Elena Buzan

University of Primorska Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies

A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations...

Background A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to obtain ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of noninvasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet...

In Europe, the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) was on the brink of extinction in the 19th century. Therefore, different conservation measures were implemented, and several reintroductions were made in the Alpine arc, starting from the only surviving population in Gran Paradiso, Italy. An extreme historical bottleneck and additional reintroductions have st...

Wild boar rooting and wolf predation are two distinct ecological processes that can have a significant impact on other species as well as entire ecosystems. Therefore, understanding the diets of wild boar and wolves is important as it provides crucial insights into their ecological roles, trophic interactions, and enable effective conservation and...

In Slovenia the False ringlet Coenonympha oedippus uniquely occurs both on wet (Ljubljana Marsh and surroundings) and dry grasslands (Slovenian Istria, Karst, Gorica Hills). Natural hazards that threaten its habitats include fires and floods; the frequency of their occurrence in the former and existing habitats of C. oedippus was determined using t...

Hybridisation between wild animals and feral individuals from closely related domestic species can occur when they share the same habitat. Such events generally regarded as a threat to genetic integrity and survival of established wild populations. The aim of this study is to confirm a hybridisation between European mouflon and feral sheep on the A...

1. Although several studies have focused on the influence of moonlight on deer-vehicle collisions, findings have been inconsistent. This may be due to neglect of the effects of cloud cover, a major impediment to moon illumination and circannual variation in both deer and human activity. 2. We assessed how median cloud cover interacted with the ill...

In mainland Europe, mouflon were first introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries, mainly in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. In the early 20th century, mouflon were introduced in Croatia, while all introductions in Slovenia occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the introduction, populations in both countries have remain...

The European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW) as part of the ENETWILD project, aims to improve the European capacity for monitoring wildlife populations, implementing international standards for data collection, providing guidance on wildlife density estimation, and finally, to promote collaborative, open data networks to develop wildlife monitorin...

Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. Genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration du...

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is the most widespread wild ungulate in the entire Europe, including Slovenia. Due to high survival rate and exceptional reproductive potential, in the last 30 years species abundance has been increasing both in Slovenia and on the entire Eurasian continent, causing several conflicts among stakeholders as well as damages i...

Although several studies have focused on the influence of moonlight over deer-vehicle collisions, findings have been inconsistent. This may be due to neglecting the effects of cloud cover, a major impediment to moon illumination, and circannual variation in both deer and human activity.We modeled how median cloud cover interacted with the illuminat...

In the early 20th century, mouflons were introduced in Croatia, while introductions in Slovenia occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the introduction, populations in both countries have remained stable, with occasional declines and increases in some areas. Our aim was to: i) determine the origin of introduced mouflons, ii) compare the neutral and...

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are widely recognised as valuable markers for wildlife genetic studies given their extreme polymorphism and functional importance in fitness-related traits. Newly developed genotyping methods, which rely on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), are gradually replacing traditional cloning and Sange...

Citizen Science (CS) has gained increased recognition over the last two decades. This turn is occurring in strong connection with the profound transformations that have affected science over the last few decades, leading towards a new social model of science characterised by greater openness to society regarding research content actors involved, re...

The translocation of wild animal species became a common practice worldwide to re-establish local populations threatened with extinction. Archaeological data confirm that chamois once lived in the Biokovo Mountain but, prior to their reintroduction in the 1960s, there was no written evidence of their recent existence in the area. The population was...

The Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is widespread on the Balkan Peninsula, along mountain massifs from Croatia in the north to Greece in the south and Bulgaria in the east. Knowledge on the genetic structure of Balkan chamois populations is limited and restricted to local studies. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to us...

2 The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species , the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on t...

The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species , the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on tax...

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are widely recognised as valuable markers for wildlife genetic studies given their extreme polymorphism and functional importance in fitness-related traits. Newly developed genotyping methods, which rely on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), are gradually replacing traditional cloning and Sange...

Aim Understanding the drivers of species distribution ranges and population genetic structure can help predict species' responses to global change, while mitigating threats to biodiversity through effective conservation measures. Here, we combined species habitat suitability through time with process‐based models and genomic data to investigate the...

The translocation of wild animal species became a common practice worldwide to re-establish local populations threatened with extinction. Archaeological data confirm that chamois once lived in the Biokovo Mountain but, prior to their reintroduction in the 1960s, there was no written evidence of their recent existence in the area. The population was...

Recent technological advances in the field of genomics offer conservation managers and practitioners new tools to explore for conservation applications. Many of these tools are well developed and used by other life science fields, while others are still in development. Considering these technological possibilities, choosing the right tool(s) from t...

Disease control and containment in free-ranging populations is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife management. Despite the importance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes for immune response, an assessment of the diversity and occurrence of these genes is still rare in European roe deer, the most abundant and widespread large mamm...

Collisions with vehicles are a major cause of wildlife mortality. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, many countries enforced lockdowns that reduced vehicular traffic and consequently wildlife‐vehicle collisions. However, no study has yet explored how traffic‐related mortality declined across multiple species of wildlife, leaving doubts about the species...

Progress in genome sequencing now enables the large-scale generation of reference genomes. Various international initiatives aim to generate reference genomes representing global biodiversity. These genomes provide unique insights into genomic diversity and architecture, thereby enabling comprehensive analyses of population and functional genomics,...

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area be...

The axis deer (Axis axis) is a species of ungulate native to the Indian subcontinent. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the axis deer was introduced to many regions of the world, where it established non-native free-ranging populations. The introduction of the axis deer to Croatia resulted in three populations that still live on the Adriatic islands....

Collisions with vehicles are a major anthropogenic cause of mortality for wildlife, with conservation and evolutionary implications. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries worldwide enforced lockdowns which importantly reduced traffic, and therefore had unprecedented consequences for global wildlife populations. We modeled how the two lockdow...

The development of new diagnostic methods resulted in the discovery of novel hepaciviruses in wild populations of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus, syn. Clethrionomys glareolus). The naturally infected voles demonstrate signs of hepatitis similar to those induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) in humans. The aim of the present research was to investigat...

The distribution of the endangered glacial relict subspecies, the Pannonian root vole Alexandromys oeconomus mehelyi Éhik, 1928, is restricted to scattered localities in south-western Slovakia, which belong to the north-eastern zone of its range. Human-induced changes and fragmentation of the landscape have led to the gradual loss of suitable habit...

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area be...

Although the two species of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra and R. pyrenaica) are currently classified as least-concern by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), inconsistencies on the subspecies classification reported in literature make it challenging to assess the conservation status of the single subspecies. Previous studies re...

Species of the genus Bison, along with many other vertebrate taxa, represented an important part of Pleistocene megafauna. Following the Quaternary extinction event, however, only the American bison (Bison bison) and the European bison or wisent (Bison bonasus) survived to present times. The phylogeny of Bison species from the Late Pliocene to the...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are the most numerous and widespread species of ungulates in Europe, including Slovenia. Population size and distribution of both species are increasing over the last decades in entire Europe, due to their successful reproductive strategy, high survival rate or high reproductive pot...

Microsatellites have traditionally been used in population genetics because of their variability and presumed neutrality, while major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are of increasing interest as strong selective pressures shape their standing variation. Despite the potential of MHC genes and microsatellites to complement each other in decip...

Species of the genus Bison constituted an important part of the Eurasian and North American Pleistocene megafauna. However, after the Quaternary extinction event, only the American bison (Bison bison) and the European bison or wisent (Bison bonasus) survived into modern times. While the traditional classification of fossils is based on the use of t...

The Slovenian False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus populations are under serious threat, as in the last two decades have witnessed a sharp decline in population distribution and size due to destruction, fragmentation and/or habitat quality degradation through intensive agriculture, abandonment of use and urbanization. We investigated the genetic dive...

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a globally widely distributed species that has recently increased in population size and distribution causing more socio-economic and ecological concern than any other ungulate species. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the species needs is urgently needed. The wild boar has long been considered a polygynous spec...

The chamois, genus Rupicapra, is the most abundant mountain-dwelling ungulate in Europe and the Near East and is currently recognized to be divided into two species: R. rupicapra (Northern chamois) and R. pyrenaica (Southern chamois) further divided into seven and three subspecies, respectively. While neither of the species is of conservation conce...

After a strong demographic decline before World War II, wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are expanding and the species is now the second-most abundant ungulate in Europe. This increase raises concerns due to wild boar impact on agriculture and natural ecosystems and as potential vector of disease transmissions. The population expansion is the res...

Knowledge on a diet of carnivores is essential to assess the role of studied species in the ecosystem, the potential competition with other carnivores, and the impact on prey species. Therefore, dietary analyses have important implications for preparing and implementing appropriate conservation actions, and further management plans. However, the ac...

Despite strong evidence of an inheritable component of muscle phenotypes, little progress has been made in identifying the specific genetic factors involved in the development of sarcopenia. Even rarer are studies that focus on predicting the risk of sarcopenia based on a genetic risk score. In the present study, we tested the single and combined e...

Multi-proxy analysis of the coprolites which were found during excavations at two Late Neolithic (fourth millennium bc) pile-dwelling sites (Črnelnik and Stare gmajne) in Slovenia yielded some new insights into human-dog relations and behaviour. The digested content is presented in a multidisciplinary approach, in which palynological, palaeoparasit...

Simple Summary: We determined the genetic variability, population structure, and influence of genetic factors on two parameters of fitness (body mass and reproductive ability) in roe deer females in the contact zone between the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains by utilizing microsatellite variations in 214 individuals collected throughout Slovenia, Ce...

Considering adaptation to urban environments, red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the best studied species among European fauna. It is generalist and an opportunistic feeder, which explains its successful adaptation to (sub)urban areas. Urban ecosystems alter several abiotic and biotic factors, and consequently affect the evolutionary potential of sp...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) are the two most widespread ungulates in Europe and Slovenia. Population size of both species is increasing across the European continent due to their high reproductive and survival rate, accompanied by their great plasticity that enables them to colonise also (semi)urban envi...

The chamois, genus Rupicapra, is the most abundant mountain-dwelling ungulate in Europe and the Middle East and is currently recognised to be divided into two species: Rupicapra rupicapra (Northern chamois) and Rupicapra pyrenaica (Southern chamois), which are further subdivided into seven and three subspecies respectively. Although currently class...

Variability of the DRB locus of MHC genes class II in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from a mountain region of Croatia. vet. arhiv 90, 385-392, 2020. ABStrACt Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are large indigenous mammals in Croatia. Even though Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in initiating immune response, there are no reports...

Major histocompatibility (MHC) genes are an important genetic marker for studying the processes of adaptive evolution in different species. The high degree of polymorphism observed in these genes may be result of increased need of organisms to recognise different pathogens that co-evolve with the host to evade immune recognition; moreover, in some...

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is an income breeder, which means that seasonal effect has only moderate influence on body mass variability within the year, and that the reproductive success is not dependent on food intake and energetic reserves accumulated outside the short reproductive period in midsummer. For this reason, body mass of roe deer ca...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) are the two most widespread ungulates in Europe and Slovenia. Population size of both species is increasing across the European continent due to their high reproductive and survival rate, accompanied by their great plasticity that enables them to colonise also (semi)urban envi...

Mycorrhizal fungi are symbionts of a large majority of terrestrial plants. The symbiotic relationship allows the exchange of nutrients along with other benefits of mycorrhization to the plants. Large mammals with their processes (i.e. nutrition and excretion, zoohory) are important vectors for the transfer and distribution of fungi within and betwe...

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) code for cell surface proteins essential for adaptive immunity. They show the most outstanding genetic diversity in vertebrates, which has been connected with various fitness traits and thus with the long-term persistence of populations. In this study, polymorphism of the MHC class II DRB locus wa...

Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates can be a useful tool in wildlife management and in obtaining a greater understanding of their biological and ecological roles in a wider spatiotemporal context. Different ways of optimising methodologies and reducing the costs of genetic analyses using widely available bone tissues collected within regular...

Maintenance of traditional cultural landscapes largely depends on traditional agricultural practices, which are nowadays in decline as a result of increasingly intensive and mechanised land use. Losing traditional practices may result in impoverishing of picturesque mosaic landscape and biodiversity. This research focuses on land-use changes in two...

Ljungan virus (LV), which belongs to the Parechovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family, was first isolated from bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in Sweden in 1998 and proposed as a zoonotic agent. To improve knowledge of the host association and geographical distribution of LV, tissues from 1685 animals belonging to multiple rodent and insectivore s...

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a rapidly evolving concept, with emphasis on motivation, theoretical conceptualization and translation into practice. RRI has lately included environmental sustainability as a key area for the social desirability of research and innovation. We believe that it isessential to implement RRI in conservation...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the key species of terrestrial ecosystems and is the most important game species not only in Slovenia but rather in the majority of European countries. However, there was a lack of genetic studies in roe deer in our country until very recently, therefore population genetic structure and other featur...

During the early 1900s, Northern chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) populations in the northern Dinaric Mountains were extirpated. During the 1960s and 1970s there were several reintroductions of individuals from two Northern chamois subspecies (Alpine chamois, R. r. rupicapra and Balkan chamois, R. r. balcanica) from neighbouring areas in the attempt t...

Spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias is a widely distributed, highly migratory mesopredatory shark that is extremely sensitive to overexploitation. Because of unregulated targeted and incidental capture and a lack of enforceable management in the Mediterranean Sea, the spiny dogfish subpopulation has declined by at least 50% in the Mediterranean Sea ove...

Many species of wildlife, including game species, have been spreading into urban areas, which has resulted in new interactions (including conflicts) with residents. For the urban environment in Slovenia, there is a lack of knowledge about the biological characteristics of species, the causes of conflicts, and possible measures to resolve them; ther...

Spatial patterns of immunogenetic and neutral variation influence on selected fitness parameters in roe deer

The quantity and extent of municipal solid waste is rising as urbanization, mass consumption, and consumer lifestyles have become more prevalent worldwide. Many cities cannot effectively manage their own waste, which leads to the creation of illegal waste sites. We investigated the potential effects of illegal waste dumping on the qualitative and q...

Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) inhabits the south part of the species distribution in Europe. It prefers rocky habitat with steep slopes, thus low valleys tend to constitute a barrier to gene-flow. The subspecies is currently protected in some countries and hunted in others. Knowledge on the genetic composition of this subspecies is...

The consequences of intensive urbanization are reflected in increase of urban and semi-urban landscapes, and thus also in the reduction and fragmentation of several habitats of wildlife. Nowadays, the contact zone between urban areas and natural habitats of wildlife has been increasing due to the simultaneous spread of the agricultural landscape. A...

To assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in native and commensal rodents as indicators of environmental pollution, we analyzed brain tissue from small mammals collected on legal and illegal waste sites in the Slovenian and Croatian parts of Istria. A total of 136 animals and five species of the family Muridae were analyzed: black rat...

Background: Promoting Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a major strategy of the "Science with and for Society" work program of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. RRI aims to achieve a better alignment of research and innovation with the values, needs, and expectations of society. The RRI s...

Objectives To investigates the short- and long-term effects of elastic resistance training (ERT) on physical performance, inflammatory markers, and myokines in older women living in a nursing home. Design A randomized controlled trial, with 12 weeks of ERT intervention. Setting and participants Nursing home. Twenty female nursing home residents (me...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the key species of terrestrial ecosystems and is the most important game species not only in Slovenia but rather in the majority of European countries. However, there was a lack of genetic studies in roe deer in our country until very recently, therefore population genetic structure and other featur...