descriptors of the dormice habitat requirements, we extracted uncorrelated linear combinations of original variables by Principal Component Analysis; then we modelled habitat preferences of dormice by Generalized Linear Models, and selected the best models by Akaike's information criterion and model averaging. Dormice abundances varied markedly between the two years of study. Population peaked and reproduced in 2010, a masting year of oaks and beeches. In the following non-masting year, a much lower number of adults and yearlings used nestboxes, without any sign of reproduction. In both years we found a significant effect of altitudinal vegetation belt. Dormice seem to prefer mixed broad-leaved and evergreen (cork, holm) oak forests below 800-1300 m a.s.l, to beech forests at higher altitude, and avoid coniferous plantations. Inside these woodlands they seem to prefer monotypic and mature oak-stands with dense canopies. Large nestboxes are more preferred than small ones only during reproductive years. Protection of large and mature woodland from wildfires and forestry management caring the retention of significant elements like old trees, logs and litter mounds are necessary to maintain the habitat of edible dormouse in Southern Mediterranean forests. Artificial nestboxes are a viable device to help population restocking in degraded forests.

We studied feeding intake and food selection of nine captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) offered 17 species of plants in China. We also determined nutrient characteristics related to plant quality to assess their effect on food selection. Results indicated that forest musk deer exhibited positive selectivity for four species of plants (M. azedarach, M. baccata, K. japonica and C. orbiculatus) and negative selectivity for the remainder. Two plant species with the highest selectivity values accounted for 47.39 % of total food intake; thus, forest musk deer exhibited the strongest preference for these species. Food intake was positively correlated with feeding frequency and duration (r = 0.764, p < 0.005; r = 0.843, p < 0.005) but was not correlated with sniffing frequency or duration. However, olfaction did play an important role in food recognition by the deer. Pearson correlation analysis (data were log10 transformed) indicated that leaf intake was positively correlated with crude protein content (r = 0.708, p = 0.001) and negatively correlated with crude fiber content (r = -0.811, p < 0.001) and ash content (r = -0.496, p = 0.043). In addition, forest musk deer preferred tannin-rich plants with high protein and low fiber. Food intake was also positively correlated with potassium content (r = 0.672, p < 0.005). Our results suggest that forest musk deer is able to positively select high quality food (high protein content) and avoid low quality food (high fiber content). However, the fact that musk deer also prefer tannin-rich food requires further research to gain deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms in the food selection of forest musk deer.

Barn owl pellets were analyzed for comparing the small mammal fauna among three islands of Tuscan archipelago, Italy. Rarefaction analyses and diversity analyses were used on barn owl pellet samples at a total of 18 sites. Apodemus sylvaticus appeared the most abundant species in Elba and Capraia, and Mus musculus in Pianosa. Diversity profiles showed that Pianosa and Elba were very similar in terms of dominance and evenness profiles, whereas Capraia had higher dominance and lower evenness. Using our original data and literature review, we found that 5 species are found in Pianosa, 1 in Giannutri, 0 in Montecristo, 5 in Giglio, 7 in Elba, 6 in Capraia, and 1 in Gorgona. There was no effect of island area, human population size, or linear distance from mainland on species richness.

Blind mole rats are model organisms for studies of chromosomal evolution, and have a variety of chromosomal forms in Turkey. This study was performed on subterranean mole rats of Nannospalax xanthodon (Satunin, 1898) and N. ehrenbergi (Nehring, 1898) in Turkey. Karyotypes of 63 specimens originating from 30 localities were analysed. Two new cytotypes with 2n = 54 from Adana and 2n = 56 from Karaman, two different populations of the cytotypes 2n = 54C and 2n = 58S, and four different chromosomal arm numbers of the 2n = 60 cytotype (NF = 74, 76, 78 and 80) were determined in N. xanthodon. The cytotypes characterized by 2n = 54, NF = 74 from Tufanbeyli and Saimbeyli in the Adana province (54S), and by 2n = 56, NF = 70 from Karaman (56K) are new for N. xanthodon in Turkey. A population of N. ehrenbergi from the Osmaniye province in southern Anatolia had a complement with 2n = 56, NF = 70. Additional karyological records for other cytotypes have extended their known distribution areas, and filled most karyological gaps in Turkey.

The existing literature, museum records, personal reports of field biologists and our own field results were compiled to assess the present distribution of the common hamster within Transylvania and the Pannonian Plain of Romania. Combining available distribution data and the existence of natural barriers we were able to designate five, possibly separate, populations: the Pannonian Plain, the Transylvanian Plateau, the Olt Valley, the Braşov Depression and the Ciuc Depression population. The Pannonian Plain and the Transylvanian Plateau populations showed mass outbreaks in recent years. Twenty three individuals were available for the genetic analyses. The populations belonged to the Pannonia lineage, based on the sequences of 16SrRNA, cytb and ctr of mtDNA. In general we found very high diversity in mtDNA and 16 microsatellite loci. Moreover the most common ctr haplotypes for the Transylvanian Plateau were also present in the Pannonian Plain population and in populations from Hungary and Slovakia, which indicates recent or even current exchange of individuals. Summing up, recent mass outbreaks and high levels of genetic diversity, with some indication of current or very recent gene flow, showed that Romanian populations are in good state, at least compared to many other European countries. As such, these populations should be of particular interest and placed under protection, as they could serve as the reservoir of the genetic variability for the European Pannonia lineage of the common hamster.