Are population changes of endangered little bustards associated with releases of red-legged partridges for hunting? A large-scale study from central Spain

摘要: The release of farm-reared game birds for hunting is an increasingly common management practice. However, releasing could have negative effects on sympatric wild species, example, through parasite transmission. Here, we document the spatial-temporal patterns and intensity red-legged partridge releases in province Ciudad Real, Spain, over a 15-year period (2002–2016), relating them to local changes abundance little bustards estimated from two surveys carried out 2005 2016. Within province, > 600,000 partridges were released annually at least 20% area. Releasing varied between estates fluctuated study period, probably because economic crisis during 2008–2014. Overall, numbers dropped by 46% surveys, decrease being more marked west province. Contrary expectation, only where did not those with higher intensity. This may be consequence measures or other factors that benefit are prevalent than elsewhere, such as crop provision, predator control habitat quality.