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Factors modulating home range and resource use: a case study with Canarian houbara bustards
Inmaculada Abril-Colón1, Juan Carlos Alonso2, Carlos Palacín2
1Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. inma.abril@mncn.csic.es.
Movement Ecology
|November 15, 2022
Summary
The endangered Canarian houbara bustard adapts to farming by using cultivated fields for food, especially during dry seasons. Conservation efforts must maintain suitable habitats in the Canary Islands to protect this unique subspecies.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Ornithology
Background:
- Animal home range is influenced by ecological needs, intrinsic/extrinsic factors, and food resources.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for population ecology and conservation of endangered species.
- The Canarian houbara bustard, an endangered African houbara subspecies, is endemic to the Canary Islands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing the home range of the Canarian houbara bustard.
- To analyze foraging habitat selection in relation to intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
- To understand the adaptive strategies of this endangered subspecies.
Main Methods:
- GPS locations from 43 houbaras tracked using solar GSM/GPRS loggers with accelerometers (2018-2021).
- Kernel density estimators used to assess home range and core area variations.
- Foraging habitat selection analyzed in relation to environmental and individual factors.
Main Results:
- Home ranges were smallest during the breeding season (Nov-Apr) due to vegetation growth.
- Non-breeding season (May-Oct) saw larger home ranges, with increased use of cultivated lands for food.
- Habitat selection varied by season and reproductive status, with a preference for non-cultivated shrublands and pastures, shifting to cultivated areas in drier months.
Conclusions:
- The Canarian houbara has adapted to utilize resources from low-intensity farming practices.
- Maintaining suitable habitat conditions, including pastures and shrublands, is vital for conservation.
- Conservation strategies should consider the integration of agricultural landscapes to support this endangered subspecies.
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