1. A new wildlife monitoring app in Slovenia : a pilot evaluation of data quality and useŽiga Velkavrh, Luka Duniš, Boštjan Pokorny, Hubert Potočnik, Elena Bužan, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Wildlife monitoring is crucial for successful conservation and management of wildlife populations. To support modern wildlife monitoring approaches in Slovenia, we developed SRNA, a nationwide citizen science appli- cation that collects additional metadata on several terrestrial vertebrate species. The app is designed for two groups of citizen scientists, hunters and other nature observers. To foster learning, it features a photo-based wildlife identification quiz and species identification guides. This pilot study evaluated app use and data quality with two aims: (1) to assess users’ ability to identify wildlife species from photos, focusing on taxa expected to be challenging to identify, and to test whether identification accuracy varies across mammal groups; (2) to analyse wildlife observation data submitted through SRNA. Users were successful in identifying several distinctive species but had some difficulty distinguishing between certain mustelids, and between golden jackal and grey wolf, indicating priorities for targeted educational campaigns. Biology-related educational background facilitated identification of mustelids and, to a lesser extent, canids. In its first year, SRNA collected 1633 observations via 742 reports, predominantly of European roe deer. Hunters and nature observers contributed complementary data: differences were observed not only in the number of reported species and amount of data they provided, but also in reporting patterns across biogeo- graphic regions, reporting rates, and the average delay time between encounters and submissions. This study demonstrates that SRNA provides promising complementary data for wildlife monitoring, but also highlights data quality limitations (biases and verification issues) that must be taken into account when using SRNA data.
Keywords: application for wildlife monitoring, citizen science, mammals, Slovenia, SRNA app, Wildlife identification quiz
Published in RUP: 08.04.2026; Views: 124; Downloads: 6
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2. Effective cryopreservation of post mortem-collected roe deer gametes by evaluation of post-thaw oocyte and sperm characteristics and in vitro fertilizationAnna Justyna Korzekwa, Elena Bužan, Boštjan Pokorny, Gulsum Ummu Boztepe, Marek Lecewicz, Władysław Kordan, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of semen cryopreservation and oocyte vitrification in roe deer as a potential method of gamete preservation for endangered deer species. Sperm were isolated from the cauda epididymis of fourteen bucks (n = 14). The motility measure (CASA) and morphology of fresh semen (FS) and frozen–thawed semen (TS) were compared. A hyaluronic binding assay was used to distinguish between mature FS spermatozoa expressing hyaluronan receptors and immature FS lacking these receptors, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in TS was determined (flow cytometry). A Sperm–Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA) showed a viability rate of 61.9% in FS and 78.2% in TS. Oocytes received from eight does (n = 8) underwent a viability test and vitrification, and fresh oocytes from the other eight does (n = 8) were fertilized with TS and embryos were cultured until the blastocyst stage. The number of isolated oocytes, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), cleaved embryos, and expanded blastocysts was evaluated. Higher percentages of morphological factors (acrosome, head, midpiece, and tail shape) were observed in FS compared to TS, whereas the motility and progressive movement were greater in TS (p ≤ 0.001). The viability was 50.5% and MMP was 40.6% in TS. A total of 311 oocytes were collected and from 150 COCs and 125 blastocysts developed. The viability of thawed oocytes after vitrification was 81%. The viability of vitrified oocytes and cryopreserved sperm confirmed the effectiveness of freezing protocols and highlights the potential for their implementation in other deer species.
Keywords: roe deer, semen, oocytes, fertilization
Published in RUP: 13.10.2025; Views: 467; Downloads: 14
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8. Prostoživeče živali v urbanem okolju kot potencialni prenašalci in gostitelji nalezljivih bolezni : primer divjega prašiča in navadne lisiceMonika Pintar, 2023, undergraduate thesis Keywords: urbanizacija, prostoživeče živali, divji prašič, navadna lisica, zoonoze, prenos bolezni, nalezljive bolezni, rezervoar, vektor
Published in RUP: 13.06.2023; Views: 2254; Downloads: 43
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