Habitat partitioning in endangered Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus

摘要: The endangered Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) lives at the southern edge of tetraonids’ distribution range, in entirely deciduous forests. Its conservation planning has been always lek-centred. There is very little information about specific habitat requirements hens and broods, even though reproductive success appears to be a limiting factor. We analysed summer surveys from 1997 2004, carried out estimate population. compared characteristics different spatial scales with broodless hens, cocks summer, better known spring display areas. Summer showed higher proportion open areas was associated more rugged zones moderate (78 ha) than Cocks partitioning; were proportions shrubby habitats. Furthermore, preferred slope variability by cocks. These differences may reflect sexual dimorphism species role, energetic demands conspicuousness. At larger previously developed suitability model performed well predict good brood-rearing Hens broods located best-preserved mainly characterized forest cover large (50 km2) scale. suggest that these indicate refuge habitats where can still breed successfully.