RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Habitat selection and diet of Western Capercaillie
A1 Olea, Pedro P.
A1 Mateo-Tomás, Patricia
A1 García-Tejero, Sergio
A1 Robles, Luis
A1 González González, Manuel Antonio
A1 Frutos Tena, Ángel de
A1 Purroy, null
A1 Ena Álvarez, Vicente
A2 Ecologia
K1 Ecología. Medio ambiente
K1 Zoología
K1 Cambios climáticos
K1 Halimium
K1 Urogallo Cantábrico
K1 Distribución periférica
K1 Poblaciones periféricas
K1 Melojares
AB Ecological features and conservation requirements of populations at the latitudinal limitsof a species’ geographical range frequently differ from those in other parts of the range.Identifying such differences is key to implementing effective conservation strategies forthreatened range-edge populations especially, in the context of rapid global warming, atthe lower-latitude range edge. We studied habitat selection and diet of the endangeredCantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus in a recently discovered populationat the southernmost edge of the sub-species’ range. This is the only Western Capercailliepopulation in the Mediterranean biogeographical region. We combined non-systematicsurveys based on questionnaires, reports and field sampling with data from radiotrackingto assess habitat selection. Diet was surveyed by micro-histological methods from droppingscollected in the new population, which inhabits Pyrenean Oak Quercus pyrenaicaforests and Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris plantations, and in two Cantabrian populationsinhabiting Eurosiberian forests. Capercaillie preferred large (> 500 ha) and medium-sized(100–500 ha) Pyrenean Oak forest fragments and large Scots Pine plantations. Forestfragments smaller than 100 ha and non-forested habitats were always avoided. Diet differedmarkedly between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian populations. Bilberry Vacciniummyrtillus is common in the diet of most Capercaillie populations but was scarce in thestudy area and so was rare in the diet of the new population. Instead, Rockrose Halimiumlasianthum was described for the first time as a major food resource for the Capercaillieand was consumed in autumn and winter. Pine needles were also heavily consumed inwinter. We document for the first time the strong preference of Capercaillie for PyreneanOak forests and a moderately high consumption of the leaves, buds and acorns of thistree species throughout the year. Habitat selection and diet of this Mediterraneanpopulation differ from those of the core Cantabrian and other populations. Our resultssuggest a wider environmental tolerance (phenotypic plasticity) in the species than previouslyrecognized. We advocate specific protection for this unique range-edge Capercailliepopulation and its Pyrenean Oak forest habitat
PB BOU
YR 2012
FD 2012-06-20
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10612/1788
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10612/1788
NO Ibis, 2012, vol. 154, issue 2
NO P. 260-272
DS BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
RD 16-may-2024