Ruffed Grouse Winter Habitat Use in Mixed Softwood-Hardwood Forests,Québec,Canada

Abstract: Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a popular small game species in northeastern North America. We assessed female ruffed grouse habitat characteristics during winter of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 in a region dominated by mixed softwood-hardwood forests by comparing used and random locations. We followed 23 radiotagged adult females in 2 forest sites of the Réserve faunique de Portneuf, Québec, Canada, from late November to mid-April. We described grouse habitat using ground surveys and identified selected habitat characteristics using analysis of variance and logistic regression. Females preferred mixed softwood-hardwood stands > 17 m tall and 61-120 years old. Compared with random locations, grouse locations had more well-developed total canopy cover (>4m;75%), canopy (>4m;35%), midstory (1-4 m tall; 35%), and lower-story (<1 m tall; 23%) coniferous cover, and higher coniferous stem density and tree basal area (dbh > 9 cm; 343 stems/ha and 9.0 m²/ha, respectively). Forest management should maintain mature mixed softwood-hardwood stands (50% coniferous), which are adequate winter habitat for ruffed grouse.     

莲花山斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地选择

20 0 3年 3～ 4月 ,在甘肃省莲花山自然保护区 ,利用无线电遥测和直接观察 ,分析了斑尾榛鸡(Bonasasewerzowi)的栖息地选择特征。结果表明 ,斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地一般在东北坡向 ,并具有高大乔木、下层植被盖度较高、灌丛较丰富的特点 ,这与食物丰富度较高及环境隐蔽性较强有关。栖息地质量对于配对活动的成功与否有一定影响。分析表明 ,栖息地内 0 5～ 2 5m植被水平遮挡度、柳树数量、箭竹数量是影响斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地选择的关键因子。建议在对斑尾榛鸡栖息地采取保护措施时 ,不仅要保护原生乔木 ,还要加强对灌丛生境的保护。     

Morphometrics of the Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi

We report on the body size and mass and egg size and mass of the Chinese grouse (Bonasa sewerzowi), one of the least known grouse in the world. Although reported to be the smallest grouse in the world, not enough data have been available to substantiate this claim. We document that the Chinese grouse is, in fact, the smallest grouse in the world. It shows significant changes in body mass between the reproductive and nonreproductive season (males average 310 g in the reproductive season and 341 g in the nonreproductive season; females averaged 338 and 315 g, respectively). Egg mass averages 20.6–21.6 g and shows significant annual variation. The Chinese grouse shows some of the highest relative reproductive investment among grouse, both for egg mass (6.1–6.9% of female body mass) and clutch mass (38–43%).     

斑尾榛鸡消化系统的解剖学观察

对7只斑尾榛鸡(Tetrastes sewerzowi)成体的消化系统进行了解剖、测量。消化管总长(161±21)cm,其中小肠、盲肠分别约占消化管总长的40.2%±3.2%和44.9%±2.4%。嗉囊容量约(42±9)ml。相对于其他体重接近的松鸡科鸟类,斑尾榛鸡的盲肠与小肠之比较大,可能与适应消化高纤维的食物有关。     

Temporal changes in age and sex ratios of forest grouse harvested in northeastern oregon

Ratio of immature (young of the year) grouse to adult birds (I:A) in the harvest of upland game birds is commonly used as an index to annual reproduction; however, I:A ratios can vary as the season progresses producing biased estimates. We analyzed I:A ratios in the daily harvest of dusky grouse (Dendragopus obscurus) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) in northeastern Oregon over 28 years (1981–2008) and found that I:A ratios in the harvest declined for both species as the hunting season progressed. We also analyzed ratios of adult female to adult male (AF:AM) grouse to determine if female and male grouse were harvested in equal numbers throughout the harvest season. We found that more males than females of both species were harvested, but that AF:AM ratio of both dusky and ruffed grouse did not change during most of the hunting season. Approximately 50% of the annual harvest occurred during the first 14 days of the hunting season. Therefore, we recommend using the ratios of I:A birds in the first 14 days of the harvest season as the best index to annual reproduction of forest grouse in northeast Oregon. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.