Sophie Rouys

The observation of rare behaviours can provide unexpected insights into the biology of a species. Here, we report new observations of unusual or rare behaviours by the Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus of New Caledonia, a flightless bird already known for many curious traits. We observed the broken-wing display, adoption of a chick by a neighbouring family...

Compared to other archipelagos of the Pacific, the New Caledonian Odonata fauna is rich and diverse with 56 valid species or subspecies (23 endemics, 41%) from eight families (four Zygoptera: Argiolestidae, Coenagrionidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, and four Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, Synthemistidae, Libellulidae) and 31 genera (including fou...

Compared to other archipelagos of the Pacific, the New Caledonian Odonata fauna is rich and diverse with 56 valid species or subspecies (23 endemics, 41%) from eight families (four Zygoptera: Argiolestidae, Coenagrionidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, and four Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, Synthemistidae, Libellulidae) and 31 genera (including fou...

Polyandry has been studied in many species, especially birds [1]. Exclusively fraternal polyandry (several full or half-brothers with one unrelated female) is only known in human societies [2, 3], in which it is an important mechanism for limiting reproductive output [3] in association with scarce environmental resources [2]. However, the social or...

To assess the effects of naturally occurring heavy metals on wild birds, we compared reproductive success and heavy metal contents in feathers of Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus living on ultramafic (rich in heavy metals) soils with those of Kagu living on non-ultramafic soils. From 2003 to 2016, we monitored breeding of 19 Kagu families by radio-tracking...

We present a dichotomous key to identify adults of all presently described Odonata of New Caledonia including the Loyalty Islands (Melanesia) and Wallis and Futuna (Western Polynesia). The key covers a total of 58 species of which approximately 50 % are regionally endemic, while others are more widespread species inhabiting neighboring archipelagos...

Standardised surveys are essential for monitoring populations and identifying areas that are critical for conservation. With the aim of developing a standardised method of surveying parrots in the rainforests of New Caledonia, we used distance sampling to estimate densities of New Caledonian Parakeets (Cyanoramphus saisseti), Horned Parakeets (Euny...

Knowing the distribution and abundance of species is critical for conservation, yet field surveys are often limited in their spatial extent. In this study, we use ecological niche models to infer the current and future distribution of New Caledonian Parakeets (Cyanoramphus saisseti), Horned Parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus), and Ouvea Parakeets (Eun...

We used 454 pyro-sequencing to establish microsatellite markers for the endangered Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus), a bird endemic to New Caledonia. We screened 52,583 reads to identify 60 microsatellites candidates and established 12 polymorphic loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 15, the observed heterozygosity from 0.046 to 0.818,...

We examined daily activity patterns, flock-size variations, use of vertical space, and small-scale habitat selection of the New Caledonian Parakeet (Cyanoramphus saisseti), Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus), and New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii) on mainland New Caledonia. All three species had bimodal patter...

Habitat studies are important for conservation, particularly for parrots, as many are threatened and their ecological requirements are often poorly known. Our aim was to contribute to the conservation of parrots in New Caledonia by examining their selection of habitat at a large scale. From 2002 to 2010, we documented 1,357 encounters with New Cale...

We compared trapping and kill efficiency, and by-catch rate of a new reverse-bait trigger rat trap (Ka Mate) with conventional snap traps (Ezeset and Victor), and assessed methods for calculating abundance indices, over 2879 trap nights on Wallis & Futuna and New Caledonia. Ka Mate traps were most effective at killing larger (> 100 g) rats whereas...

We report 7years of experience with an inexpensive and reliable continuous audio/video recording system. The main components of the system are commercial, infrared illuminator surveillance cameras, mini microphones and portable digital video recorders, powered by deep cycle lead-acid batteries. We used the system for monitoring 41 broods of four en...

In November 2007 and November 2008, we conducted a bird and mammal survey on Wallis and Futuna. We found two non-native bird species on Wallis: the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and the Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax), and one on Futuna: the Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus). We also recorded Black Rats (Rattus rattus) on Fut...

We provide evidence for cooperative breeding in two endemic parrot species of New Caledonia, the New Caledonian Parakeet (Cyanoramphus saisseti) and the Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus). We intensively monitored 11 breeding attempts in two nests of New Caledonian Parakeets over 5 years, and noticed that two males of different size fed the fem...

Jörn Theuerkauf, Sophie Rouys, Arno L. van Berge Henegouwen, Frank-Thorsten Krell, Slawomir Mazur, and Michael Mühlenberg (2009) Colonization of forest elephant dung by invertebrates in the Bossematié Forest Reserve, Ivory Coast. Zoological Studies 48(3): 343-350. We studied the temporal succession and species richness of invertebrates in 18 droppi...

Birds that live in family groups and cooperatively defend the family's territory are currently recognized as cooperative breeders only if helpers assist with chick rearing. We observed breeding Kagus (Rhynochetos jubatus) and video-monitored nests to determine whether help with feeding or family size affected their reproductive success. During >5,5...

Wolf activity varies considerably among differentstudies that explained activity patterns by factors suchas human activity, breeding status or prey availability(Fancy and Ballard 1995; Vila` et al. 1995; Ciucci et al.1997; Theuerkauf et al. 2003; Kusak et al. 2005; Chavezand Gese 2006; Theuerkauf et al. 2007). However, it islikely that the high var...

Dossier pédagogique sur le cagou, animal endémique et emblématique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie: 20 diapositives avec leur notice ainsi qu'un livret scientifique.

We studied the activity and movements of a male and a female wolf during breeding in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland. The female was less active and mobile and on average closer to the den than the male. The male was less active and mobile when the pack size was seven compared to a year when the pack consisted only of the breeding pair. We conclud...

Predation risk is an important factor influencing the distribution of ungulates and their impact on forest structure. However, simultaneous predation risk by wolves and humans is rarely considered in the analyses of habitat selection by ungulates. We counted ungulate pellets on transects to analyse the influence of wolves and humans on ungulate den...

Thèse portant sur l'écologie des rats et leur impact sur le cagou et la perruche à front rouge en forêt humide et dans le maquis de Nouvelle-Calédonie

We counted droppings of ungulates and hare on transects in order to assess (1) seasonal changes in detectability and disappearance of pellet groups, (2) whether the detectability varies according to the forest type, and (3) the degree of misidentification between pellets of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). The summer de...

We assessed mortality of rats in relation to transmitter weight and tested several types of rat transmitters in order to provide recommendations for their design. We used 21 collars with radio‐ or dummy transmitters, made of either epoxy or dental acrylic, with external or internal (inside the collar) antennae, on 20 rats (Rattus rattus and R. exul...

until recently. The radio tracked wolves of three packs moved throughout the day with one major peak around dawn. Wolves avoided the area around main public roads more at night (up to a distance of 1.5 km) than in the day (up to 0.5 km). Wolves avoided a 0.5-km area around secondary public roads and paved forest roads both at night and in the day b...

Wild parrots represent one of the greatest commercial interests in the legal trade in wild birds. Although it is difficult to quantify, there is a considerable illegal trade in wild parrots. Thirty-six per cent of the world's parrot species are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as threatened or near threatened, and 55...

We studied Orthoptera, Dermaptera, and Blattodea of the Białowieża Forest (Poland) in order to assess (1) the minimum patch We studied Orthoptera, Dermaptera, and Blattodea of the Białowieża Forest (Poland) in order to assess (1) the minimum patch size of open habitat necessary for each species, (2) the role of linear corridors as habitat, and (3)...

We studied Orthoptera, Dermaptera, and Blattodea of the Biał.owieża Forest (Poland) in order to assess (1) the minimum patch size of open habitat necessary for each species, (2) the role of linear corridors as habitat, and (3) the impact of herbivores on diversity by comparing the fauna at periods of different ungulate densities. Many species occur...

Human use of slope and subalpine meadows in the Bieszczady Mountains (Southeast Poland) has greatly decreased in the last 60 years. We investigated whether the change in land use has affected the species composition of the Orthopteran fauna. From 1996-2002, we found 35 species of Orthoptera. We recorded four Isophya species, of which I. kraussii an...

Le nombre de cagous (Rhynochetos jubatus) a considérablement décliné du fait de la perte d’habitat et de la prédation par les mammifères introduits. Les cagous, inaptes au vol sont une proie facile pour les chiens errants qui sont à même de réduire sévèrement des populations isolées. La nature spectaculaire des attaques de chiens sur les cagous adu...

We studied wolf (Canis lupus) selection of 19 den, 10 rendezvous, and 31 resting sites found between 1986 and 2000 in the Biaowiea Forest (Poland). Our objective was to determine whether wolves selected sites far from vil- lages, forest edges, and roads, and whether these sites had dense ground cover for concealment. We also tested whether wolves s...

We studied the distribution of introduced mammals in six nature reserves of New Caledonia's southern province. Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) were common in both rainforest and shrubland but their abundance decreased with increasing altitude. Ship rats (Rattus rattus) were abundant in rainforest but less numerous in shrubland and their abundance...

Cordulegaster bidentata SÉLYS jest jednym z dwóch wystpujcych w Polsce przedstawicie-li rodzaju Cordulegaster LEACH, 1815. Jest to waka typowa dla terenów górskich i wyyn-nych, zwizana ze strumieniami i obszarami ródowymi. Omawiany gatunek zosta dotychczas podany z Polski z ponad 40 stanowisk. Jest on zna-ny jest przede wszystkim z Karpat, rzadziej...

To determine the accuracy of radio-tracking estimates of activity and distances walked by European bisonBison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758), we observed bison while simultaneously conducting radio-tracking in the Bialowieża Forest (Poland). Single radio-tracking estimates often did not represent the actual activity of the bison, but the mean time spent...

From 1997 to 1999, we found 48 Odonata species in the Białowieża Forest and its surroundings (Poland). We attribute the high number of species in the mainly forested study area to the extensive river network, which is shaped by a mostly natural water regime including many natural pools, and to the abun- dance of small-scale sandpits bearing water b...

In the Białowieża Forest, free-ranging European bison (Bison bonasus) are provided with hay in winter. The hay is left at feeding sites where bison congregate. The aim of this article is to present how the winter daily travel distance of bison is affected by supplementary feeding. Between April 1998 and June 1999, we radio tracked and snow tracked...