Selection of Breeding Cliffs by Griffon Vultures<i>Gyps fulvus</i>in Crete (Greece)

Xirouchakis, Stavros; Mylonas, M.

doi:10.3161/068.040.0211

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…High-elevation cliffs generate strong updrafts and produce optimum flight conditions for soaring raptors (Pennycuick, 1973). Especially for vultures, this result is consistent with some regions of continental Europe where colonies are also restricted on cliffs located at higher altitude (Xirouchakis, Mylonas, 2005). Also, the nesting richness of the inland region is probably due to their semi-arid character (Isenmann, Moali 2000;PASNB, 2003), as suggested by some results found in southeastern Spain, where a number of raptor species usually favor semiarid landscapes with large steep cliffs (Martínez et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Population Dynamics and Distribution Patterns of Diurnal Raptors in Northeastern Algeria: Seasonal Variation and Some Nesting Characteristics

Elafri

Boumaaza

Khemis

et al. 2020

Ekológia (Bratislava)

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Providing a live data monitoring of raptor abundances and spatial localization of their most important nesting areas is very helpful in building a strong future study and applying a sound strategy for effective safeguarding of these emblematic species. Using geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) techniques, we investigated spatial patterns of raptors distribution in the northeastern areas of Algeria during two consecutive breeding seasons (2014 and 2015). The total area sampled (31,000 km2) host diverse raptor species (14 species), among them, the threatened species Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus; 108 individuals and 19 active nests) and red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus; 12individuals). The value of the region is attested by the presence of an abundant population of nesting black kite (Milvus migrans; 337 individuals). The large-scale spatial analyses of the studied region illustrate certain similarities in nesting habitat selection among raptors. Almost all species (90% of 209 nests detected) preferred to nest within multispecies assemblages (20 raptor assemblages found) and occupied altitudinal rocky cliffs across the inland region (semi-arid zones) rather than coastal region (sub-humid zones). Among all raptor species, exclusively, the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is relatively synanthropic, because it was found to breed within cities (tolerate human activities). The raptor community in the coastal versus inland regions differed by 14%. The latter area seems to be more preferred in nest building, probably consequence of their semi-arid bioclimatic and landscapes characteristics, where high elevations and grasslands forming mosaics with Oak, Alpine, and Cedar forests are patchily distributed. The study is a first mapping database of important nesting sites dispatched across the northeastern areas of Algeria, and it can be effectively used in future complementary researches that aim to elucidate environmental factors that affect raptors life cycle.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Population Dynamics and Distribution Patterns of Diurnal Raptors in Northeastern Algeria: Seasonal Variation and Some Nesting Characteristics

Elafri

Boumaaza

Khemis

et al. 2020

Ekológia (Bratislava)

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“…The negative influence of human density on habitat suitability could be related to increasing disturbances and/or to a low livestock rearing activity in highly human populated areas. Although the griffon vulture has a relatively high tolerance to human presence [31] , [32] , a negative effect of high human density has also been highlighted in other areas [33] . In fact, the bigger gap within the species distribution, located in the north of the study area, corresponds to the most highly human populated area ( Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, we assessed the possible conservation conflicts between wind farms and griffon vulture by comparing spatially explicit predictions of habitat suitability for the species with the spatial distribution of currently working and planned wind farms. We considered a radius of 10 km around the wind farms, as this is the area most intensively used by vultures around roosts and colonies [14] , [15] , [32] .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticipating Knowledge to Inform Species Management: Predicting Spatially Explicit Habitat Suitability of a Colonial Vulture Spreading Its Range

Mateo‐Tomás

Olea

2010

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundThe knowledge of both potential distribution and habitat suitability is fundamental in spreading species to inform in advance management and conservation planning. After a severe decline in the past decades, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is now spreading its breeding range towards the northwest in Spain and Europe. Because of its key ecological function, anticipated spatial knowledge is required to inform appropriately both vulture and ecosystem management.Methodology/FindingsHere we used maximum entropy (Maxent) models to determine the habitat suitability of potential and current breeding distribution of the griffon vulture using presence-only data (N = 124 colonies) in north-western Spain. The most relevant ecological factors shaping this habitat suitability were also identified. The resulting model had a high predictive performance and was able to predict species' historical distribution. 7.5% (∼1,850 km2) of the study area resulted to be suitable breeding habitat, most of which (∼70%) is already occupied by the species. Cliff availability and livestock density, especially of sheep and goats, around 10 km of the colonies were the fundamental factors determining breeding habitat suitability for this species.Conclusions/SignificanceGriffon vultures could still spread 50–60 km towards the west, increasing their breeding range in 1,782 km2. According to our results, 7.22% of the area suitable for griffon vulture will be affected by wind farms, so our results could help to better plan wind farm locations. The approach here developed could be useful to inform management of reintroductions and recovery programmes currently being implemented for both the griffon vulture and other threatened vulture species.

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“…Specifically, we tried to quantify griffon vultures' home range size with regard to age, sex and season and explore the temporal and spatial variation in space‐use patterns. We generated a resource selection function in an effort to identify the environmental factors that determine the foraging areas of the species and tested the hypotheses that home range; (1) would differ between age classes, with non‐adult birds covering larger areas than adults as they are unrestrained by breeding, (2) would be of equivalent size between sexes as they are similar in mass and share parental care (Lopez‐Lopez et al ., 2004; Xirouchakis & Mylonas, 2007), (3) would be larger in summer than in winter because birds follow nomadic livestock and forage over the upland pastures (Xirouchakis & Mylonas, 2005) and (4) intra‐specific competition would be more intense during the period when vultures forage over smaller areas on clumped food resources, namely in winter. For the latter hypothesis, we expected that immature vultures would exploit predictable food sources and avoid antagonistic contacts with adults which are attached to the breeding colonies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Home range size, space use and resource selection of griffon vultures in an insular environment

Xirouchakis

Grivas²,

Andreou

et al. 2021

Journal of Zoology

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The extent of home ranges of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) was studied on Crete (Greece) during 2005–2015 by monitoring 27 individuals with very high frequency radio‐telemetry. Radio‐tagged birds were followed for an average period of 13.1 months (n = 7–22), where a total of 1615 days of fieldwork produced 4420 radiolocations (x = 163.5 radiolocations per tagged bird, n = 142–328). Overall, the mean home range and mean core area of griffon vultures were estimated at 1560 ± 140 km2 (KDE 95%) and 373 ± 36 km2 (KDE 50%) respectively with significant age‐related differences within seasons. Immature griffon vultures ranged on average about double the area ranged by adults in winter and occupied significantly larger core areas. The home range overlap in per cent and utilization distribution between adult and immature birds was also significantly less in winter than in summer. Foraging griffon vultures avoided northern slopes with unfavourable flight conditions and selected sites within rangelands with low diurnal temperature variations where overwintering livestock and suitable nesting cliffs occur. Foraging adults were restricted to the vicinity of the breeding colonies and favoured sites away from urban zones. In contrast, immature griffon vultures selected pastoral zones in marginal areas with mild winters and rugged terrain. The existence of predictable food sources in combination with suitable roosting sites and favourable flight conditions were the main factors differentiating the space‐use pattern between the two age classes. We recommend that apart from the maintenance of traditional farming practices, sites, such as large communal roosts and flight corridors or entire ‘hotspot’ activity zones of immature birds, should be taken into account in conservation planning and sensitivity mapping for the species.

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Selection of Breeding Cliffs by Griffon VulturesGyps fulvusin Crete (Greece)

Cited by 18 publications

References 17 publications

Population Dynamics and Distribution Patterns of Diurnal Raptors in Northeastern Algeria: Seasonal Variation and Some Nesting Characteristics

Population Dynamics and Distribution Patterns of Diurnal Raptors in Northeastern Algeria: Seasonal Variation and Some Nesting Characteristics

Anticipating Knowledge to Inform Species Management: Predicting Spatially Explicit Habitat Suitability of a Colonial Vulture Spreading Its Range

Home range size, space use and resource selection of griffon vultures in an insular environment

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