The capercaillie inhabits a continuous range in large parts of the Palearctic boreal forest, but is patchily distributed in temperate Europe. An ongoing population decline, largely related to human land use changes, has been most pronounced in central and western Europe, where some local populations have become extinct. In this study, we document the genetic differentiation of capercaillie populations at different stages along a gradient of spatial structuring from high connectivity (continuous range in the boreal forest) to a metapopulation systems (Alps) and recent (central Europe) and historic (Pyrenees) isolation. Four hundred and sixty individuals from 14 sample sites were genotyped at 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci to assess genetic structure and variation of capercaillie populations across its European range. As expected, differentiation was least pronounced within the continuous range in the boreal forest. Within the metapopulation system of the Alps, differentiation was less than among the isolated populations of central Europe (Black Forest, Fichtelgebirge, Thuringia, Vosges). In the long-isolated population of the Pyrenees, and the recently isolated populations of central Europe, genetic diversity was significantly reduced compared with the Alps and boreal forest. Our results agree with the concept of a gradual increase in genetic differentiation from connectivity to isolation, and from recent to historic isolation. Anthropogenic habitat deterioration and fragmentation thus not only leads to range contractions and extinctions, but may also have significant genetic and evolutionary consequences for surviving populations. To maintain high levels of genetic variation in species in fragmented habitats, conservation should aim at securing connectivity between spatially distinct populations.

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Abstract. The use of habitat by female and male adult capercaillie Tetrao urogallus during summer and autumn was studied by comparing the distribution of radio locations of birds with the availability of habitat at forest stand, home range and landscape level in an area of the Bavarian Alps, Germany. Capercaillie preferred forests with structural features typical of their main distribution range, the boreal forest: they selected large patches of old forest with moderate canopy cover of about 50%, and a well developed field layer with high proportions of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. Hens selected both home ranges and sites within home ranges in old forest. Ranges selected by cocks did not differ from availability in the study area, but they preferred old forest within their ranges. The size of home ranges was negatively related to bilberry cover both in hens and cocks. The distribution of bilberry also determined habitat use by capercaillie at the landscape scale. The study demonstrated that bilberry is the major determinant of the selection of habitat by capercaillie in landscapes with sparse and fragmentary cover of ericaceous shrubs, such as central Europe.

Species' responses to tropical forest fragmentation are variable and not well understood. Species' functional traits might help to reveal patterns of fragmentation sensitivity and provide valuable guidance to conservation practice. On the basis of 30 reviewed studies published between 1997 and 2008, we present a quantitative analysis of 730 responses of Neotropical vertebrates to forest fragmentation and habitat loss in terms of Species' presence, abundance or fitness. Our intention was to identify possible ecological predictors of sensitivity to fragmentation, such as vertebrate group, feeding guild, forest dependency, and body size. We also controlled for methodology and study site characteristics, i.e. parameters studied, study design, study ID, and site ID. These ecological and methodological variables are frequently hypothesized to have an influence on reported fragmentation sensitivity. We conducted Linear Mixed Model analyses in order to relate the potential predictor variables to reported fragmentation effects. Model performance was assessed on the basis of AIC values. The best models included feeding guild, feeding guild+study design and feeding guild+forest dependency, respectively. We found that study ID and site ID significantly improved the models. Post‐hoc tests revealed that nectarivores, possibly herbivores, and species able to use open habitats were affected significantly less by forest fragmentation than others. We therefore conclude that Neotropical nectarivores that are able to use open habitats are less negatively affected by forest fragmentation. Furthermore, a study site's characteristics will always be crucial in explaining observed fragmentation effects.

Diet and habitat selection of the pine marten in relation to competition with the red foxUse STORCH, Erik LINDSTROM and Jonas de JOUNGE Storch I.. Lindstrom E. and de Jounge J. 1990. Diet and habitat selection of the pine marten in relation to competition with the red fox. Acta theriol. 35: 311 -320.After a reduction in red fox Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758 density in south-central Sweden due to an epizootic of sarcoptic mange, which reached the study area in 1982, pine martens Martes martes Linnaeus. 1758 became more abundant. By scat analysis and by snow-tracking we compared winter diet and habitat selection of martens before (1979-80) and after (1987) the decline in foxes to test potential effects of relieved competition on martens. We also used radiotelemetry to study habitat selection after the fox decline in winter and in summer. We were able to show that, at least in the winter situation, martens and foxes do not compete over field voles Microtus agrestis which are a favoured prey of foxes. Probably snow conditions rather than competition limited the consumption of voles by martens in winter. The avoidance of clearcuts by martens seemed to be related to the martens' escape behaviour and had not changed after the decline in foxes. Our data did not contradict relieved interferenceand resource-competition as causes of the increase in the marten population. Our study confirmed the role of the pine marten in the boreal forest as an opportunistic generalist predator which is largely bound to old successional stages.

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A major task of the Grouse Specialist Group is to compile an IUCN/SSC Action Plan to assess threats and propose conservation actions for all grouse species worldwide. This paper provides an overview to the conservation status o f and major threats to grouse based on information collected during the preparation of the Grouse Action Plan. Three species, Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi, Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi and Siberian grouse Falcipennis falcipennis, are listed as globally near-threatened or data deficient, one newlyrecognised species, Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus, is listed as globally endangered and two subspecies, A ttw ater's prairie chicken Tympanuchus cupido attwateri and Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus, qualify to be listed as globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. At a national level, 14 of the 18 species are red-listed in at least one country. Popu lations at the southern edge of a species' range and in densely populated regions are most often red-listed. Based on questionnaire results from 38 countries, habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation due to human land use activities are the major threats to grouse viability. Exploitation, predation and human disturbance were regionally felt to be critical. M ajor threats and their causes are reviewed based on questionnaire results and the literature. Integrating habi tat preservation and human land use practices is concluded to be the major chal lenge to grouse conservationists worldwide.