Habitat Selection by Free-Grazing Sheep in a Mountain Pasture

Author:

Larraz Virginia1ORCID,Barrantes Olivia12ORCID,Reiné Ramón1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias y del Medio Natural, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

2. Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain

Abstract

For centuries, mountain grasslands have been part of the grazing cycle of sheep and cattle in extensive management systems in the Pyrenees; however, traditional guided herding has been, in many cases, replaced by free-ranging flocks at these pastures. The goal of this study was to analyze the grazing behavior of free-ranging sheep in mountain pastures using GPS-based tracking systems and Geographic Information Systems. During the summer seasons of 2019, 2020, and 2021, a transterminant flock of free-ranging sheep was tracked with GPS devices attached to collars at the mountain pastures of Collarada mountain (Central Pyrenees, Spain). Preferences for grazing on certain geomorphological features (slope, aspect, and altitude) and different plant communities present in the area were evaluated using the Manly’s standardized preference index. The results show that sheep prefer altitudes between 2400 and 2600 m; SE-, SW-, and E-facing sites; and slopes under 20%. The preferred pastures were Festucion eskiae, Primulion intricatae, and Nardion strictae; however, they reject Festucion scopariae communities. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of GPS and GIS technologies in monitoring free-ranging sheep activity, providing valuable data for enhancing pastoral practices and ensuring sustainable pasture use.

Funder

Natural Ecosystem Conservation Research Team (Group Code E03 23R) of the Insituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Publisher

MDPI AG

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