Hubert Potočnik | University of Ljubljana (original) (raw)

Papers by Hubert Potočnik

Background A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to obta... more Background A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to obtain ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of noninvasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. Results The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% of scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals a...

Shape files of current and historical distribution maps of large carnivore species in Europ

PLOS Biology, 2016

The ongoing refugee crisis in Europe has seen many countries rush to construct border security fe... more The ongoing refugee crisis in Europe has seen many countries rush to construct border security fencing to divert or control the flow of people. This follows a trend of border fence construction across Eurasia during the post-9/11 era. This development has gone largely unnoticed by conservation biologists during an era in which, ironically, transboundary cooperation has emerged as a conservation paradigm. These fences represent a major threat to wildlife because they can cause mortality, obstruct access to seasonally important resources, and reduce effective population size. We summarise the extent of the issue and propose concrete mitigation measures.

Natura Sloveniae

Considering the recent expansion of the golden jackal's (Canis aureus) range, we set out to d... more Considering the recent expansion of the golden jackal's (Canis aureus) range, we set out to determine its interspecific interactions at potential food sources with other mesocarnivores in Ljubljansko barje, the area where the first territorial groups in Slovenia were recorded. We set bait and camera traps at six different locations. When analysing the recordings, it seemed that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were in all probability avoiding jackals at stationary food sources on a fine spatial scale. In addition, we recorded a case of the possible interference competition between the golden jackal with the European badger (Meles meles).

Journal of Natural History, Dec 1, 2007

The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &

Figure 2. Relative abundance of Niphargus timavi at sampling sites 1–8 as box-whiskers plots with... more Figure 2. Relative abundance of Niphargus timavi at sampling sites 1–8 as box-whiskers plots with the median, lower and upper quartiles, and outliers (×) indicated.

Science

COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle ... more COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals’ 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.

In Slovenia, the status of the re-introduced Eurasian lynx population is monitored using the SCAL... more In Slovenia, the status of the re-introduced Eurasian lynx population is monitored using the SCALP (Status and Conservation of Alpine Lynx Populations)methodology. Monitoring is organized by the Slovenia Forest Service in cooperation with other institutions and individuals. We analysed the data for the 2005-2009 monitoring period and compared it with the previousperiods to explore population status and trends for the northern part of the Dinaric population. During this last pentad we recorded six C1 categorydata points, 832 data points of category C2, and 96 points of categoryC3. These numbers are comparable to the previously reported period of 2000-2004. The spatial distribution of signs of lynx presence remained similarcompared to the previous period. Presence and status of the lynx are easier to interpret because of additional telemetry data and a habitat suitability that has been produced since the last report. We assume that this lynx population is critically endangered, becaus...

Publikacija z odgovori na temo dolgoročnega ohranjanja ris

The article presents the record of an adult female golden jackal (Canis aureus) accidentally shot... more The article presents the record of an adult female golden jackal (Canis aureus) accidentally shot in 2005 near Gornji Grad in the Upper Savinja Valley, Northern Slovenia (UTM VM82, 980 m a.s.l.). Although this individual was most likely a vagrant, it indicates that golden jackals may soon, or perhaps already have, established permanent territories in Slovenia. Further studies are necessary to determine the status and distribution of this protected species in Slovenia, as well as public awareness actions, especiallyamong hunters, in order to avoid additional accidents at hunting

We report on topographical and vegetational characteristics of 13 sites where Eurasian lynx (Lynx... more We report on topographical and vegetational characteristics of 13 sites where Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx killed its prey in the Dinaric mountain range in Slovenia. The results suggest that lynx does not necessarily need dense vegetation and rugged terrain to successfully hunt its prey, however, it may influence its hunting success. A large part of the successful hunts took placeon steep slopes and rugged terrain. 39% of kill sites were located in dolines, implying the potential importance of these karst structures for the hunting of large carnivores on ungulates in karst areas such as Dinaric Mountains.Preučili smo topografske in vegetacijske značilnosti na 13 lokalitetah, kjer so evrazijski risi (Lynx lynx) uplenili svoj plen na območju Dinaridov v Sloveniji. Rezultati so pokazali, da lahko risi uplenijo svoj plen tudi na mestih brez goste vegetacije in razgibanega terena, vendar pa večja možnost kritja verjetno lahko vpliva na njegov lovni uspeh. Velik del uspešnih poskusov lova je ...

Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been no... more Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been noted over the past 30 years, the group is still understudied. Here we present results of the nine-year trapping and information on abundance and community assemblage of small mammals of Goteniška gora, a mountain in southern Slovenia. Trappings were conducted every September from 2002 to 2010. Traps were set in different habitats, ranging from open-space meadows and stony karst areas to dense fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum). At least 12 different species constituted local communities, mostly resembling central European deciduous and mixed forest communities. Some representatives of Alpine small mammal communities and a Pleistocene relict were also present.

Foods

The specifics of meat production from free-ranging animals include the killing of animals in the ... more The specifics of meat production from free-ranging animals include the killing of animals in the wild with firearms. This type of uncontrolled killing sometimes leads to the phenomenon that the game does not die immediately but after a certain time from the shot to death, which may ultimately affect the quality of the meat. During one hunting year on free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) (RD), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (RoD), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (WB), the effect of time from shot to death on final pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), water content, and colour (L*, a*, b*) was investigated. All analyses were performed on Musculus biceps femoris (BF). After shooting, the animals were divided into two categories (A = time from shot to death ≤ 1 min; B = time from shot to death > 1 min). In RD, group B had significantly lower (p < 0.05) water content. In RoD, group B had significantly lower (p < 0.05) values of L* and b*. In WB, group B had significantly lower (p <...

Reševanje risa v Dinaridih in jugovzhodnih Alpah pred izumrtjem Kratka vprašanja in odgovori o ri... more Reševanje risa v Dinaridih in jugovzhodnih Alpah pred izumrtjem Kratka vprašanja in odgovori o risih in projektu LIFE Lynx Reševanje risa v Dinaridih in jugovzhodnih Alpah pred izumrtjem Velike zveri so pogosto predmet občudovanja, včasih zbujajo strah, vedno pa se nam o njih porajajo vprašanja. Tu lahko najdete odgovore na najpogostejša vprašanja, ki smo jih prejeli med začetno fazo projekta LIFE Lynx. V tej brošuri lahko najdete odgovore na mnoga vprašanja, vključno s tem, kaj je ris, zakaj in kako smo začeli z dejavnostmi, s katerimi želimo preprečiti njegova ponavljajoča se izginotja iz Dinarskega gorovja in jugovzhodnih Alp, kaj smo pri tem upoštevali in zakaj to počnemo. Upamo, da bo brošura postala pomemben vir informacij za ljudi, ki živijo na območju projekta, pa tudi za člane projektne skupine. Želimo si, da bi z njo lahko ponudili enostavno dostopen vpogled v naše delo ter povečali učinkovitost naših prizadevanj za komunikacijo. Odgovorili smo na vrsto vprašanj, ki so jih prispevali različni deležniki-lovci, kmetje, člani nevladnih organizacij, ljudje ki živijo na območjih, kamor bi priseljeni risi lahko odšli, oziroma kdor koli iz širše javnosti, ki ga je ta tematika zanimala. Projekt LIFE Lynx se je začel 1. julija 2017 in bo potekal do 31. marca 2024. Ker je ohranitev populacije risov dolgoročna naloga, smo dejavnosti projekta načrtovali tako, da tvorijo trdni temelj za doseganje tega cilja. Med tem projektom bomo: zbirali in analizirali podatke o prejšnjih naselitvah risov, načrtovali in izvedli preselitve vsaj 14 primerkov, pazili na to, kako uspešno so se ti osebki vključili v trenutno populacijo, uporabljali telemetrijo in foto pasti, seveda pa bomo vključevali tudi lokalno prebivalstvo, šole in druge pomembne deležnike, organizirali določene aktivnosti ekoturizma ter razvijali risove tematske poti. V tej brošuri niso opisane vse dejavnosti pri projektu, nudi pa dober vpogled v naš način razmišljanja, načrtovanja in delovanja. Če v njej niste dobili odgovorov na vsa svoja vprašanja, si lahko ogledate spletno mesto projekta ali pa z nami stopite v stik oziroma nam sledite prek spodaj navedenih kontaktnih podatkov.