Spatial movements of grey partridge Perdix perdix : male-biased spring dispersal and effect of habitat quality |
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Authors: | Miroslav álek and Pavel Marhoul |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Environmental Science, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycká 129, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic;(2) DAPHNE CZ - Institute of Applied Ecology, Husova 45, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic |
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Abstract: | The Grey Partridge Perdix perdix is a sedentary species with a surplus of males in spring populations. It experienced a dramatic decline in Europe primarily
due to habitat loss that may have forced the species to modify its dispersal behaviour, a less transparent source of populations
threats. We analysed the dispersal patterns of Grey Partridges during pre- and post-breeding periods in two landscapes with
different habitat quality in the Czech Republic. Grey Partridges tended to pair off quickly, with most pre-breeding movements
executed in pairs. The birds usually dispersed over a few hundred metres indicating that the habitat conditions in a landscape
with a carrying capacity of 2–5 pairs/1 km2 was not below the threshold initiating strong dispersal, as observed in extreme habitats and at the northern limits of the
species′ distribution range. A few single males that had remained unpaired until April also finally bred. However, the high
level of sedentariness of males in a good landscape suggested that males prefer to stay near wintering sites unless habitat
sources become limited. Unlike the males, the females dispersed in a wide range of distances with an extensive overlap in
both landscapes. Autumn movements did not differ between the sexes, but were longer than the pre-breeding movements and increased
in a poor landscape. We conclude that both reduced habitat availability and reduced mating opportunities initialise primarily
male-biased breeding dispersal in Grey Partridge populations. |
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Keywords: | Agricultural landscape Behaviour Breeding dipersal Radiotelemetry Sex ratio |
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