Jiri Vojar

Assessing Risk and Guidance on Monitoring of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Europe through Identification of Taxonomic Selectivity of Infection

Amphibians are globally threatened, but not all species are affected equally by different threatening processes. This is true for the threat posed by the chytridiomycete fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). We compiled a European data set for B. dendrobatidis to analyze the trends of infection in European amphibians. The risk of infection was not randomly distributed geographically or taxonomically across Europe. Within countries with different prevalence, infection was nonrandom in certain amphibian taxa. Brown frogs of the genus Rana were unlikely to be infected, whereas frogs in the families Alytidae and Bombinatoridae were significantly more likely to be infected than predicted by chance. Frogs in the 2 families susceptible to B. dendrobatidis should form the core of attempts to develop spatial surveillance studies of chytridiomycosis in Europe. Ideally, surveys for B. dendrobatidis should be augmented by sampling the widespread genus Pelophylax because this taxon exhibits geographically inconsistent overinfection with B. dendrobatidis and surveillance of it may facilitate recognition of factors causing spatial variability of infection intensity. Several European amphibian taxa were not represented in our data set; however, surveillance of unsampled species should also occur when warranted.

Movements of Alpine newts (Mesotriton alpestris) between small aquatic habitats (ruts) during the breeding season

Many species with complex life cycles, such as caudate amphibians, migrate from terrestrial to aquatic habitats for reproduction. However, movements between reproductive ponds within a breeding season have rarely been studied and are usually considered to be limited. Our aim was to determine whether this pattern occurs frequently in Alpine newts (Mesotriton alpestris) inhabiting complexes of small ruts on muddy forest tracks. We analysed capture-recapture data for individually marked newts as a function of locality, sex, body condition and hydroperiod throughout the breeding season. More than one third of the newts changed their ruts. Movements occurred more often towards ruts that did not dry during the breeding season. The body condition of males that changed ponds (but not that of females) was higher compared to that of resident newts in one of the studied populations. The relatively high frequency of movements between ruts can be seen as an adaptive strategy in unpredictable habitats which have a high probability of drying. The promiscuous pattern of newts also favours low site tenacity, because few sexual partners are available in each rut. Because of the broad occurrence of this kind of habitat, future studies should take into account these movements to better understand newt population dynamics and how to apply adequate conservation measures.

How does the representation rate of features in a landscape affect visual preferences? A case study from a post-mining landscape

Previous studies of visual preferences for landscapes have been dominated by papers monitoring the presence of individual landscape features or their physical attributes. The objective of our study has been to evaluate how the representation rate of these features affects visual preferences for a landscape. We have studied a post-mining landscape that provides component physical features of a diverse and contrasting character. On the basis of an analysis of surface images, in combination with a questionnaire survey, our study has determined that the representation rate of most evaluated features affects the aesthetic value of the entire landscape scene. It has been established that certain groups of features in a post-mining landscape evoke various preferential tendencies among the public. The aesthetic value of a landscape decreased with increasing representation of surface quarries and urban structures, while increased representation of water and of rural structures resulted in an increasing aesthetic value. Woody vegetation and arable land were most preferred when they were represented non-dominantly, while mining infrastructure features were evaluated most negatively when they were non-dominant features of the landscape. Our findings thus point to the importance of the representation rate of features in the landscape as one of the key factors influencing the visual perception of the entire landscape scene.

The effect of landscape type and landscape elements on public visual preferences: ways to use knowledge in the context of landscape planning

This study deals with an assessment of the visual quality of landscapes, and specifically with the perception of selected elements in the landscape. The aim of the study was to find out how particular elements are perceived in various landscape types, whether this perception is affected by the landscape type in which the elements are placed, and to what extent the respondents’ characteristics affect the assessment. The study was carried out with a sample of respondents of various ages, educational levels and types of employment. The respondents came from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The preferences of the respondents were determined using an online questionnaire, in which they rated landscape photographs on a 21 point rating scale with a range from −10 to +10 points. Using generalised linear mixed effect models, it was found that the perception of an element is most affected by the landscape type, since the same element was assessed differently according to the landscape in which it was situated. The results confirmed that selected elements which do not disturb the harmony of the landscape are generally positively perceived, and the selected elements of a technical character are generally negatively perceived. Among the characteristics of the respondents, only gender and the respondents current place of residence have an effect on their visual preferences.

Presentation Matters: Causes of Differences in Preferences for Agricultural Landscapes Displayed via Photographs and Videos

This study shows the importance of landscape scene composition in relation to aesthetic ratings used in preference research where static and dynamic presentation methods substitute landscape onsite evaluation. We aimed to evaluate whether the method of presenting a landscape scene influenced aesthetic ratings and whether these potential differences in ratings were affected by the composition of the static presentation. Using a questionnaire for rating the same scenes of agricultural landscapes presented both in photographs and in videos, it was determined that the presentation method used significantly affected ratings. Respondents (N = 145, age 20-25 years, students) rated scenes presented in photographs higher than videos. Concerning the effect of composition, well-composed photographs had higher mean ratings than poorly composed photographs. Moreover, the difference in ratings between static and dynamic presentation methods determined for well-composed scenes was larger than that for poorly composed scenes, always in favor of photographs. The results indicate that preference ratings can be influenced both by the medium and by composition. This is a crucial aspect for environmental assessments using a visual preference approach as part of planning and management strategies, and it should always be taken into account.

Moderate consistency in smooth newt behaviour

Behavioural consistency (i.e., personality) is a novel field of research in amphibians. Current published studies often address only one or two aspects of personality and therefore cannot assess more complex relationships and behavioural syndromes. This is the first study focusing on all relevant behavioural traits and their relationships in urodele amphibians. Based on the three trials of the experiment, we examined the consistency of activity (time spent moving), boldness (latency of the first movement and time spent escaping) and exploration (number of visited segments of testing arena) of 42 smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris). Individual consistency, calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), was low in newt activity (ICC = 0.192) and moderate in boldness (0.476) and exploration (0.403). Activity was moderately consistent for each trial (0.425), indicating a possible habituation, supported by a decrease of mean activity throughout the trials. Correlation of the behavioural traits studied suggests the presence of a behavioural syndrome, which potentially shaped the traits together. Our findings suggest the need for a complex approach to the study of amphibian personality and the need for standardized methodology, which would solve the current difficulties in comparing published results.

Dominance Level of Significant Features in Post-mining Landscapes as a Predictor of Perceived Scenic Beauty

The reclamation of post-mining landscapes presents a unique opportunity to create beautiful landscapes. Public participation in the design of new landscapes is possible if assessing landscape preferences is treated as a part of the reclamation process. During reclamation, emphasis should be given to particular landscape features because people tend to pay more attention to these features when perceiving a landscape. Most previous studies have evaluated only the effect as to the presence of features in a landscape upon its attractiveness, not the effect of their dominance levels. Moreover, this issue has not been studied comprehensively in post-mining landscapes, which are unique not only for the degree of human influence but especially for the occurrence of specific landscape features. This study therefore focuses specifically on the dominance level of the relevant features in post-mining landscapes as one of the factors affecting visual preferences for this landscape type. Based on spatial image analysis of ground photographs of post-mining landscapes in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin in combination with a preference questionnaire survey, we found that the dominance level of most of the studied features affects the aesthetic value of the entire landscape scene. The attractiveness of the scene diminished with increasing dominance of the active surface coal mine and of urban structures in the surrounding landscape, while the attractiveness of the scene increased with rising dominance of water features and rural structures. Other selected landscape features increase or decrease landscape scenic attractiveness only when their levels of dominance are low. Our findings thus point to the importance of the dominance level of essential features in post-mining landscapes as one of the key predictors of the landscape’s attractiveness to the public and thus, to some extent, to the success of the reclamation process.