Is Predation the Key Factor of Partridge Ecology and Management?

Ferreras, Pablo; Mateo-Moriones, Ainhoa; Duarte, Jesús; Fa, John E.; Blanco‐Aguiar, José Antonio; Villafuerte, Rafael

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-96341-5_4

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Females may lay eggs in two different nests, and when both clutches are laid, females usually start incubation of the second clutch while males incubate the first one and then raise their chicks (Green, 1984a;Casas et al, 2009). Predators of the red-legged partridge are mostly generalist predators such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), feral cats (Felis catus), stone martens (Martes foina), free-roaming dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and common buzzards (Buteo buteo) (Ferreras et al, 2022).…”

Section: Study Area Description and Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

Perrot,

Seranne,

Berceaux

et al. 2024

Peer Community Journal

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Current agricultural practices and change are the major cause of biodiversity loss. An important change associated with the intensification of agriculture in the last 50 years is the spatial homogenization of the landscape with substantial loss of such biodiversity-rich elements as seminatural linear features (hedgerows, field margins, grassy strips, etc.). In Europe, some management prescriptions serve to increase heterogeneity by the creation of these seminatural linear features which are not being used primarily for agricultural production. However, these elements are not equal in their support for biodiversity according to their structure and composition. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of landscape heterogeneity and specifically linear features on the spatial distribution of red-legged partridges, a small game species in decline in Europe. Through GPS-monitoring of adult birds, we first assess home range size throughout the year and during the breeding season, in relation to breeding status and to linear features (seminatural linear vegetation and tracks-roads for human traffic) density. Then, we focus on habitat selection during the breeding period in relation to linear features. We found that linear elements shape the use of space by red-legged partridges according to their reproductive status. Traffic routes and seminatural features structured by both herbaceous and woody cover, negatively influenced home range size. Further, breeding birds select linear elements with herbaceous cover while non-breeders select linear elements with woody cover, underlining the different needs of birds according to their breeding status. All birds selected areas near tracks, but non-breeders seemed to avoid roads. This study shows the importance for this species of the linear components that structure the agricultural landscape. We propose recommendations to promote the presence of the red-legged partridge in this agricultural environment but also of the biodiversity in general.

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Section: Study Area Description and Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

Perrot,

Seranne,

Berceaux

et al. 2024

Peer Community Journal

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“…Although it is frequently observed in pairs, it may form flocks with chicks (usually 2 adults with about 9 chicks on average) between May and August, as well as flocks of 8–10 individuals on average during the rest of the year . In addition to humans, its main predators include mammals such as red foxes or domestic cats, and birds of prey. , The red-legged partridge inhabits meadows and shrublands and is also abundant in cultivated areas . Since the level of predator-induced intimidation depends on the structure and type of habitat, it is likely to suffer a higher level of intimidation by predators due to less heterogeneity and less presence of shelters in farmland areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to humans, its main predators include mammals such as red foxes or domestic cats, and birds of prey. , The red-legged partridge inhabits meadows and shrublands and is also abundant in cultivated areas . Since the level of predator-induced intimidation depends on the structure and type of habitat, it is likely to suffer a higher level of intimidation by predators due to less heterogeneity and less presence of shelters in farmland areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Responses of Imidacloprid-Dosed Farmland Birds to a Simulated Predation Risk

Addy-Orduna,

Ortiz-Santaliestra,

Mougeot

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Sublethal exposure to imidacloprid and other neonicotinoid insecticides may affect the neurological functions of birds. As such, behavior may be compromised. Here, we tested experimentally the effects of 1 and 6 mg/kg bw of imidacloprid on the antipredator behavioral responses of the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) to simulated predator threats. Sixty-six partridges were challenged in groups or individually to intra-and interspecific alarm calls, to a raptor silhouette (aerial predation risk), and to a fox model (terrestrial predation risk). Antipredator behaviors were recorded as active (escape, active vigilance) and passive (passive vigilance, crouching, and freezing) responses. Latency in response to the stimuli, percentage of individuals who responded, response duration, speed of active responses, and vocalizations were measured. In experiments with partridges in the group, crouching against simulated predation risk lasted less time in birds treated with 6 mg a.i./kg bw than in control birds. In the experiments with individual partridges, passive vigilance against the intraspecific alarm lasted longer in birds treated with 6 mg a.i./kg bw than in control birds. The observed hyperreactivity to the predatory threat after a sublethal imidacloprid exposure can have consequences on survival under field conditions, where predation is a main driver of population dynamics.

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“…Females may lay eggs in two different nests, and when both clutches are laid, females usually start incubation of the second clutch while males incubate the first one and then raise their chicks (Green 1984a;Casas et al 2009). Predators of the red-legged partridge are mostly generalist predators such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), feral cats (Felis catus), stone martens (Martes foina), free-roaming dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and common buzzards (Buteo buteo) (Ferreras et al 2022). Linear structures in the landscape include green linear features such as hedges and grassy strips but also human traffic routes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

Perrot,

Séranne,

Berceaux

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Current agricultural practices and change are the major cause of biodiversity loss. An important change associated with the intensification of agriculture in the last 50 years is the spatial homogenization of the landscape with substantial loss of such biodiversity-rich elements as seminatural linear feature (hedgerows, field margins, grass strips, etc.). In Europe, management prescriptions serve to increase heterogeneity by the creation of these seminatural and linear features which are not being used primarily for agricultural production. However, these elements are not equal in their support for biodiversity according to their structure and composition. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of landscape heterogeneity and specifically linear features on the spatial distribution of red-legged partridges, a small game species in decline in Europe. Through GPS-monitoring of adult birds, we first assess home range size throughout the year and during the breeding season, in relation to breeding status and to linear features density (semi-natural linear vegetation and tracks-roads for human traffic). Then, we focus on habitat selection in relation to linear landscape features during the breeding period. We found that linear elements shape the use of space by red-legged partridges according to their reproductive status. Traffic routes and semi-natural features structured by both herbaceous and woody cover, negatively influenced home range size. Further, breeding birds select linear elements with herbaceous cover while non-breeders select linear elements with woody cover, underlining the different needs of birds according to their breeding status. All birds selected areas near tracks, but non-breeders seemed to avoid roads. This study shows the importance for this species of the linear components that structure the agricultural landscape. We propose recommendations to promote the presence of the red-legged partridge in this agricultural environment but also of the biodiversity in general.

show abstract

Is Predation the Key Factor of Partridge Ecology and Management?

Cited by 4 publications

References 77 publications

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

Behavioral Responses of Imidacloprid-Dosed Farmland Birds to a Simulated Predation Risk

Use of linear features by red-legged partridges in an intensive agricultural landscape: implications for landscape management in farmland

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