湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区麋鹿冬季卧息地微生境选择

掌握麋鹿种群冬季卧息地的微生境特征,可为冬季麋鹿种群的科学保护和有效管理提供理论依据.2011年12月-2012年2月,通过对61个利用样方和70个对照样方的比较调查,研究了湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区内麋鹿冬季卧息地微生境选择.结果表明,湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区内麋鹿冬季主要选择在食物丰富、植被盖度大、隐蔽度高的生境卧息.主成分分析表明,影响冬季麋鹿卧息地微生境选择的决定性因子是食物因子、温度因子、舒适因子.本研究分析了麋鹿种群对冬季卧息地生态因子选择的要求和原因,对麋鹿自然野化、种群就地与迁地保护均具有十分重要的意义.     

半散放梅花鹿昼间行为节律的初步研究

2007年4月至8月,以江苏省扬州市瘦西湖景区茱萸湾公园梅花鹿(Cervus nippon)为研究对象,采用扫描取样法(Scansampling)和全事件记录方法(All-occurrence recording),研究了28只梅花鹿昼间行为节律。结果表明:梅花鹿昼间取食、卧息、观望、反刍、移动、修饰行为频次依次减少,取食和卧息行为频次占昼间行为的80%。昼活动节律中,取食和反刍行为频次有两个高峰期,分别在7:30和17:30左右。而卧息行为频次高峰期在11:00～14:00之间。对公鹿、母鹿和幼鹿群体取食和卧息行为频次分析表明,在9:30～11:30时间段和12:30～17:30连续时间段内,公鹿及母鹿取食频次与幼鹿取食频次差异显著,在7:30～8:30和9:30～10:30及12:30～17:30连续时间段内,公鹿的卧息行为频次与母鹿和幼鹿卧息行为频次差异显著。本结论可为梅花鹿饲养管理和遗传保护提供基础理论依据。     

湖北石首散放麋鹿与野化麋鹿秋季夜间卧息地选择

卧息地选择是野生动物适应不同环境以及人类活动干扰的综合反映,是衡量野生动物行为适应的关键因素之一。2014年9—11月,采用跟踪调查法与直接观察法,对湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区围栏内的散放麋鹿(Elaphurus davidianus)群体和保护区外(三合垸)的自然野化麋鹿群体秋季夜间卧息地选择进行了比较研究,对散放与野化麋鹿群体分别进行了61个卧息样方和61个对照样方的调查。结果表明:散放群体与野化群体秋季夜间均主要选择在隐蔽度较高、草本盖度较高、食物丰富度较高、风速较小、距隐蔽物(芦苇与树林)较近的林地中的草地基底卧息,但野化群体更倾向于选择距道路与居民点较远的卧息地。逐步判别分析表明:散放群体与野化群体在秋季夜间卧息地特征上存在重叠与分离,距道路距离和距居民点距离构成的Fisher判别函数可区分散放与野化群体秋季夜间卧息地,判别正确率为87.5%,表明散放群体与野化群体夜间卧息地选择主要在距道路与居民点距离上存在差异。故散放群体与野化群体在秋季夜间卧息地选择上相似又趋异,这可能与相同的生物学特性、相似的生境和不同的人为干扰、围栏等条件有关,建议保护区争取获得三合垸土地所有权或使用权、扩大围栏面积、保留麋鹿卧息时的隐蔽环境。     

半散放条件下赤麂卧息地特征分析

2006年4～8月,在海南省大田国家级自然保护区对位于E108°47′05·8″～108°47′12·0″、N19°05′55·7″～19°05′58·1″,面积为10400m2的围栏内6只半散放条件下赤麂(Muntiacus muntjak)的卧息生境进行了研究。将围栏内的面积划为104个10m×10m的样方,作为收集数据的基本单元。将有赤麂卧息的样方定义为卧息单元,反之为非卧息单元。赤麂选择在14个样方卧息,卧息地平均长(1·6643±0·6197)m、宽(1·1679±0·3123)m、高(0·8143±0·1445)m。采用逻辑斯蒂回归模型作为赤麂卧息地特征分析的数学模型,分析了在14个卧息单元中收集的11类生态因子。结果表明,赤麂卧息地的选择与草本高度、隐蔽度、灌木高度及灌木密度正相关。赤麂卧息地选择的预测模型可用以下数学表达式表示:ln[P/(1-P)]=-26·888 0·089×灌木密度 0·253×草本高度 0·114×隐蔽度 0·079×灌木高度。     

贺兰山岩羊冬季对卧息地的选择

2003 年11～12月, 在贺兰山采用样带法对岩羊冬季卧息地的选择性进行了研究。共观察到94 个岩羊的卧息地, 结果表明岩羊对优势乔木的利用有选择性( x² = 17.01 , df = 5 , P < 0.05) , 偏好利用灰榆占优势的卧息地, 避免选择油松和青海云杉占优势的卧息地; 对坡向选择性利用( x²= 30.69, df =2, P < 0.05) , 偏好位于阳坡的卧息地, 避免利用阴坡; 对植被类型、坡位和风向的利用无选择性。对卧息地样方与在样带中随机设置的样方进行比较, 发现卧息地具有乔木密度低、食物丰富度低、隐蔽程度高、接近水源、接近裸岩、风速低和雪覆盖浅等特征。贺兰山的岩羊经常选择岩洞作为卧息地, 占总卧息地的62.77 %。对59 个岩洞和35 个非岩洞卧息地进行比较, 表明岩洞卧息地的坡度大、隐蔽程度高、风速低、保温性好、食物丰富度低和无雪覆盖。岩羊通常选择较宽的、深度和高度适中的岩洞作为卧息地。对各种生境因子的主成分分析表明前7 个特征值的累积贡献率已经达到了80.09%, 可以较好地反映岩羊卧息地的生境特征, 第1 主成分中隐蔽级、风向、风速、距裸岩距离和雪深具有重要作用, 其余6 个主成分中优势乔木、坡向、坡位和坡度也很重要。     

卡拉麦里山保护区鹅喉羚卧息地特征的季节变化

于2007年对卡拉麦里山有蹄类保护区不同季节的鹅喉羚卧息地特征进行了研究。Mann-WhitneyU检验表明:春季鹅喉羚卧息地植物高度明显高于对照地(Z=2.27,P<0.05),驼绒藜密度、灌木盖度和地上生物量极显著高于对照地(Z=2.85,Z=3.29,Z=2.98,P<0.01);夏季鹅喉羚卧息地植物高度和单位面积地上生物量明显高于对照地(Z=2.06,Z=2.97,P<0.05);秋季鹅喉羚卧息地植物种数明显高于对照地(Z=2.52,P<0.05),灌木盖度和植物高度极显著高于对照地(Z=5.22,Z=4.58,P<0.01)。主成分分析表明,春夏秋3季影响鹅喉羚卧息地选择的主要环境因子是食物、隐蔽条件和环境温度。单因素方差分析表明,鹅喉羚卧息地特征在季节间有显著差异,以春季和夏季、春季和秋季最为明显。食物资源和环境温度的变化是导致鹅喉羚卧息地特征季节性变化的主要因素。鹅喉羚卧息地选择与其自身的体温调节有一定关系。     

麋鹿夜间卧息地选择的季节变化

卧息地选择是野生动物对生态环境的行为适应。为了探讨麋鹿(Elaphurus davidianus)夜间卧息地选择的季节变化, 2013年11月至2014年12月, 采用跟踪调查法与直接观察法, 对湖北石首麋鹿国家级自然保护区围栏内麋鹿184个夜间卧息样方和184个对照样方的生态因子信息进行了观测记录。结果表明: 麋鹿春、秋、冬3个季节夜间卧息时均选择隐蔽度较高、草本盖度较高、食物丰富度较高、距隐蔽物(芦苇或树林)较近的林地生境(P < 0.05), 并且春、秋季夜间选择在距道路距离与距居民点距离上的差异不显著(P > 0.05); 夏季夜间选择在草本盖度较低、食物丰富度较低、隐蔽度较低、距隐蔽物较近、距道路与居民点距离较远、距水源较近的滩涂生境卧息(P < 0.05); 冬季夜间选择在风速较小、距道路与居民点较近的生境卧息。判别分析表明: 草本盖度、食物丰富度、距道路距离、隐蔽度、风速、距水源距离以及距隐蔽物距离这7个因子组成的判别函数可区分不同季节麋鹿的夜间卧息地, 且麋鹿在不同季节的夜间卧息地特征存在部分重叠, 这可能与不同季节间食物、水、温度与人为干扰等因子的差异性有关。建议该保护区扩大饲料基地面积、保留麋鹿卧息隐蔽环境、减少人为干扰、控制长江故道水位。     

阿尔泰山南部科克森山和卡拉麦里山盘羊冬季卧息地的选择

2007 年11 月至2008 年1 月,在阿尔泰山南部科克森山和卡拉麦里山采用样线法研究了盘羊冬季卧息地
的选择性。结果表明,两地区的盘羊对冬季卧息地的利用均有选择性,两地区盘羊偏好利用山坡做卧息地,避
免选择山沟和平滩卧息;偏好位于半阴和半阳坡的卧息地,避免利用阴坡,对阳坡随机利用;偏好位于上坡位
和中坡位的卧息地,对下坡位则为随机利用。通过与对照样方比较,科克森山和卡拉麦里山盘羊冬季卧息地均
以植物科数多、植物种数多、植物密度高、灌木株数小、驼绒藜株数少、接近隐蔽物、隐蔽级高和雪覆盖浅为
主要特征。在科克森山,盘羊通常选择坡度大、雪覆盖浅的位置作为其卧息地。在卡拉麦里山盘羊通常选择坡
度大的地方作为其卧息地。科克森山和卡拉麦里山盘羊卧息地变量前6 个特征值的累积贡献率分别达到了
80.75%和82. 58% ,较好地反映了盘羊卧息地的生境特征。科克森山和卡拉麦里山盘羊卧息地第1 主成分贡献
率分别达到了23.04% 和24. 33%。在两地区,植物科数、植物种数、灌木种数、雪深和坡度5 个因子的载荷系
数均为正值,具有较大的作用。其余5 个主成分中隐蔽级、海拔、距水源距离和距居民点距离也很重要。     

游客密度对动物园中黇鹿行为的影响

2006年9月20日-10月10日,以江苏省扬州市茱萸湾公园半散放鲇鹿为研究对象,采用目标动物取样法和全事件记录法,研究了不同游客密度条件下黇鹿日行为时间分配.并探讨了游客密度对鲇鹿日活动的影响.结果表明:在游客高峰期与低峰期,雄性取食、观望行为,雌性观望以及幼鹿取食、观望和修饰行为之间均存在显著差异(P＜0.05).在游客低峰期,雄性与雌性取食、反刍、卧息行为,雄性与幼鹿观望、其它行为,雌性与幼鹿取食、卧息、观望均存在极显著差异(P＜0.01);在游客高峰期,雄性与雌性取食、卧息,雌性与幼鹿取食、卧息、观望及移动行为均差异极显著(P＜0.01),雄性和幼鹿观望行为差异显著(P＜0.05).不同游客密度条件下游客活动对鲇鹿的取食、观望具有显著影响,当游客密度达到6人·min-1以上时,雄性观望行为显著增加,当达到16人·min-1以上时,雄性取食行为差异极显著(P＜0.01),此时雌性和幼鹿观望行为差异亦达到极显著水平(P＜0·01).因此,在旅游管理中,应将游客密度限制在16人·min-1以下,以减少对鲇鹿日活动影响.     

高原兔夏季卧栖地生境利用关键因子分析

研究阿尔金山国家级自然保护区高山草甸和高山荒漠区高原兔Lepus oiostolus夏季生境卧息地利用的主要影响因子,为高原兔的科学管理提供依据。2011—2013年夏季,累计调查高原兔卧息地5 m×5 m样方32个,另外在附近相同生境类型中设置对照样方33个。记录样方所在地的植物种数、植被盖度、植被高度、土壤硬度以及距道路的距离等指标。结果表明,卧息地和对照样方在植物种数、土壤硬度等方面差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而在隐蔽级、植被高度、植被密度等方面差异有高度统计学意义(P<0.01)。Vanderloeg和Scavia选择指数Ei、选择系数Wi分析显示高原兔卧栖地偏好选择高度在30 cm以上、植被盖度大于30%且密度小于80株/m2,隐蔽级在10 cm以上,土质较软(6~9 kg/cm2)的小生境。主成分分析表明影响高原兔卧息地利用的主要因子依次是:植被密度(-0.898),植被盖度(-0.812)和隐蔽级(0.764)。高原兔偏爱植被高度更高、植物密度更低、隐蔽级更高、土壤较软的小生境。我们的结果为高原兔的科学管理提供了重要依据。     

带岭地区马鹿冬季对生境的选择性

本文研究马鹿冬季对生境的选择性,选择了10类与马鹿生存有关的生态因子(植被型、食物、雪深、隐蔽条件、坡向、坡位、坡度、水源、人为干扰、海拔)。根据这些生态因子的调查数据按一定要求分级,并转变为数量化方法来研究。经数量化理论Ⅰ的公式运算得出预测方程。筛选出影响马鹿选择生境的主要生态因子是植被型、坡向、雪深和人为干扰。用数量化理论Ⅱ分析,认为人工杨树幼林、天然杨桦幼林、阳坡、雪深25厘米、离人为干扰1000米以外是马鹿适宜生境。另外还调查了马鹿的卧迹,从直观上分析马鹿冬季选择卧地的生态条件。     

Selection of bed-sites by roe deer<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis> fawns in an agricultural landscape

The vegetation characteristics and habitat selection associated with the bed-sites used by neonatal roe deerCapreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) fawns were studied in an agricultural environment in central Norway. Data were collected from 85 radio-collared fawns belonging to 38 families during 1992–1994. All bed-sites used provided effective cover, although this differed between habitats and increased during the summer as the herbaceous vegetation developed. Seasonal use of farmland increased and then decreased reflecting the growth, and cutting of the grass. Habitats were not used in relation to their availability. Early born fawns significantly avoided farmland, whereas later born fawns showed no significant selection or avoidance of any habitats. The data show how roe deer fawns are able to exploit small patches of non-cultivated habitats in an agricultural landscape.     

The effect of environmental gradients on the bed site selection of roe deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis>)

A wildlife species’ selection of bedding sites is often characterised by strong trade-offs, as habitat quality, predator avoidance and foraging needs should be achieved simultaneously. Human activities often represent major threats in addition. In areas of intensive agriculture, e.g. mowing is one of the main causes of mortality of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns due their hiding strategy. For a species’ offspring, the selection of bedding sites is particularly crucial and thus, identifying how and when animals use such habitats is important for management. We used a long-term dataset of marked roe deer fawns in Switzerland (1971–2015) to reveal the characteristics of optimal bedding sites within the first two weeks of a fawn’s life in three contrasting landscapes and the potential trade-offs that may occur. We hypothesised that roe deer adjust the selection of bedding sites to current environmental conditions and available habitat to achieve sufficient levels of predator avoidance and thermoregulation necessary for the fawn’s survival, as well as the availability of sufficient food resources for the mother doe. We found that, in general, grassland habitats with medium vegetation height (20–50 cm) and habitats in close proximity to the edge of the forest were favoured to achieve those basic requirements. However, the use of bed site habitats differed between the three contrasting landscapes in dependence of elevation and hence vegetation phenology. Our results provide essential information to reduce mortality rates caused by mowing and improve the reproductive success of this species.     

秦岭鼢鼠的洞穴选择与危害防控

从2009年6-9月,在平河梁自然保护区对秦岭鼢鼠(Myospalax rufescens)进行了调查研究,采用固定样线取样法,根据实际情况挑选了13个生境变量。共设置了302个样方,同时也发现93个正在被利用的鼢鼠洞穴,并予以取样。利用Byers分析法、One-Way ANOVA检验法和主成分分析法等获取结果。研究表明,秦岭鼢鼠明显选择荒草地和萝卜地,回避小麦地、竹林地和灌木林地,随机选择马铃薯地和玉米地;选择非常松软的和含石少的土壤,回避硬质的和含石较多的土壤;选择受人类干扰较小的阳坡,回避几乎无人类干扰的半阴半阳坡。结合主成分分析,秦岭鼢鼠倾向于选择灌木稀疏的洞穴,离公路的距离较近。上述研究结果揭示出两条鼠害防控建议:一是在森林经营过程中,应采取间伐的策略,然后补苗,并尽量密植;如果是荒草地改造,也应先植入一些较粗大的或对鼢鼠有毒害作用的树种,待它们成活后,再补幼苗密植,同时应适当增加土壤含石量。二是在农业生产过程中,应采用多种经营的策略;在所种植的庄稼中,间种一些根系发达的作物或对鼢鼠有毒害作用的作物,同时应勤除杂草。     

Sex-Age Related Rumination Behavior of Père David’s Deer under Constraints of Feeding Habitat and Rainfall

Extensive studies have been conducted on the rumination behavior of domestic herbivores. However, studies on wild animals are limited, particularly wild animals with specific ruminating parameters. In this study, Père David’s deer, a previously extirpated species, was observed to analyze the effects of sex-age, feeding habitat, and rainfall on rumination behavior in the Dafeng Nature Reserve, China. Rumination behavior was investigated based on four parameters: proportion of bedding time spent chewing, bolus processing time (s/bolus), chewing frequency (chews/bolus), and chewing rate (chews/s). Results showed that all three factors affect rumination behavior. The extent of their effects varied based on the four rumination parameters. Chewing rate and frequency decreased based on sex–age levels, i.e., from fawns to juvenile female, juvenile male, adult female, stag, and harem holder. Therefore, body size played a major role in shaping rumination behavior. Deer found in grasslands could chew faster compared with deer found in woodlands. This result might be caused by the effects of dietary composition and sunlight intensity. A deer spends a longer time ruminating while bedding during rainy days compared with rainless days to maximize energy and nutrition intake and compensate for the loss of feeding time during rainy days. Therefore, rumination behavior is plastic and is shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.     

贺兰山马鹿冬季取食和卧息生境选择

2007 年12 月至2008 年1 月,在贺兰山地区,利用痕迹检验法和直接观察法对马鹿阿拉善亚种的冬季取食和卧息生境选择进行研究。通过在选定的15 条沟段里进行调查,共测定了72 个取食利用样方,59 个卧息利用样方和131 个对照样方的18 种生态因子。结果表明,马鹿在冬季偏好的取食地为平滑起伏坡,以酸枣、柳为优势乔木、混合型树林或空地,乔木高大稀疏、间距较远,灌木密度大,草本盖度较高,位于< 15°的半阴半阳坡的下坡位,距裸岩远,隐蔽度高;偏好的卧息地在山地疏林草原带的平滑起伏坡上,以酸枣、柳为优势乔木、混合型树林或空地,乔木高大稀疏,灌木矮小、稀疏且距离较远,草本盖度较高,位于< 15°阳坡的下坡位,远离裸岩,隐蔽程度高。马鹿冬季的取食和卧息生境在草本盖度和隐蔽度上差异极显著。相对于卧息生境,马鹿冬季的取食生境对草本盖度和隐蔽度要求更低一些。马鹿冬季取食地的资源选择函数为1.155 - 0.149 × 乔木高度- 0.066 × 草本盖度+ 0.190 × 坡度,模型的正确判别率为86.8% ;马鹿冬季卧息地的资源选择函数为- 30.936
+ 0.494 × 乔木高度+ 0.257 × 坡度-0.002 × 海拔高度+ 0.387 × 隐蔽度,模型的正确判别率为95.8% 。食物、隐蔽条件以及贺兰山的独特地形特征是影响马鹿冬季取食和卧息生境选择的主要因素。     

Maternal and individual effects in selection of bed sites and their consequences for fawn survival at different spatial scales

We examined the relationship between survival of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns at Trois Fontaines, Champagne-Ardennes, France, and factors related to bed-site selection (predator avoidance and thermoregulation) and maternal food resources (forage availability in the maternal home range). Previous studies have demonstrated that at small scales, the young of large herbivores select bed sites independently from their mothers, although this selection takes place within the limits of their mother’s home range. Fawn survival was influenced largely by the availability of good bed sites within the maternal home range, not by the fawn’s selection of bed sites; however, selection for thermal cover when selecting bed sites positively influenced survival of young fawns. Typical features of a good home range included close proximity to habitat edges, which is related to forage accessibility for roe deer. The availability of bed sites changed as fawns aged, probably due to an increased mobility of the fawn or a different use of the home range by the mother; sites offering high concealment and thermal protection became less available in favor of areas with higher forage accessibility. Despite the minor influence of bed-site selection on survival, roe deer fawns strongly selected their bed sites according to several environmental factors linked to predator avoidance and thermoregulation. Fawns selected for sites providing concealment, light penetration, and avoided signs of wild boar (Sus scrofa) activity. Avoidance of sites with high light penetration by young fawns positively affected their survival, confirming a negative effect on thermoregulation due to reduced thermal cover. Selection for light penetration by older fawns was less clear. We discuss these results in the context of cross-generational effects in habitat selection across multiple scales, and the potential influence of the ‘ghost of predation past’.     

圈养马麝幼仔哺乳期时间分配及影响因素

本研究于2017年7月17日至8月16日,在甘肃兴隆山马麝繁育场对圈养马麝(Moschus chrysogaster sifanicus)当年生仔麝进行哺乳期的行为取样,量化记录了摄食、卧息、刻板等10类行为,分析了仔麝哺乳期时间分配格局及与性别和年龄等因素的关系。结果表明,圈养马麝仔麝在哺乳期(1~3月龄)的卧息(39. 55%±4. 53%)及摄食(28. 03%±1. 58%)时间分配最多;仔麝在哺乳前期(1月龄)、中期(2月龄)及后期(3月龄)的卧息、摄食及刻板行为的展现时间逐渐增加,运动行为在中期达到峰值(4. 99%±0. 64%),母幼联系等其他行为逐渐下降;仔麝的刻板行为在哺乳中期开始发育,后期刻板行为(3. 33%±1. 83%)显著高于中期(1. 15%±0. 77%)(P <0. 05);仔麝摄食与排泄行为的分配时间呈正相关(r=0. 833,P=0. 010),母幼联系与社会行为呈正相关(r=0. 802,P=0. 017),环境探究与社会行为呈显著正相关(r=0. 970,P <0. 001);圈舍内有成年雄麝的仔麝的卧息时间(59. 50%±8. 17%)显著高于圈舍内缺失雄麝的仔麝(37. 82%±6. 12%)(P <0. 05),前者的母幼联系(1. 10%±0. 52%)也相对低于后者(3. 80%±1. 07%)(P>0. 05);仔麝性别对其行为时间分配的影响均不显著(P> 0. 05)。本研究表明,马麝的母幼关系属于典型"隐蔽者"类型,仔麝刻板行为的发育始于哺乳中期,其发育和表达强度随年龄递增而加强,同圈舍的成年雄麝对仔麝的行为和生长发育有负面效应。     

Low habitat overlap at landscape scale between wild camelids and feral donkeys in the Chilean desert

Feral domestic ungulates may compete with the populations of wild herbivores with which they coexist, particularly so in arid regions. The potential competition between wild camelids and feral donkeys at the eastern sector of the Atacama Desert is evaluated in terms of their coincidence or segregation in habitat use and complemented with a comparison of reproductive output (yearling/adult ratio) of vicuña family groups in the proximity vs. distant from donkey observations. Habitat use of wild camelids and donkeys was sampled driving some 1250 km of roads and tracks at the dry and wet seasons. There were 221 vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) sightings, 77 for donkeys (Equus asinus), 25 for guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and 8 for hybrids between guanacos and domestic llamas (Lama glama), as well as 174 randomly selected control locations. By means of Generalised Discriminant Analysis and Analysis of Variance we show that all ungulates actively select their habitat, with significant differences between use and availability in the area. Donkeys are relatively abundant in comparison with camelids and coincide broadly with both of them across the altitudinal gradient, but they fall between them in local scale habitat selection and do not seem to force their displacement from their preferred habitats. Thus donkeys occur preferentially on slopes with a high cover of tall shrubs, whereas vicuñas use valley bottoms with grass and guanacos the upper slope zones with grass. The potential for competition between donkeys and wild camelids is thus limited and it does not affect the reproductive output of vicuña in this region. Therefore, with the present knowledge we suggest that population control is not currently merited for feral donkeys.     

Habitat associations of breeding Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis in the British uplands

Habitat associations of Meadow Pipits breeding in British upland 1 km and 10 km squares were investigated using data from the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Breeding Bird Survey (BBS, 1994–97), The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988–1991 and habitat data from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology's (ITE) Land Cover Survey (1994). Meadow Pipit density was highest in 200 m sections of BBS 1 km transects containing unenclosed grass moor, heather and bog, but there was no difference in Meadow Pipit density between these habitat types. Meadow Pipit density (number of individuals per 1 km square) increased with heather cover up to about 7.5 200 m sections (of ten per 1 km square) of heather, but fell thereafter. There was a positive association between Meadow Pipit density and the extent of grass moor cover. The ITE Land Cover data gave results that were consistent with the BBS habitat data at both the 1 km and 10 km square scale. There was a non-linear relationship between hill grass cover and Meadow Pipit abundance, which reached a maximum when hill grass covered between 40%and 60% of a square. Our results suggest that a mosaic of heather, bog and grassland may be the optimum habitat for Meadow Pipits. Recent changes in land management practices may have led to the disappearance or degradation of these mosaics in some areas. Meadow Pipits are widespread and easily counted. We suggest that this species might be a useful bioindicator of changes in heather and grassland ratios that result from land management practices such as grazing and rotational burning, though further research is required.