Habitat variables influencing chukar partridge decrease in Southeastern Bulgaria

Title:

Habitat variables influencing chukar partridge decrease in Southeastern Bulgaria

Creator:

Gruychev, Gradimir V., Dyakov, Nikolay R., and Dimitrov, Dimitar S.

Identifier:

https://cdk.lib.cas.cz/client/handle/uuid:1d1eb1d8-9246-4490-b197-6faab450aaaf
uuid:1d1eb1d8-9246-4490-b197-6faab450aaaf

Subject:

RDA, TWINSPAN, LOESS, grazing intensity, rock outcrops, elevation, TWINSPAN, LOESS, grazing intensity, rock outcrops, and elevation

Type:

article, model:article, and TEXT

Description:

The aim of our study was to identify the most important ecological factors influencing the breeding density of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) in Southeastern Bulgaria. Identified habitats were divided into two categories:1) natural habitats with an extant population of the species, and 2) habitats in which it was absent. In each habitat, annual precipitation, lowest elevation in the habitat, Paliurus cover, grazing livestock per 100 ha, shrub height, shrub density, bedrock type, percentage of pastures, percentage of agriculture, percentage of wetlands, percentage of rocks, presence/absence of buildings, presence/absence of highways, plant species composition, plant layer coverage, and chukar breeding pairs were measured. We have found several habitat variables that probably affect the density of nesting chukar partridge. These are: 1) grazing intensity, 2) percentage of rock outcrops, 3) percentage of grasslands, 4) shrub cover, and 5) elevation. Grazing intensity and rock outcrop presence, together with the elevation gradient, influence the breeding pair distribution and abundance most significantly. Our study has confirmed only three types of habitats that the chukar currently prefers to nest in. Unknown factors probably changed the other sites in a way that they are no longer suitable for the species’ existence and reproduction.

Language:

English

Rights:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
policy:public

Source:

Folia zoologica | 2014 Volume:63 | Number:3

Harvested from:

CDK

Metadata only:

false