Author:
Åberg Johan,Swenson Jon E,Andrén Henrik
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of habitat fragment size and isolation on the dynamics of hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia L.) occurrence. Habitat fragments surrounded by nonhabitat coniferous forest, in an intensively managed forested landscape, were censused during seven seasons. None of the 33 habitat fragments were occupied in all seven seasons and 7 were never occupied. Turnover occurred in 79% of the habitat fragments. The most common occupation of a habitat fragment was by only one hazel grouse male (84%). Thus, the dynamics of hazel grouse occurrence in the habitat fragments was basically monitored on the scale of individuals. Large and less isolated habitat fragments with a high amount of cover were occupied significantly more often than small, isolated fragments. The effect of size appeared most clearly when analyzing the total number of hazel grouse occupying a habitat fragment. The appearance of hazel grouse in the habitat fragments was best explained by the amount of cover, distance to the nearest suitable habitat, and size of the habitat fragment. The effects of interfragment distance on the occurrence and appearance of hazel grouse implies that the habitat has become functionally disconnected for hazel grouse and suggests that the amount of suitable hazel grouse habitat left in this landscape has fallen below a critical level.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
12 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献