Original scientific paper
Disturbances and Predation on Capercaillie at Leks in Alps and Dinaric Mountains
Miran Čas
; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana
Abstract
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallusL.) populations in central and south-east Europe cover fragmented edge habitats and are recorded to decline since 1960ies. Capercaillie leks in Slovenia are present at the south-eastern edge of the Alpine metapopulation and at north-western edge of Dinaric. These populations were monitored at leks in two periods in 1980 (466 monito red leks) and 2000 (599). All leks were monitored by local specialists (hunters and/or foresters) and main causes of observed lek populations decline were addressed to each endangered lek. Special emphasis was given to predation at leks, as suggested by D. Jenkins (2008). The six named reasons in 1980ies af fected 39 leks with logging of old-growth forests (at 71.8% of leks) and con struction of forest roads (7.7%) as most pronounced. In 2000 nine reasons affected 92 leks: (i) mountain tourism (26.1%), (ii) cutting of old-growth fo rests (19.60%), (iii) predators attacks (18.5%), (iv) forest management in spring time (9.8%), (v) pastures of livestock with wire fences in forests (6.5%), (vi and vii) berries picking and overgrowing the last pastures in forest-land scape, (viii) constructions of forest roads and (ix) infrastructure. The most profound change in reasons between 1980 and 2000 mapping data were: pre dation at leks, mountain tourism development, increasing of forest manage ment in spring time, wild pasturage of cattle and sheep in forests, overgrowing the last pastures in forest-landscape. A comparison of the increasing percen tage of leks endangered by predators since 1980 has shown positive correla tions with increasing of the main predator populations’ densities. Population density of martens (Martessp.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) increased for 150% since 1980, while red fox (Vulpes vulpes) density increased only after 1990. Our results confirmed the assessment of reasons for threats to leks based on descriptions and experiences of observers as a suitable approach for caper caillie habitat risk assessment. Results for past decline and differences regar ding to the negative impacts on lek habitats are important guidelines for foresters and wildlife managers concerning sustainable forest management and maintenance of capercaillie populations.
Keywords
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus); causes of leks endanger ment; forest and wildlife management; mountain tourisms; predation; rare species population’s conservation
Hrčak ID:
60009
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2010.
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