Seasonal variation in group size of Cantabrian chamois in relation to escape terrain and food

摘要: Perez-Barberia F. J. and Nores C. 1994. Seasonal variation in group size of Cantabrian chamois relation to escape terrain food. Acta theriol. 39: 295-305. The herd Rupicapra pyrenaica parva (Cabrera, 1910) varied seasonally food availability our study area (Asturias, north Spain). median females without kids was 1 (mean ± SD = 1.62 1.00), with 4 (5.59 5.42), males (1.73 1.78), mixed 7 (8.91 7.91). female-kid depended more on than quality. Throughout the early weeks life kids, mothers remained difficult access areas (cliffs steep slopes), showed a weak tendency aggregate. These provided wide visual range hiding places for offspring their use may be an anti-predation strategy. When were able run quickly, used subalpine meadows. very open exposed predation human disturbance, however forage has high nutritive value, compensate cost breeding suckling by mothers. Aggregation selected as strategy meadows, allowing reduction time spent vigilant each individual group, increased available other activities. largest male groups located pastures abundant but poor quality forage. Our results suggest that is flexible, changing response resource availability.