Ekologické odpovědi savců na urbanizaci: poznatky z dlouhodobého fotomonitoringu v Brně

Abstract

Urbanization fundamentally influences mammalian behavior, yet quantitative data from Central European cities remain scarce. We deployed 60 camera traps across Brno (Czech Republic) from January 2024 to April 2025 along an urban-peri-urban-rural gradient, ranging from the historical city center to surrounding forests and agricultural land. In total, we collected 30,488 detections representing 23 mammal species; five species (European hare, roe deer, red fox, wild boar, domestic cat) accounted for over 75% of all records. Synanthropic species (cat, fox) were strongly associated with built-up areas, whereas hare, roe deer, and wild boar primarily used the peri-urban zone and connected green areas. Daily activity patterns corresponded with known ecological rhythms: hare and roe deer showed crepuscular peaks, wild boar and fox were mostly nocturnal, and cats exhibited activity distributed throughout the day. Seasonal shifts in activity were statistically confirmed for hare and fox. Three invasive species (nutria, muskrat, raccoon) were also documented. Our findings show that cities do not act as barriers but rather as heterogeneous mosaics enabling coexistence of species with different space-use strategies. Camera trapping proved effective for detecting early signals of wildlife and invasive species presence in urban environments.