Density and vulnerability of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the area of Vitoroga in the Republika Srpska

Abstract

Capercaillie is a threatened species over the greater part of Europe. The main causes of its vulnerability are, inter alia, habitat changes and forest operations. The aim of this paper is to estimate the capercaillie population size in the south­eastern part of Mt. Vitorog, and to make a comparative analysis of forest state so as to assess the impact of forest operations on this micropopulation. Its spring density (0.7­1.3 birds per km2) is lower compared to other Eurasian habitats (1.0­3.0 birds per km2). This was significantly contributed by the habitat changes and by the frequent disturbances of birds caused by forest operations. The present state of forests in FMU 'Vitoroga' is characterized by canopy thinning, changed mixture proportion (percentage of spruce increased on the account of fir), decrease in wood volume and increase in the number of smaller­diameter trees. Our results show that forestry operations are not harmonised with the biological demands of the capercaillie

Genetic Differentiation of the Western Capercaillie Highlights the Importance of South-Eastern Europe for Understanding the Species Phylogeography

“…Mature forest habitats in the Dinarides are characterised by a higher proportion of deciduous species and much lower abundance of the essential bilberry [42] than those in the Alps [14] . Distribution of suitable Western Capercaillie habitats in the Dinarides is naturally patchier and more fragmented than in the Alps with consequently lower overall population densities [14] , [17] , [43] . Suitable vegetation (abundance of conifers and acidophilic ericaceous shrubs) – mostly limited to mixed silver fir-beech stands with Norway spruce appearing only at specific topological features, such as sinkholes, valleys and depressions, with a cooler microclimate due to temperature inversion – is generally more abundant towards the lower end (800–1200 m a.s.l.)…”

“…Dinaric capercaillie have probably suffered the most severe decline in the region, with a reported 58% reduction in the number of individuals in the Slovenian Dinarides from 1980 to 2000 [14] and a 50% decline in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 2004 [43] . Although official information is lacking for some of the studied Dinaric countries, the decline appears to be continuing [14] , [16] , [17] , [43] . The capercaillie is listed as endangered in national Red Lists in all of the sampling countries, though regulated seasonal hunting is still allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Bulgaria [16] , [19] , [43] , [56] – [59] .…”

The Changes in Rural and Forest Landscape and Their Use in the Slovenian Alps in the Last Centuries - A "Back to Nature" Tourism with Impacts, a Case of Western Capercaillie

“…The general reduction in intensity of agricultural activities and the decline of the rural population (Tables 4 and 5) resulted in an increase of forest cover by overgrowing of abandoned farmland, the contribution of which to the combined negative impact on Western capercaillie habitat increased from 5.1% to 15,2% in the 1980-2010 period (Table 6; Čas 2006). Although the negative impact of the expansion of forest cover on behalf of the abandoned farmland on Western capercaillie appears counterintuitive, previous studies confirmed that forest landscape intersected by 3-5% of open land (including farmland) is the most favourable for Western capercaillie (Čas 1996, 2006Gulič et al 2003), considering there were no dangerous wire fences present or toxic agro-pharmaceutical agents applied (Catt et al, 1994;Čas 2010;Gačić et al 2009;Purnat et al 2007;Zubić 2009). Findings relating to negative impacts of agriculture on Western capercaillie habitat suitability underline the need for the adoption of a more sensitive planning of and a more sustainable management of rural landscape in the mountainous regions of Slovenia.…”

“…Thiel et al 2007Thiel et al , 2008 and in the mountains of South-Eastern Europe (Gačić et al 2009;Radović et al 2003;Raguž & Grubešić 2006;Petrov 2008;Zubić 2009) and other regions of Europe (Storch 2007).…”

“…Several different habitat disturbances were recognised as causes of Western capercaillie decline in temperate Europe (Adamič 1987;Čas 2001a, 2010Eiberle 1984;Klaus et al 1997;Saniga 2002Saniga , 2004Storch 1999Storch , 2007Thiel et al 2007). The populations at the southern edge of the species' distribution range have suffered the most severe population reduction (Adamič 1987;Bajc et al 2011;Blanco-Fontao et al 2009;Čas 1999, 2010Cattadori & Hudson 2000;Gonzales & Ena 2011;Poolo et al 2005;Radović et al 2003;Quedo et al 2006;Storch 2007;Zeiler 2001;Zubić 2009), and shrinkage of habitat in the last decades due to forest and climate change (Anič et al 2009;Čas 2006;Kutnar & Kobler 2011).…”