Forested areas provide important breeding habitats for the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in DadiaLefkimi-Soufli National Park, Northeastern Greece. We censused the birds in two forested habitat types using the point-count technique at 60 sites during the breeding season (from mid-April to mid-June) in 2001 and 2002. We sampled vegetation structure at the same sites by measuring horizontal (tree species and density in different size classes) and vertical (percentage canopy closure in dominant, intermediate, suppressed and shrub layer) characteristics within 0.04 ha circular plots centred on the established points. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were employed to examine the response of the turtledove′s presence to habitat differences between used and unused sites. The results of this study indicate that habitat structure influence the presence of the turtledove during the breeding season. Middle-aged forest stands particularly those dominated by pine trees with low percentage cover in understory are likely to be beneficial to breeding the turtledove population. A combination of multipurpose forestry operations allowing development of managed woodland in mosaics with other habitat types could provide high-quality habitats for a wide range of wildlife species including game and non-game species in the area. Silvicultural methods of maintaining appropriate breeding habitat for turtledove in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park (DLS NP), which are in conflict with commercial forestry, are discussed.
Data concerning habitat characteristics and general physiographic characteristics at 29 Short‐toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus nest‐sites (circular plot of 0.4 ha centred on the nest tree) were collected and compared with the same number of paired randomly selected plots in Dadia‐Lefkimi‐Soufli forest complex, northeast Greece. Short‐toed Eagles used southern slopes for nesting and nest‐sites were often located on the upper third of each slope. Nest trees were found significantly closer to rain water gullies, to the boundary of a different habitat type, and to the nearest forest opening greater than 0.5 ha than the randomly selected nest trees. Nest‐sites had a significantly lower mean score of human disturbance than random sites and were found in mature pine forest associations, dominated by Calabrian Pine Pinus brutia or Black Pine P. nigra. The total tree density of Short‐toed Eagle nest‐sites was lower than random sites. Canopy cover in the dominant and intermediate tree layer at nest‐sites was lower than at random sites. Short‐toed Eagles tended to select sites for nesting that provided a combination of easy access and maximum shelter of the nest content from predators and inclement weather. The preservation of open structure of mature pine stands on south facing slopes near clearings may be critical for the continued conservation of the Short‐toed Eagle in actively managed forests, such as the Dadia‐Lefkimi‐Soufli forest complex.
1.The area surrounding and including Dadia Forest, north-eastern Greece, is well known for its diversity of breeding raptors, including many species of conservation concern. Dadia Forest has been exploited by humans for many centuries, but more recent social and economic changes have stimulated proposals that the forest should be subject to habitat management to protect the fauna of the region. 2. We examined the distribution of reptiles over nine different habitat types with a view to assessing the importance of these habitats for foraging by short-toed eagles Circaetus gallicus. In addition, data on the diet of the species were collected from direct observations at nests. 3. The short-toed eagle relies heavily on snakes for food. The most important prey species was the grass snake Nutrix natrix, although the Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulunus and large whip snake Coluber jugularis also featured prominently as prey items at certain nests. Montpellier snakes and large whip snakes were distributed across all habitat types, but grass snakes were concentrated in areas of mainly intensive, but also non-intensive, cultivation. 4. Analysis showed that short-toed eagles concentrated their foraging efforts in three habitat types: intensive and non-intensive cultivation and grasslands. Grass snakes were abundant on cultivated land but relatively scarce on grassland. Forested areas were largely avoided by foraging eagles. The data show that for the short-toed eagle the distribution and abundance of prey items on the ground does not reflect food availability. 5. The possible effect of changes in habitat management on the short-toed eagle population in Dadia is discussed, in particular the establishment of exclusion zones that could result in progressive canopy closure.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.