Wildlife Shifts: Species, Space, and Survival

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 May 2026) | Viewed by 381

Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biology, Shumen University, 115 Universitetska Str., 9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
2. Unit for Integrative Zoology, Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Interests: animal behavior; zoology; biodiversity; bioengineering; biomechanics; taxonomy; pedagogics in biology; evolutionary studies; anatomy; functional morphology; herpetology; theriology; urban ecology; limnology; habitats; ornithology; ichtiology; paleontology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue of Life is focused on knowledge surrounding general habitat shifts and the establishment of organisms’ adaptation to different living media and the ecological and physical conditions of their habitats. We welcome investigations that focus on the present as well as manuscripts based on paleontological and paleoclimatic data. With data on extinction and threats as the focus of the Special Issue, contributions concerning the impact of urbanization on wildlife, natural and forced habitat shifts, predator–prey interactions, morphological adaptations to particular habitat conditions, shifts in diet, changes in behavior, ethological repertoires, animal intelligence and plasticity, and invasive species will be highly appreciated. Taxonomical studies addressing morphological adaptations and analyses concerning the anthropogenic role in ecological transitions, including evidence from long-term biodiversity monitoring and community-based ecological observations, will also be considered.

Prof. Dr. Nikolay D. Natchev
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ecological transitions
  • behavior
  • adaptation
  • organisms
  • habitat specifics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 3847 KB  
Article
From Rub Tree Prediction to Targeted Genetic Sampling in Brown Bears: Linking Scent-Marking Ecology and Spatial Modelling
by Ján Barilla, Richard Hančinský, Matej Ferenčík, Jaroslav Solár, Daniel Mihálik and Ján Kraic
Life 2026, 16(7), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16071045 (registering DOI) - 23 Jun 2026
Abstract
Scent marking has been discussed as an important component of communication in brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758). However, the environmental factors influencing the occurrence of rub trees and their value for non-invasive genetic sampling remain poorly understood. This study examined the [...] Read more.
Scent marking has been discussed as an important component of communication in brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758). However, the environmental factors influencing the occurrence of rub trees and their value for non-invasive genetic sampling remain poorly understood. This study examined the patterns of rub tree occurrence in the eastern High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia) at two spatial scales. At the tree scale, paired-design generalized linear mixed models showed that rub trees were more frequently recorded on large-diameter coniferous trees, indicating an association with visually prominent and chemically suitable substrates. At the landscape scale, logistic regression models revealed that the probability of rub tree occurrence increased with elevation and distance from human settlements, identifying high-elevation forests as areas of higher predicted rub tree occurrence. The best-supported model was used to produce a predictive map of rub tree occurrence across the study area. We also evaluated whether rub trees are reliable sources of biological material for non-invasive sampling. Hair collected during repeated field visits provided DNA suitable for genotyping and individual identification. Overall, the results show that rub trees exhibit non-random spatial patterns and represent effective focal points for systematic genetic sampling, linking patterns of rub tree occurrence to the spatial targeting of non-invasive genetic sampling in mountain landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Shifts: Species, Space, and Survival)
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