In Central Europe, where most wolf populations persist in habitats altered by humans, the dynamics of these populations are significantly influenced by human activities. Our studies in the western-most part of the Polish Carpathian Mts, 1996–2003, revealed that the winter density of wolves varied in the region from 1.3–1.9 wolves/100 km2 (on average 1.6, SE=0.13). In late summer, the average number of wolves in a pack was 4.7 wolves (n=21, range 2–9, SE=0.4), while an average pack in winter consisted of 4.0 wolves (n=25, range 2–7, SE=0.3). The mean wolf territory covered an area of 158 km2 (SE=26.7, range 98–227 km2). In the Silesian Beskid Mountains, where no human hunting pressure occurred, the wolf population increased during the study period at a mean rate of 28% per year. However, in the Żywiecki Beskid Mountains, where wolves were subject to hunting management in the Slovakian parts of their territories, the population did not increase. The mean rate of increase of the wolf population in the entire study area was 8% per year. Wolf mating seasons began on February 13th and lasted until March 7th, with pups being born during the first ten days of May. Pup rearing places were located between 880 and 1290 m a.s.l. (average = 1009 m a.s.l., SE=34.5, n=11), in dense thickets or under roots of fallen trees and stumps. We did not find excavated dens. In late summer, we recorded an average of 1.9 pups per pack, but counted only 1.3 pups per pack the following winter. Reasons for death (n=18) included culls (83%), collisions with motor vehicles (11%), and sarcoptic mange (6%). In the Żywiecki Beskid Mountains we estimated the minimum mortality rate of 1.5 individuals/pack/year.
Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) are important pests in southeastern Brazil causing serious economic damage. In this study we determined the demographic patterns and foraging activity of these species using mark-release-recapture and the consumption of wooden stakes. Using both the weighted mean and Lincoln index methods, population estimates ranged from ≈ 0.57 to 1.99 million individuals for C. gestroi and from ≈ 0.20 to 1.37 million for H. tenuis. Territory size of the colonies ranged from 172.5 to 5235 m2 for C. gestroi and from 16 to 40 m2 for H. tenuis. Our results also indicate that foraging activity was dependent on the minimum temperature; however, the existence of a compensation strategy in the foraging activities may permit foragers to exploit food sources under different environmental conditions.