Status, conservation and habitat selection of the Houbara Bustard <i>Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae</i> on Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

Martín, Aurelio; Nogales, Manuel; Hernández, Miguel Ángel; Lorenzo, Juan Antonio; Medina, Félix M.; Reyes, José Augusto Abreu

doi:10.1017/s0959270900003129

Cited by 19 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The results from the dynamic model show a habitat loss of around 13.3 % over the period 1996-2011, which is consistent with the decrease in the Fuerteventura houbara population reported for this period (Martín et al 1997;Carrascal et al 2006;Lorenzo 2005;Carrascal et al 2008;Schuster et al 2012). The loss of primary habitat is of particular concern, since it is the habitat with the highest densities of houbaras and it is also scarcer than the secondary habitat.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The available censuses reviewed herein for 1994 (Martín et al 1997(Carrascal et al 2006Lorenzo 2005;Carrascal et al 2008) and 2011 (Schuster et al 2012) show a 29 % decrease over the period 2004/2006 to 2011 (Schuster et al 2012). The loss of habitat seems to be the main factor threatening the houbara population (Lorenzo 2004;Carrascal et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…We generated the houbara potential habitat map based on the environmental characteristics that determine the presence of the houbara in Fuerteventura, considering the quantitative information provided by Carrascal et al (2008) and other studies dealing with the habitat preferences of the species (mainly other qualitative factors; Martín et al 1996Martín et al , 1997Lorenzo 2004;Carrascal et al 2006;). Information on the steppe bird community on the island (population densities in different habitats) can be found in Seoane et al (2011) andCarrascal et al (2012).…”

Section: Contribution Ratio Of Factors Determining the Houbara Potentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding agricultural uses, while a sporadic source of food resources, active gavias are also a source of human interference (Lavee 1985;Hingrat et al 2007) and do not constitute potential habitat of the houbara. However, abandoned gavias may shelter low densities of houbaras, also referred to as secondary habitat (Martín et al 1996;Seddon and van Heezik 1996), and were selected as potential habitat of the houbara, whereas the other, more intensive agricultural uses were excluded, using the land use map of 2002 (GRAFCAN).…”

Section: Contribution Ratio Of Factors Determining the Houbara Potentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have considered two state variables for the houbara potential habitat: the primary and secondary habitats, differing in houbara density Martín et al 1997). The houbara model sector takes into account the effects of other model variables representing the main factors governing the habitat loss, basically land use changes.…”

Section: Density Of Paved Roadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamic modelling of the potential habitat loss of endangered species: the case of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae)

et al. 2016

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In this work, we apply a dynamic modelling approach to analyse the habitat loss of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae). This tool allows us to assess the effects of the socio-economic and environmental interactions on the factors threatening the habitat and to carry out a prospective analysis. The results show a potential habitat loss of around 13 % during the period 1996-2011, the land uptake and increase in new roads and tracks being the factors contributing most. After model testing, a set of scenarios was explored. Under the business as usual (BAU) scenario, around 20 % of the habitat would be lost by the end of the period considered (2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020)(2021)(2022)(2023)(2024)(2025). The impact of the economic growth scenario on the habitat would mean an additional loss of around 21 % with respect to BAU, whereas under the recession scenario, the loss might be around 6.5 % lower than BAU. The policy of restoration of gavias-traditional farming systems-would suppose an additional loss of almost 6 %, relative to BAU. If this policy took place under economic growth conditions, it might mean an additional loss of almost 28 % relative to BAU. These results point to the existence of a potential trade-off between the recuperation of ecosystem services offered by restored gavias and the conservation of the houbara habitat, which must be addressed within the management processes, as well as to the need for compensatory measures to guarantee the conservation goals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Contribution Ratio Of Factors Determining the Houbara Potentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contribution Ratio Of Factors Determining the Houbara Potentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Density Of Paved Roadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamic modelling of the potential habitat loss of endangered species: the case of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae)

et al. 2016

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Habitat use and mating system of the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) in a semi-desertic area of North Africa: implications for conservation

et al. 2007

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Studies of the movements and home-ranges of houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) showed sexual and seasonal differences in the use of space, with a polygynous mating system similar to an 'exploded-lek' or a 'resource-defence-polygyny', that remains undefined. We used the arthropod biomass as an index of the trophic quality of six defined habitats and we radio-tracked 7 females and 13 males to test whether sexual and seasonal variations in habitat use were related to resource availability, and to verify if critical resources for breeding females were monopolised by males. We analysed habitat selection in both sexes separately. We used the habitat type composition of buffer zones around radio-locations to study annual and seasonal habitat selection and to identify preferred habitats, using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Habitat use between sexes and between seasons were compared using MANOVA based on log-ratios of habitat proportions. During the year, and in each season, both sexes appeared to be significantly selective for habitats in comparison to their availability. But males avoided esparto grass, while females used all habitats. Habitat use differed between sexes in the breeding season, but not in the non-breeding season. In spring, when food resources were abundant and uniformly distributed in space, males preferred 'temporarily flooded areas' and females preferred 'reg with tall perennials' that offered both food and cover for brooding. Critical resources were not monopolised by males and the mating system fulfilled the definition of the 'exploded-lek'. Leks are key sites for reproduction and should be considered as priority areas in further conservation plans.

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Nest-site and brood-rearing habitat selection in Canarian houbara bustards: the importance of concealment and food availability

Ucero,

Abril-Colón,

Palacín

et al. 2024

J Ornithol

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Using two scales, landscape and microhabitat, we analysed the factors determining nest-site and brood-rearing habitat selection in the endangered Canarian Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae. We measured vegetation cover and food abundance, presence of human infrastructure, and visibility using a very high-resolution LiDAR-based digital elevation model of the terrain. Houbara females choose nest-sites with abundant arthropod biomass and high vegetation. To rear their brood, they look for substrates with few stones, high species richness, and low density of human infrastructure. These features allow females to hide the nest, themselves and their chicks from predators, reduce anthropogenic disturbance, and secure access to food during the whole breeding process. The less stony ground during brood-rearing allows female and chicks to walk more easily and safely, something that is important in a ground-dwelling bird. This study represents the first detailed analysis of nesting and breeding site selection for this globally threatened subspecies. To minimise disturbance during such a sensitive phase, and considering the major tourist destination in which this species lives, we recommend to restrict vehicle and human traffic in the breeding areas, prohibit new constructions in houbara habitats, and preserve the vegetation and breeding-habitat quality, avoiding the current indiscriminate ploughing of uncultivated fields and limiting goat grazing areas.

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Status, conservation and habitat selection of the Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae on Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

Cited by 19 publications

References 2 publications

Dynamic modelling of the potential habitat loss of endangered species: the case of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae)

Dynamic modelling of the potential habitat loss of endangered species: the case of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae)

Habitat use and mating system of the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) in a semi-desertic area of North Africa: implications for conservation

Nest-site and brood-rearing habitat selection in Canarian houbara bustards: the importance of concealment and food availability

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