Public Cemetery as a biodiversity hotspot for birds and mammals in the urban environment of Kosice city (Slovakia)

摘要

In this study, we investigated bird and mammal assemblages in the Public Cemetery (Kosice, Slovakia), which represents a green island in the urban environment of Kosice. Only nonsignificant changes were found in the abundance of bird species in the study area, during 19 field observations conducted over the period of 33 years. Species representation and density of bird nesting sites by nesting guilds partly reflect differences in vegetation cover. The study revealed considerable differences in the breeding population density (decline or increase) of several species. This may be due to the changing size and density of vegetation, increasing urbanization pressure, competition for nesting space and food sources. As for mammals, the occurrence of Clethrionomys glareolus, which is very interesting, as well as the long-time survival of Cricetus cricetus (first observed in the 2009-2012 period) was confirmed. The recorded occurrence of these mammalian species on the outskirts of the city can ensure the existence of species posing a certain epidemiological risk to human beings. The urban environment may function as a biodiversity hotspot for the mammals endangered in field habitats (i.e. C. cricetus), and it may serve as refuge for urban intolerant birdssuch as Jynx torquilla, Phylloscopus trochilus, Sylvia nisoria, Anthus trivialis for the nesting and breeding of which green spaces are very indispensable.