Quality and use of habitat patches by wild boar (Sus scrofa) along an urban gradient
Open Access
- 25 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Biologia Futura
- Vol. 71 (1-2), 69-80
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-020-00012-w
Abstract
Expansion and urbanization process of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations lead to serious human–wildlife conflicts in many cities, e.g. in Budapest, Hungary. In this study we evaluated the penetration potential of the species into the inner urban areas by identifying the occurrence of wild boar and the quality of the habitat patches for them along an urban gradient from the periphery towards the centre. Wild boar rooting intensity, shrub cover and the availability of woody species giving favourable food to wild boar were measured in four different habitat patches. The availability of hiding shrub patches was much higher in the outer areas than in the inner ones. Similarly, the proportion of shrub and tree species providing favourable food for wild boar decreased towards the centre. Accordingly, we found rooting only in two areas nearer to the city boundary. Based on our results at the peripheral areas permanent presence of wild boar in near-natural habitats should be expected, but not in the inner green zones. We recommend to monitor the urban wild boar presence and evaluate the quality of urban green patches to mitigate problems related to the wild boars.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Epidemiology of African swine fever virusVirus Research, 2013
- Spatiotemporal behavioral plasticity of wild boar (Sus scrofa) under contrasting conditions of human pressure: primeval forest and metropolitan areaJournal of Mammalogy, 2013
- Big city life: carnivores in urban environmentsJournal of Zoology, 2012
- Merging wildlife community ecology with animal behavioral ecology for a better urban landscape planningLandscape and Urban Planning, 2011
- Wild boars as sources for infectious diseases in livestock and humansPhilosophical Transactions B, 2009
- Socio‐spatial organization of urban stone martensJournal of Zoology, 2008
- Nature as a nuisance? Ecosystem services and disservices to urban lifestyleEnvironmental Sciences, 2008
- Urbanization in developing countries: Current trends, future projections, and key challenges for sustainabilityTechnology in Society, 2006
- Landscape change and the urbanization process in EuropeLandscape and Urban Planning, 2004
- The urbanization of wildlife management: Social science, conflict, and decision makingUrban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2003