Peter Lurz

The University of Edinburgh | UoE · Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

LiDAR remote sensing allows the direct retrieval of vegetation structure parameters and has been widely used to assess habitat quality for various species. The aim of this study is to test whether LiDAR can help in providing estimates of habitat suitability over larger scales and inform conservation management planning in stronghold areas of an end...

Aim This study investigates how founder size may affect local genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of the invasive American eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in European areas. It also examines whether dispersal pro- pensity and invasion rate may be related to founder size, genetic diversity and structure. Location Piedmont, I...

There is increasing evidence that disease‐mediated invasions are widespread across a range of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant systems. We therefore need a better understanding of the role of disease in managing conservation threats due to introduced and invasive species. Here, we develop a general theoretical model framework to assess the impact...

Species introduction represents one of the most serious threats for biodiversity. The realized climatic niche of an invasive species can be used to predict its potential distribution in new areas, providing a basis for screening procedures in the compilation of black and white lists to prevent new introductions. We tested this assertion by modeling...

Prevost’s squirrel, Callosciurus prevostii (Desmarest, 1822), is a diurnal, medium-sized, arboreal squirrel. Its distribution extends from peninsular Thailand and Sumatra to northern Sulawesi, Borneo, and adjacent islands. It inhabits secondary forests, fruit orchards, as well as palm and coconut plantations. Fruit is the main component of its diet...

Dogs live in close contact with humans as pets, for hunting, for security, and as a source of income. In addition, the meat is also consumed by some tribes in Nigeria. Dogs could therefore serve as reservoirs, carriers, and transmitters of zoonotic diseases. This review evaluates the literature from 2000 to 2020 for the prevalence and incidence of...

The eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) has been labeled as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species by the IUCN. In Europe, the species has been introduced to Britain, Ireland and Italy, and its subsequent spread has resulted in wide-scale extinction of native Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ) from the areas colonized by th...

Invasive species pose a major threat to native species, both through direct interactions, such as competition for resources, and indirect interactions, such as when the invasive species acts as a reservoir host for a virulent pathogen. Recent research has indicated that the recovery of native predators can benefit native prey species that compete w...

Introduction: In light of the growing awareness with respect to Planetary Health, healthcare institutions are striving to further develop their operations to make them sustainable, environmentally friendly and climate-resilient. There is, however, less of a focus on ecological options to turn buildings and grounds into ‚green oases‘ and thus to com...

Via birds, wind and rope team: the dispersal of the hemiparasite mistletoe (Viscum album) Mistletoe grows on the twigs and branches of deciduous and coniferous trees. Typical deciduous hosts in central Europe are apple and poplar trees. The colonisation of a host tree is an interactive process between the innate characteristics of the host tree and...

Usutu virus (USUV) is becoming increasingly important to veterinary and human health in Germany. USUV has been implicated in mass die-off events of birds, especially of blackbirds (Turdus merula), and has experienced significant range expansion in the years since its first detection in 2010. Current detection methods rely primarily on dead bird sur...

This article in Scottish Forestry reviews recent red squirrel research with respect to forest site level concerns and practice, and aims to inform a discussion on future policy options.

Generalist predators whose primary prey undergoes cyclic fluctuations, will predate on alternate food sources when the abundance of their primary prey is low. In this paper we have developed a general model of a predator that switches predation between its primary prey and two alternative, competing, prey species. When the predators primary prey is...

This datasheet on Callosciurus finlaysonii covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

Leprosy has been described in Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris; ERS) carcasses since 2014. Studies of ERS carcasses have not provided information about incubation or disease progression in this host but have provided important insights into pathogen presence and distribution throughout the United Kingdom. Here we present field study data on...

For a number of years, we have been monitoring the behaviour of songbirds roosting in nest boxes during the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. The lockdown as a result of COVID-19 on New Year’s Eve 2020 led to a noticeable reduction in fireworks being set off. This allowed us to observe and compare the behaviour of songbirds with that of previous years....

The presence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis and Mycobacterium leprae in Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris, ERS) carcasses throughout the British Isles, and leprosy as a disease, have recently been reported using histological and molecular diagnostic methods. In 2016, the first longitudinal study of ERS affected by leprosy was initiated. One of...

Timber harvesting practises can lead to loss of suitable nesting opportunities and thus have a negative impact on reproductive success and abundance of arboreal species. For many species, the impact of forest operations and the effectiveness of mitigation, such as pre-operational surveys, retention of trees with nests or the use of nest boxes, are...

Island populations may have a higher extinction risk due to reduced genetic diversity and need to be managed effectively in order to reduce the risk of biodiversity loss. The Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ) in the south of England only survive on three islands (the Isle of Wight, Brownsea and Furzey islands), with the Isle of Wight harb...

Animal space use is affected by spatio-temporal variation in food availability and/or population density and varies among individuals. This inter-individual variation in spacing behaviour can be further influenced by sex, body condition, social dominance, and by the animal’s personality. We used capture-mark-recapture and radio-tracking to examine...

The Eurasian Red Squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) is under threat from the invasive North American eastern Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) with 80% of the remaining red squirrel populations in the British Isles found in Scotland. In this study we develop a spatially explicit mathematical model of the red and grey squirrel system and use it to a...

Reconciliation of timber production and wildlife conservation is a major challenge in forest ecosystem management. For some protected species impacts of forest management are well documented, but for others such as the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) (hereafter ‘red squirrel’) they are still largely unknown. In Scotland, red squirrels are...

A spatially explicit mathematical model was developed to assess the population viability of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in designated forest strongholds in Scotland under the implementation of two forest management policies: a specific Stronghold Management for red squirrel conservation (SM) compared to the multipurpose UK Forestry Standard (U...

On 16 July 2017, the chance observation of a Magpie attacking a Common Buzzard led us to look for explanations for this behaviour. The buzzard, that flew at the height of some 25m, was attacked by the magpie, which followed it for several hundred metres attempting to grasp its tail feathers with its beak. Only a few publications focus on the intera...

The stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) uses ingenious tricks in order to attract pollinators and to achieve the dispersal of its seeds. Yeasts metabolise sugar available in nectar und thereby warm it up to attract bees and bumble bees in cold, early spring. This remarkable heating system allows the flowers to already attract pollinators at a...

Remnant red squirrel populations in the UK mainland are threatened by squirrelpox viral disease and the reservoir of the squirrelpox virus, the invasive grey squirrel, is expanding its range. Until this threat can be effectively mitigated, there is a high risk from disease outbreaks, following proposed conservation translocation of red squirrels.

Background: Squirrels (family Sciuridae) are globally distributed members of the order Rodentia with wildlife occurrence in indigenous and non-indigenous regions (as invasive species) and frequent presence in zoological gardens and other holdings. Multiple species introductions, strong inter-species competition as well as the recent discovery of a...

As there is no agreed national list of species of socio-economic and/or cultural value for Scotland, a set of criteria for selecting species has been developed. These include: • Species prioritised for conservation value • Species identified as being culturally important • Species providing important ecosystem services • Game species • Species coll...

Invasive alien species are major drivers of global change that can have severe impacts on biodiversity and human well-being. Management strategies implemented to mitigate these impacts are based on a hierarchical approach, from prevention of invasion, via early warning and rapid response, to invasive species management. We evaluated how different...

That fireworks have a significant, disruptive effect and drive away birds is shown by the fact that pyrotechnics are used as a deterrent in agriculture, in vineyards before the harvest and at airports. Fireworks cause disturbance through noise, light and pressure waves. Cavity nesting birds have largely been ignored in the discussion on the effects...

Monografie über die Wasseramsel - monografic book on the white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) Auf Deutsch mit englischen Kapitelzusammenfassungen und Bildunterschriften - in German with english summaries and captions Neue Brehm Bücherei Band 489

The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is an emblematic species for conservation, and its decline in the British Isles exemplifies the impact that alien introductions can have on native ecosystems. Indeed, red squirrels in this region have declined dramatically over the last 60 years due to the spread of squirrelpox virus following the introd...

Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris, ERS) in the British Isles are a recently discovered natural host for Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Infected squirrels can develop skin lesions or carry the bacteria without showing clinical signs. Until now the clinical diagnosis of leprosy could only be confirmed in squirrels by isol...

Despite the ubiquity of disease in nature, the role that disease dynamics play in the compensatory growth response to harvesting has been ignored. We use a mathematical approach to show that harvesting can lead to compensatory growth due to a release from disease-induced mortality. Our findings imply that culling in systems that harbor virulent par...

Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles are the most recently discovered animal reservoir for the leprosy bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Initial data suggest that prevalence of leprosy infection is variable and often low in different squirrel populations. Nothing is known about the presence of l...

Wart-like foot growths on Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs due to Papilloma viruses and other causes Increased public interest in garden birds has resulted in observations of visible disease symptoms such as highly obvious tumours on the feet of chaffinches. Causes for the sometimes excessive growths on the feet are predominantly viruses (e.g. Papillo...

The Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is distributed throughout large parts of Europe and Asia. However, its distribution in certain regions of Europe is endangered by the invasive, non-native Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Adenoviruses were already described in squirrels in Great Britain almost two decades ago. In 2013, a squirrel ad...

This chapter provides a conceptual framework describing the main ecological components of the global ecosystem, which need to be considered when using a One Health approach, including incorporating examples of metrics which both reflect the connectedness of different environments and quantify the complex interactions between humans, domesticated an...

The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the main wild reservoir of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Mediterranean woodlands and a key risk factor for cattle tuberculosis (TB) breakdowns. Wild boar vaccination therefore has the potential to be a valuable tool for TB control. We tested two orally delivered vaccines, heat-inactivated Mycobacte...

Zusammenfassung de Isodontia mexicana ist eine Grabwespenart aus Mittel‐ und Nordamerika, die in Südfrankreich höchst wahrscheinlich mit amerikanischen Truppen am Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs ankam. Der Erstnachweis erfolgte 1960. Von Südfrankreich hat sich die Art in den vergangenen Jahren erfolgreich ausgebreitet. Zum Nestbau bezieht I. mexicana r...

Behavioural flexibility has been argued to be an evolutionarily favourable trait that helps invasive species to establish themselves in non-native environments. Few studies, however, have compared the level of flexibility (whether considered as an outcome or as a process) in mammalian invaders and related native species. Here, we tested whether fle...

Understanding how biodiversity, ecosystem function and species conservation are affected by factors such as climate or land use change, disease and pollution is an important aspect of species conservation and a key focus of the field of Conservation Medicine. Mammals such as squirrels can be valuable biological sentinels for environmental pollution...

The control of invasive species and protection of threatened native species require well-developed policy and species management strategies. Mathematical models provide a key tool that can be used to test, develop and optimise strategies to manage invasive species. We use the native red squirrel and invasive grey squirrel system on the Island of An...

Red Squirrels suffer from leprosy Investigations into an hitherto unidentified skin disease of red squirrels in Scotland revealed that individuals suffer from infection by Mycobacterium lepromatosis, a pathogen that causes leprosy in humans. Up to this point M. lepromatosis had only been known from humans and this was the first find of the disease...

2015 und 2016 kam es bei wildlebenden Eichhörnchen zu einem großflächigen Krankheitsausbruch mit gehäuften Todesfällen in elf Bundesländern in Deutschland. Betroffen waren sowohl junge als auch erwachsene Eichhörnchen. Von den in Pflegestationen eingelieferten Tieren verstarben 161 und nur 24 überlebten. Kranke Tiere litten an zwei unterschiedliche...

Zusammenfassung de Auf den Britischen Inseln wurden bei Eichhörnchen mit Haut‐ und Fellveränderungen zwei Erreger der Lepra (Mycobacterium leprae und M. lepromatosis) als Ursache nachgewiesen. M. lepromatosis wurde erstmals 2008 beim Menschen und 2014 erstmals bei einem Tier überhaupt in einem schottischen Eichhörnchen entdeckt. Vermutlich kursiere...

A spatial, stochastic model to represent the dynamics of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and squirrelpox infection is developed to understand the documented replacement of red squirrels by grey squirrels which occurred on the Isle of Anglesey between approximately 1966 and 1998. The model results compare w...

Grey squirrel management is conducted in Great Britain, Ireland and Italy for red squirrel conservation and timber protection. However, management plans differ hugely with respect to aims, geographical scales, methodologies and costs. A key universal element linked to squirrel control is population monitoring. However, in the United Kingdom (UK) it...

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) population in the United Kingdom has declined over the last century and is now on the UK endangered species list. This is the result of competition from the eastern grey squirrel (S. carolinensis) which was introduced in the 19th century. However, recent evidence suggests that the rate of population decline is en...

The Eurasian red squirrel is under threat in the UK from the introduced North American grey squirrel. National measures to save the species include large conifer forest reserves where management encompasses measures to bolster the native species. However, forests are multi-purpose environments and foresters have to balance different timber producti...

Bosch S, Haalboom T & Lurz P 2016: Exploring the secrets of nest boxes: opportunities and limits of video surveillance ofnest cavities. Vogelwarte 54: 125-136. Modern camera technology opens exciting opportunities for new and unexpected observations of animal behaviour and data collection. Despite the existence of a large number of studies that emp...

Abiotic factors such as traffic noise and especially artificial light do not just influence species in cities but also change them. The example of the European blackbird (Turdus merula) illustrates how adaptions to city environments can initiate micro-evolutionary changes. Artificial light clearly alters daily activity patterns and leads to changes...

de Abiotische Faktoren wie Straßenlärm und vor allem Kunstlicht beeinflussen nicht nur Tiere in der Stadt, sondern verändern sie auch. Am Beispiel der Amsel zeigt sich, wie die Anpassung an sich verändernde Rahmenbedingungen mikroevolutionäre Prozesse in Gang setzen kann. Kunstlicht verändert deutlich die Tagesperiodik und Fortpflanzung: Es lässt d...

AimClarifying whether multiple introductions of a species remain relatively isolated or merge and interbreed is essential for understanding the dynamics of invasion processes. Multiple introductions from different sources can result in a mixture of genetically distinct populations, increasing the total genetic diversity. This mixing can resolve the...

The reconstruction of invasion history is the goal or foundation of many investigations of biological invasions. This study applies DNA profiling to investigate the sources and vectors of new propagules, to detect illegal human-mediated translocations and to improve the management of invasions by identifying invasion pathways that can be targeted f...

Monitoring is a fundamental aspect of species conservation and research. Technological advances, especially with respect to camera trap technologies, have allowed glimpses into unknown aspects of species behaviour and have the potential to greatly assist species distribution monitoring. Here we present the findings of a pilot study combining existi...

The reconstruction of invasion history is the goal or foundation of many investigations of biological invasions. This study applies DNA profiling to investigate the sources and vectors of new propagules, to detect illegal human-mediated translocations and to improve the management of invasions, by identifying invasion pathways that can be targeted...

There is increasing evidence that invading species can gain an advantage over native species by introducing novel disease. A clear understanding of the role of disease in the expansion of introduced and invading species is therefore essential for the conservation of native species. In this study we focus on the case study system of the UK red and g...

Warmth and shelter to protect against adverse weather conditions are the main factors when birds select nesting and roosting sites. In marked contrast to tree cavities, nestboxes of wood or wood-concrete have poor thermal properties (e.g. low insulation effect, little thermal storage). Our data from wood-concrete boxes indicate that, with minor dif...

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) mortality was monitored opportunistically during the period 2004 to 2013 on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. Road traffic proved a most significant cause of death (48%) mirroring the findings of earlier United Kingdom (UK) studies. Red squirrels were also found to have died from a range of pathological infectio...

Competition for resources in Europe's forests - grey versus red squirrels As a result of the introduction of the north American grey squirrel in Britain, Ireland and Italy in the 19th and 20th century, the sole native tree squirrel species in Europe - the red squirrel - faced a completely novel competitor. In order to understand the interactions be...

Emerging infectious diseases are a substantial threat to native populations. The spread of disease through naive native populations will depend on both demo- graphic and disease parameters, as well as on habitat suitability and connectivity. Using the potential spread of squirrelpox virus (SQPV) on the Isle of Arran as a case study, we develop math...

Pregnant women are a highly mobile group, yet studies suggest exposure error due to migration in pregnancy is minimal. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental variables (urban fabric, roads and air pollution (PM10 and NO2)) and socio-economic factors (deprivation) that varied spatially and te...

Monitoring is a critical tool to determine population trends or changes in species distributions in order to assess the beneficial or negative impacts of conservation management actions and to target limited resources effectively. We review current monitoring techniques, their utility and limitations in different habitat types, provide a summary of...