Collisions entre véhicules et animaux en liberté : état des lieux à partir d'une enquête au sein de la police

in Forêt Wallonne (2013), 122

Les accidents de la route impliquant des animaux sauvages sont de plus en plus nombreux. En se basant sur les données recueillies par les zones de police en Wallonie, il est possible d’avoir une vision ... [more ▼]

Les accidents de la route impliquant des animaux sauvages sont de plus en plus nombreux. En se basant sur les données recueillies par les zones de police en Wallonie, il est possible d’avoir une vision plus claire de la problématique. Dans le cas du cerf et du sanglier, il apparaît clairement que la hausse des accidents est liée à l’augmentation de leurs populations. [less ▲]

Game species monitoring using road–based distance sampling in association with thermal imagers: a covariate analysis

in Animal Biodiversity and Conservation (2012), 35(2), 253-265

Monitoring of game species populations is necessary to adequately assess culling by hunters in areas where natural large predators are absent. However, game managers have to control several species and ... [more ▼]

Monitoring of game species populations is necessary to adequately assess culling by hunters in areas where natural large predators are absent. However, game managers have to control several species and they often lack of an efficient and convenient survey design method. Monitoring several species at that same time over large areas could thus be cost– and time–effective. We tested the influence of several factors during monitoring of three common game species, (wild boar, roe deer and red fox, using road–based distance sampling in association with thermal imagers. This pilot survey based on 20 night counts in five contrasting sites studied the effect of several covariates (species, thermal imaging, observer, group size, and habitat type) on the detection probabilities. No differences were observed between thermal imagers and group sizes , but we found differences between observers . Expected differences were also observed between species and between habitat type. Our results show that the detectability of low cost thermal imaging equipment is similar to that of more expensive methods, highlighting new possibilities for the use of thermal imagery by game managers. Although adjustments should be made to the study design our findings suggest that large–scale multi–species monitoring could be an efficient method for common game species. [less ▲]

Overview of animal related-accidents in one of the world’s densest road network region

Poster (2012, October)

With its 4.7 km/km² of public roads, Southern Belgium (Wallonia) has one of the densest road network of Western Europe. This network as well as the observed increase in main game species populations (red ... [more ▼]

With its 4.7 km/km² of public roads, Southern Belgium (Wallonia) has one of the densest road network of Western Europe. This network as well as the observed increase in main game species populations (red deer, roe deer and wild boar) make Wallonia an interesting region for studying the patterns of traffic accidents caused by animals. Moreover, compared to most of European countries, no statistics are available for this area. To shed light on the current situation of wildlife roadkills, the police database of traffic accident statement was thoroughly investigated. Those statements concern accidents that occurred between 2006 and 2010. Each record includes date, time, species involved and information about the location of the accident event. Based on this dataset, we have analysed (i) composition and percentage of involved species, (ii) the consequence (material damages / bodily injuries), (iii) the spatial (type of roads, proximity to landscape features, ‘hot spot’ map) and (iv) temporal (daily, weekly and seasonal) distribution of animal-related accidents. In conclusion future research perspectives are presented. [less ▲]

FINE-SCALE HABITAT SELECTION BY TWO SPECIALIST WOODPECKERS OCCURRING IN BEECH AND OAK-DOMINATED FORESTS IN SOUTHERN BELGIUM

in Ardeola (2010), 57(2), 339-362

We studied the identification of key habitat parameters for two specialist woodpecker species (middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and lesser spotted woodpecker D. minor) associated with mature ... [more ▼]

We studied the identification of key habitat parameters for two specialist woodpecker species (middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and lesser spotted woodpecker D. minor) associated with mature broadleaved forests ecosystems in Europe, and the modelling of their specific requirements with a view to assist forest managers. The study was conducted in four beech and oak-dominated forests (Haut-Fays, Halma, Gembes and Croix-Scaille) located in the Ardennes Region of Southern Belgium. The study sites covered a total area of ca. 20 km². A census of woodpecker occurrence (presenceabsence) was implemented from 2000 to 2003 within 255 1-ha plots. Habitat variables describing stand age, tree density, snag density, stand composition and vertical vegetation structure were also sampled at the same plots to develop both logistic and autologistic regression models describing habitat use.Middle spotted woodpecker (MSW) uses the oak-rich locations (mean basal area of 15.6 m²/ha), with selection of areas with the largest, oldest oak trees (mean circumference > 150 cm), and with a high diversity of tree species in the overstory. Similarly, the lesser spotted woodpecker (LSW) was detected in areas presenting the highest percentage cover of oak trees but with a selection of younger stands, with a high density of snags and dead wood (mean of 9 m³/ha). The integration of an autocorrelation term improved model performance for the LSW but not for MSW. Our results highlight the importance of a high disponibility of oak trees for these two sympatric species. The climax forest in northwest Europe is beech so that public and private owners must develop appropriate forest management plans to prevent the conversion of oak to beech forests. In particular, forest managers can promote an active oakregeneration management to obtain a balanced representation of age classes. They must also aim to maintain/increase the volume of dead wood resources by reserving all trees produced by storms or any other cause of natural mortality. [less ▲]

Avifaune forestière - Etude d'habitat du Pic mar

Poster (2010, May 12)

En tant que bio-indicateurs, les espèces spécialistes des grands massifs forestiers feuillus ont un intérêt pour l'étude et le suivi de la diversité de ces milieux.

Dynamique d’expansion du Pic mar (Dendrocopos medius) en Belgique

in Acte du 33 ième Colloque francophone d’ornithologie (2009, December)

Middle Spotted Woodpecker is one of the key species for which understanding the relationship with its habitat can have important implications for improving biodiversity-friendly management of hardwood ... [more ▼]

Middle Spotted Woodpecker is one of the key species for which understanding the relationship with its habitat can have important implications for improving biodiversity-friendly management of hardwood forests. This species is considered as an indicator of a forest ecosystem comprising a high proportion of mature trees and a botanical composition chiefly associated with oaks. For the last two decades, the Middle Spotted Woodpecker distribution range is expanding remarkably in the Walloon Region while, in contrast, other populations are either decreasing in the south-east of Europe or remain stable elsewhere in Europe. The study of this expansion range within the Walloon Region and of the forest habitats used therein is necessary to better assess the ecological requirements of the species. Based on more than 3,000 location data collected in the framework of the Atlas of breeding birds between 2001 and 2007, our study aimed at comparing forest habitats occupied by Middle Spotted Wood peckers between three geographically distinct areas, defined on the basis of the temporal evolution of the species’ distribution in the Walloon Region: the old distribution range, described from 1973-1977 and corresponding to the Ardennes and the Lorraine regions (southern Belgium), the transition range, defined in 1991-1992 and corresponding to the Fagne-Famenne region, and the expansion range, described in 2001-2007 and corresponding to the area colonized further north in the Loess region and Condroz. Overall, 418 woodpecker locations were crossed with 41 forest habitat variables available as part of the Regional Forest Inventory of the Walloon Region (IPRFW). Preliminary results suggest that, in agreement with previously known environmental requirements, forest stands presenting high densities in oak trees have been colonized by the Middle Spotted Woodpecker during its recent range expansion. However, the species is also expanding towards areas with a lower proportion of beech trees compared to the old distribution range, with a marked preference for forest stands presenting high tree diversity. We conclude that the Middle Spotted Woodpecker may exhibit a certain flexibility regarding its habitats requirements in Walloon forests, which led us to suggest several recommendations aimed at promoting the conservation of the species and of the forest biodiversity in general. [less ▲]

Analyse comparative des aires ancienne et d’expansion du Pic mar (Dendrocopos medius (L.)) en Région wallonne

Master's dissertation (2008)

Woodpeckers are good bioindicators of the forest ecosystem. In Europe, the understanding of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker ecology (Dendrocopos medius (L.)) can have implications for the conservation of ... [more ▼]

Woodpeckers are good bioindicators of the forest ecosystem. In Europe, the understanding of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker ecology (Dendrocopos medius (L.)) can have implications for the conservation of other forest birds. In Belgium, it belongs to the six key species listed in the management of closed hardwood forests and is considered as an indicator of a forest structure with veteran trees and a botanical composition mainly associated with oaks. In the Walloon Region, the Middle Spotted Woodpecker is doing a remarkable expansion while it is decreasing in the south-east of Europe and it remains generally stable in Europe. The study of this habitat extension is necessary to assess the requirement of the bird concerning the nature of colonized environments and its changing needs. Thus, the thesis mainly aims to make a comparison between old, transition and expansion habitats of the Middle Spotted Wood pecker in the Walloon Region. Areas have been stratified according to the temporal evolution of the species distribution. The distinction between these areas is done through three analyses based on an environment inventory "habitat", on data from the forest resources inventory "Inventaire Permanent des Ressources Forestières de Wallonie (IPRFW)" and on landscape variables. The secondary objective is to make recommendations for the Walloon forest management in order to promote the species conservation and the biodiversity conservation in general. At the end of these researches, analysis show that the Middle Spotted Woodpecker has a certain flexibility regarding its requirements, allowing it to colonize undoubtedly new habitats. This flexibility includes, for example, the canopy height, the presence of beech and the tree species diversity. Landscape variables certainly show that the species tends to get out of major forests. Given management recommendations notably concern veteran trees, rough bark trees, standing dead wood and coppices. [less ▲]