The Effect of an Experimental Reduction in Predation Pressure on the Breeding Success and Population Density of Grey Partridges Perdix perdix

Tapper, S. C.; Potts, G. R.; Brockless, M. H.

doi:10.2307/2404678

Cited by 230 publications

(177 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Yet, competitor release can occur in very different ecological contexts, such as, for example, game management. As for biological invasions, the main goals of the management strategies in areas of game interest or in natural reserves with species that are predation sensitive is to reduce its incidence, through predator control (Harris & Saunders 1993;Reynolds & Tapper 1996;Tapper et al 1996).The techniques used vary greatly in their degree of selectivity or effectiveness with regard to the target species (Calver et al 1989;Windberg & Knowlton 1990;Hein & Andelt 1994). Unfortunately, many of these methods are non-selective, in particular many types of snares, traps and poison.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rats dying for mice: Modelling the competitor release effect

Caut¹,

et al. 2007

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Introduced vertebrate predators are one of the most important threats to endemic species throughout a range of ecosystems, in particular on islands in biodiversity hot spots. Consequently, the reduction of predator numbers is considered a key conservation action in the management of many native vertebrates vulnerable to predators. It is now established that control attempts may affect non-target species through trophic interactions, but little is known concerning their consequences on competitive relationships. We study a mathematical model mimicking the effects of controlling introduced species in the presence of their competitors.We used two competing rodents to illustrate our study: black rats, Rattus rattus, and mice, Mus musculus. Analyses of the model show that control of only one introduced species logically results in the dramatic increase of the overlooked competitor. We present empirical data that confirm our theoretical predictions. Less intuitively, this process, which we term 'the competitor release effect', may also occur when both introduced competitors are simultaneously controlled. In our setting, controlling both predators can promote their coexistence. This occurs as soon as the inferior competitor benefits from the differential effect of the simultaneous control of both competitors, that is, when the indirect positive effect of control (the removal of their competitors) exceeds its direct negative effect (their own removal). Both control levels and target specificity have a direct influence on the extent of this process: counter-intuitively, the stronger and more specific the control, the greater the effect. The theoretical validation of the competitor release effect has important implications in conservation, especially for control management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rats dying for mice: Modelling the competitor release effect

Caut¹,

et al. 2007

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“…Predation is demonstrated to be the principal source of nesting mortality in several Galliform species (Tapper et al 1996, Jimenez & Conover 2001. The nest-site complexity and concealment, depending to a greater extent on physical characteristics at a nest-site, often represent key cues of nest-site selection by ground-nesters (Ricklefs 1969, Hanson 1970.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Ecology of Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae in Lhasa Mountains, Tibet

Lü

Gong

Ren

2003

Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology

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Abstract. Data on the breeding ecology of Tibetan Partridges (Perdix hodgsoniae) were collected in shrub environments near Lhasa, Tibet, during 1999-2001. Partridge flocks broke up in mid-March and individuals typically formed socially monogamous pair bonds. During daily activities the both members of the pair were close to each other, with 73.5% of observed individual distances less than 2m. The egg-laying period extended from late May to late June. Average egg size was 16.1 (±SE=0.2) g in mass and 39.2The partridge produced larger eggs and smaller clutches than its two congener species, Grey Partridge (P. perdix) and Daurian Partridge (P. dauuricae). Incubation lasted about 23 days, and 44.4% of clutches successfully hatched. Vegetation characteristics were the most important determinants of partridge nest-site choice, with patches of low, sparse, and secondary cover being preferred. Nest-sites were also significantly closer to paths than random sites.

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“…A comparable predation impact was recorded only in some North American populations of grey partridge, but it was due mainly to raptors, which were only responsible for a minor part of the mortality in our study area (Carroll, 1990). In Europe the main predators of grey partridges seem to be red foxes, free-ranging cats and mustelids (Birkan & Serre, 1988;Serre et al, 1989;Birkan et al, 1992;Tapper et al, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High mortality rate in a re‐introduced grey partridge population in central Italy

Meriggi

Brangi

Cuccus

et al. 2002

Italian Journal of Zoology

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A radio-tracking study was carried out on a re-introduced population of grey partridges in a 10.6-km 2 study area located in central Italy, in order to assess mortality rate and to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out large scale re-introductions of the species. Thirty-nine grey partridges were caught by live-traps during winter 2000 and equipped with backpack radio-transmitter. All released birds were offspring of partridges re-introduced previously on the study area and no significant differences were found in survival probabilities between sexes, age classes (juveniles or adults), and weight classes (<400 g or 400 g), with the exception of the juveniles-adult comparison with the weight class 400 g. Kaplan-Meier estimates give an average survival of 734 days (SE = 15.5). GLM analysis showed an overall interaction effect of the sex, age, and weight (P = 0.03). Mortality increased during the covey break up, if compared to other periods, although the differences were not significant; the same was for males, for adults, and for both weight classes, while significant differences resulted for female and juvenile survival rate among periods. Predation was the main mortality source for radio-tagged grey partridges (71.0%), followed by disease (25.8%). The high mortality rate found in our study could be explained in part with the origin of the population that was originally re-introduced using hand-reared grey partridges. Some important negative characters of reared birds, such as the poor anti-predator behaviour and the low diseases resistance, could carry over during the first and following wild generations.

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The Effect of an Experimental Reduction in Predation Pressure on the Breeding Success and Population Density of Grey Partridges Perdix perdix

Cited by 230 publications

References 20 publications

Rats dying for mice: Modelling the competitor release effect

Rats dying for mice: Modelling the competitor release effect

Reproductive Ecology of Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae in Lhasa Mountains, Tibet

High mortality rate in a re‐introduced grey partridge population in central Italy

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