In this paper the results of an eight-year monitoring of rock partridge Alectoris graecasaxatilis in Val Troncea Natural Park (Piedmont, Italy), an high-altitude protected area (1600-3000 m.s.l.) characterised mainly by extensive alpine pasturelands. To check rock partridge presence and spring density (males/surface) standardised counts have been performed by playback technique since 2004, over an area ranging from 500 to 720 ha. The breeding success (juveniles/adults) was assessed since 2007 during August and September with pointer dogs on a variable sampling area (330-670 ha). Spring density varied considerably from year to year, in correlation with the winter snow cover,but in general a fall of both the spring density (from 5.5 Km 2 in 2008 to 1.2 Km 2 in 2011) and the breeding success (from 3.6 in 2008 to 0.3 in 2011) was registered, meaning the population has been declining rapidly. To improve the evaluation of actual monitored range and assess the research effort, 6 GPS dog tracking systems were used during summer 2011. This novel technique appears to be a great improvement in wildlife management.
Eight years monitoring of Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca saxatilis in Val Troncea Regional Park
MAURINO, LUCA;PROBO, MASSIMILIANO;LONATI, MICHELE
2011-01-01
Abstract
In this paper the results of an eight-year monitoring of rock partridge Alectoris graecasaxatilis in Val Troncea Natural Park (Piedmont, Italy), an high-altitude protected area (1600-3000 m.s.l.) characterised mainly by extensive alpine pasturelands. To check rock partridge presence and spring density (males/surface) standardised counts have been performed by playback technique since 2004, over an area ranging from 500 to 720 ha. The breeding success (juveniles/adults) was assessed since 2007 during August and September with pointer dogs on a variable sampling area (330-670 ha). Spring density varied considerably from year to year, in correlation with the winter snow cover,but in general a fall of both the spring density (from 5.5 Km 2 in 2008 to 1.2 Km 2 in 2011) and the breeding success (from 3.6 in 2008 to 0.3 in 2011) was registered, meaning the population has been declining rapidly. To improve the evaluation of actual monitored range and assess the research effort, 6 GPS dog tracking systems were used during summer 2011. This novel technique appears to be a great improvement in wildlife management.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
