Telemetric Data Reveals Ecolgoically Adaptive Behavior of Captive Raised Chinese Giant Salamanders When Reintroduced into Their Native Habitat

Little is known about the ecology of the Chinese Giant Salamander(Andrias davidianus), a critically endangered species. Such information is needed to make informed decisions concerning the conservation and management of this species. Four A. davidianus raised in a pool were released into their native habitat on 04 May 2005 and were subsequently radio-tracked for approximately 155–168 days. Following their release, the giant salamanders traveled upstream in search of suitable micro-habitats, and settled after 10 days. Later, a devastating summer flash flood destroyed the salamanders' dens, triggering another bout of habitat searching by the animals. Eventually, the salamanders settled in different sections of the stream where they remained until the end of the study. On average, each habitat searching endeavor took 7.5 days, during which a giant salamander explored a 310 m stretch of stream with a surface area of about 1157 m2 and occupied 3.5 temporary dwellings. Each giant salamander spent an average of 144.5 days in semi-permanent micro-habitats, and occupied territories that had a mean size of 34.75 m2. Our results indicate that the Chinese giant salamander responds to habitat disturbance by seeking new habitats upstream, both water temperature and water level affect the salamander's habitat searching activity, and the size of the salamander's semi-permanent territory is influenced by the size of the pool containing the animal's den.

Foraging areas of Rousettus leschenaulti on the Hainan Island of China

We investigated the foraging area of three individuals (1 female and 2 males) of Rousettus leschenaulti (Chiroptera,Pteropodidae) in suburban Haikou City, Hainan Province, South China from November 2005 to January 2006 using radio telemetry.These animals left the daytime roosting sites about 90 min after sunset with no significant difference in departure time betweenthe male and female bats. The average active times were 391.8 min for males and 533.7 min for the female, respectively.By reconstructing 93 radio-telemetry recording positions, we found that the long axis of foraging area of the bats ranged from7.45 to 11.70 km. The foraging area of the female (3867 ha) was larger than that of the males (1138 ha), and there was overlapbetween the foraging areas of different individuals. These bats usually kept the same flight routes across a few successive daysfrom the daytime roosting site to the foraging areas. Our findings suggested that female R. leschenaulti may explore a larger foragingarea than males. No obvious territorial behaviors were observed in our studied area.

Spring habitat selection of sables in Daxing'an Mountains

This paper studies the habitat selection of sables (Martes. zibellina) in spring adopting radio-tracking and GPS (Global Positioning System) in Daxing’an Mountains of China. Sables liked mature and elder forest, but it avoided uncovered and young growth land. In spring sables had strong selection to medium cover-degree forest, but it avoided widen ground and especial high cover-degree forest. On the contrary sables didn’t have the strong selection to shrubs cover-degree, but strong selection to dominant tree species, slope degree and slope direction, especially sable liked medium and lower slope. At the same time, sables had the strong selection to the log’s density and the crown’s cover-degree. Generally it avoided high elevation and lower slope land.

Distribution and Movement Tendencies of Short-Tailed Viper Snakes (Gloydius saxatilis) by Altitude

The distribution pattern of reptiles in mountainous regions is generally related to altitude. The distribution of viperine species can be limited by elevation. Short-tailed viper snakes （Gloydius saxatilis） of South Korea are found mostly in high elevation mountainous areas, but few studies have evaluated how their distribution relates to elevation gradient. This study was conducted from 2012 to 2013 to investigate the altitudinal distribution of short-tailed viper snakes in mountainous areas and to discover their movement patterns in Cheon-ma Mountain County Park in South Korea. A translocation method utilizing radio- tracking technology was employed to confirm whether their distribution was influenced by altitude. The results showed that most short-tailed vipers were observed in middle and high altitude areas （from 400 m to 800 m）, but none were observed in low altitude areas （from 200 m to 400 m）. According to the results of the translocation and tracking experiments, the individuals of the translocated group showed a significantly broader home range than those of the control group. In addition, all individuals of the translocated group moved vertically, while most of the control group moved horizontally. Therefore, all translocated individuals tended to move back toward their original habitat, a high elevation area. Consequently, we concluded that the distribution of short-tailed viper snakes was limited by altitude.

Habitat selection of woodchat shrikes Lanius senator during spring stopover is related to foraging strategy

Every spring a huge number of passerines cross the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea on their way to their breeding grounds. Stopover sites after such extended barriers where birds can rest, refuel, and find shelter from adverse weather, are of crucial importance for the outcome of their migration. Stopover habitat selection used by migrating birds depends on landscape context, habitat patch characteristics, as well as on the particular energetic conditions and needs of individ- ual birds, but it is still poorly investigated. We focused on a long-distance migrating passerine, the woodchat shrike, in order to investigate for the first time the species＇ habitat selection at a spring stopover site （island of Antikythira, Greece） after the crossing of the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea. We implemented radio-tracking, color-ringing, and visual behavioral observa- tions to collect data on microhabitat use. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were developed to identify the species＇ most preferred microhabitat during its stopover on this low human disturbed island. We found that high maquis vegetation surrounded by low vegetation was chosen as perches for hunting. Moreover, high maquis vegetation appeared to facilitate hunting attempts toward the ground, the most frequently observed foraging strategy. Finally, we discuss our find- ings in the context of conservation practices for the woodchat shrike and their stopover sites on Mediterranean islands.