@conference{
author = "Ћировић, Душко and Стаменковић, Срђан",
year = "2018",
abstract = "Сисари, као разноврсна и широко распрострањена класа, у
свим екосистемима које насељавају, суштински доприносе њиховом функциони-
сању и стабилности. Као биолошки ресурси, човека снабдевају важним прехрам-
беним, одевним и другим производима. У екосистему, обављају три велике групе
еколошких функција. Трофичка функција је најзначајнија и огледа се у диверзифи-
кацији и повећању редундантности трофичких мрежа чиме доприносе њиховој ста-
билности, док врсте већих телесних димензија омогућавају хоризонтални трансфер
продукције и јаче предеоно умрежавање екосистема. „Bottom-up контрола“ тока
продукције је својство нижих (хербивори), односно „top-down“, виших (предатори),
трофичких позиција. Тако ситни сисари својом бројношћу (биомасом) и доступно-
шћу контролишу бројност предатора док истовремено карниворни сисари регули-
шу биомасу плена. На тај начин се успоставља динамичка равнотежа која одржа-
ва стабилност екосистема и структуру трофичке мреже. Хербиворни притисак, са
своје стране, доприноси одржању бројних типова отворених станишта и дефинише
темпо и ток сукцесије на подручју. Ситни сисари, уз инсекте, представљају и главну
трофичку основу за већину омниворних и карниворних животиња различитих кла-
са кичмењака. Као градитељске (инжињерске) врсте формирају и одржавају усло-
ве опстанка читавим заједницама. Тако, градњом брана дабар изграђује све типове
влажних станишта унутар којих се формирају богатије биоценозе чиме се додатно стабилизују акватични екосистеми који су иначе у групи фрагилних система. Као
вектори паразита и патогена, сисари представљају важне резервоаре, преносиоце
или домаћине многих врста, укључујући оне који се могу пренети на човека и гајене
животиње. Одржавањем баланса популација плена, контроле бројности векторских
организама, домаћини пружају важне екосистемске услуге човеку, што је посебно
значајно у урбаним и пољопривредним екосистемима. У светлу климатских проме-
на, сматра да ће ове улоге сисара добијати на значају и постати важни екосистемски
сервиси. У Србији су истраживања ових улога тек у повоју, па је валоризација ових
сервиса слабо позната. Прелиминарни резултати индикаторских (шакал), “umbrella”
(медвед) и “keystone” (вук) врста за сада указују на економски значај сисара у контро-
ли популација штетних организама или вектора и домаћина различитих патогена., As a diverse, widely distributed class of vertebrates, mammals make
an essential contribution to stability and functioning of all ecosystems they
inhabit. Unfortunately the systematic integral research on significance and role
of this fauna or individual species in various ecosystems and habitats was never
performed in Serbia. However, the idioecological research on certain species and
taxa has yielded certain data on their status, role and significance. The most
recent studies included intensive research of bat and large carnivore faunas,
providing important results on determining their roles in ecosystems or habitats.
The trophic function is the most important and reflected in diversification
and increase in redundancy of trophic networks, contributing to their stability,
while species with larger body size enable horizontal transfer of production
among the ecosystems and stronger biome networking of said ecosystems. The “bottom-up” control of production flow is characteristic for lower (herbivores)
while “top-down” is characteristic to higher trophic positions (predators).
Therefore the large carnivores (wolf, bear and lynx), as predators on top of
their trophic pyramids, primarily control the abundance of populations of
their natural prey. On the other hand, their predatory pressure and competition
may also control abundance and distribution of medium-sized carnivores
(mesocarnivores), and further in a cascade fashion of small carnivores as well.
On the other hand, souslik is an important prey species for several species
of birds of prey (i.e. Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Imperial Eagle Aquila
heliaca) and survival and population size of these birds essentially depends on
availability of this steppe species.
The influence of such species within the ecosystems sets them as umbrella
species, and their protection additionally indirectly protects all other plant
and animal communities sharing the same area. Identification of species with
important roles in ecosystem functioning, including umbrella species, keystone
species or flagship species, makes protection and conservation of ecosystems
and biodiversity much more effective as it enables easy management decisions
important for nature conservation. Therefore they may be used for choosing
the areas of interest for conservation of nature and biodiversity, or simplify
assessment of minimal and optimal areas necessary for proper protection.
The keystone species are organic species that in comparison to their
population numbers have a disproportionally high impact on stability and
functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. This concept is currently widely
accepted in modern conservation biology, as focused protection of a single
species may preserve whole communities and ecosystems. A typical example of
keystone species and their importance in ecosystem or biome diversityincludes
large carnivores with wide territories. Protecting just bears with a home range
of up to several thousands of km2 may preserve whole forested mountain areas
in Serbia, their wildlife communities and biodiversity as a whole. On the other
hand, bats also play a very important role within the specific type of cave
ecosystem. They are responsible for the main introduction of organic matter
crucial to the whole cave ecosystem. Guano (bat droppings) is a main source
of nutrients in this relatively isolated system. Large colonies may produce
significant amounts of guano, creatingfavourable living conditions for other
cave organisms.
Data on presence, abundance and population density for certain
mammal species may provide important information on present conditions,
stability and threat status of the ecosystem. In essence these are indicator
species, defining the characteristics and conditions of habitats, ecosystems or
overall environment. Today they are included in various forms of population
monitoring. The monitoring results include not only information on density,
abundance or population dynamics of the monitored species but also on
conditions in the ecosystem inhabited by the indicator species. The mere presence of souslik (Spermophilus citellus) or mole-rat (Spalax leucodon) in
steppe habitats indicates well-preserved fragile habitats of this type.
In addition to providing information on present conditions in natural
ecosystems, the indicator species may also provide important information on
processes within the ecosystems altered by anthropogenic activity. Under the
negative influence of direct or indirect anthropogenic changes, most organic
species react with decrease in population numbers and range size. To the
contrary, the opportunistic species show increase in range and abundance. The
best examples of range spread and population increase in modern times are
wild boar (Sus scrofa) and golden jackal (Canis aureus), species with ecological
plasticity and able to use anthropogenic resources, primarily of nutritional type.
The direct role of indicator species within the ecosystems would be
to indicate the present conditions of ecosystem quality through their status,
through direct ecosystem services (provisioning services), while the indirect
role pertains to the ecological status of these organisms enabling bioindication
of support and regulation ecosystem services. These important species may
also be important indicators of intangible (cultural, recreational, scientific)
ecosystem services.
As engineer species, some mammals may form and sustain the habitat
conditions favourable for survival of whole communities. Engineer species
may be any organic species creating, sustaining, significantly modifying or
disrupting the ecosystem theyinhabit. Due to their unique ability to create and
modify the characteristics of the ecosystem, these species have an immense
impact on biodiversity and heterogeneity at the microhabitat and biome level.
The best example of engineer species are probably beavers – European (Castor
fiber) and Canadian (Castor canadensis). As engineer species, beavers are
among rare animals that may alter the hydrological and biotic characteristics of
aquatic and surrounding wetland habitats in a similar way to anthropic activity.
Through construction of their dams they create all types of wetland habitats,
forming richer biocoenoses and additionally stabilizing the aquatic regime.
This leads to increase in heterogeneity of the whole area, habitat types and
biodiversity at ecosystem and biome level. In addition, the beaver diet may
significantly influence the pathways and speed of succession and structure
of plant and animal communities. Due to their evident influence on aquatic
ecosystems, they may be also designated as keystone species in aquatic habitats.
As parasite and pathogen vectors, mammals represent important
reservoirs, transmitters or hosts for numerous species, including those that may
be transferred to humans and farmed animals. By maintaining the balance in
prey populations and population control of vector organisms, the hosts provide
important ecosystem services to humans, and this is particularly important in
urban and agricultural ecosystems. Due to spread of mosquitoes and mosquitoborne
diseases, including malaria and West Nile virus, there is an increase in risk
of infection for human populations (including the population in Serbia). In light of climatic changes it is believed that these aspects of mammal populations will
increase in significance and become important ecosystem services. In Serbia,
the research on these aspects is still in the initial phase so the valorisation of
these services is poorly known. The preliminary results of indicator species
(golden jackal), “umbrella species” (brown bear) and “keystone species” (wolf)
presently indicate economic importance of mammals in population control of
detrimental organisms or as vectors and hosts of various pathogens.
According to the existing (albeit scarce) literature and the results of
modern research, it may be concluded that mammals play a very important role
in conservation, stability and functioning of ecosystems in Serbia. From the
aspect of functioning and stability of the ecosystems, certain mammal species
certainly stand out and may be designated as keystone, umbrella, indicator
or engineer species. They not only have a significant impact on sustaining
the ecosystem vitality and biodiversity conservation, but they also provide
important ecological services with numerous beneficial and useful aspects to
lives of all of us.",
publisher = "Београд : Српска академија наука и уметности",
journal = "Eколошки и економски значај фауне Србије : зборник радова са научног скупа 17. новембар 2016.",
title = "Фауна сисара Србије - вредновање функционалне улоге и значаја врста у екосистемима, Mammal fauna of Serbia - balorisation of functional role and species importance in ecosystems",
pages = "39-65",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10620"
}
