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Habitat Selection by Free-Grazing Sheep in a Mountain Pasture
Virginia Larraz1, Olivia Barrantes1,2, Ramón Reiné1
1Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias y del Medio Natural, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
Free-ranging sheep in the Pyrenees show distinct grazing preferences for specific altitudes, slopes, and plant communities. GPS and GIS technologies effectively monitored their behavior, aiding sustainable pasture management.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Sustainable Agriculture
Background:
- Extensive grazing systems in Pyrenean mountain grasslands are shifting from guided herding to free-ranging flocks.
- Understanding sheep grazing behavior is crucial for managing these changing pastoral systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the grazing behavior of free-ranging sheep in mountain pastures.
- To identify preferred geomorphological features and plant communities for sheep grazing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized GPS tracking devices on sheep collars over three summer seasons (2019-2021).
- Employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze spatial data.
- Applied Manly's standardized preference index to assess habitat and vegetation selection.
Main Results:
- Sheep preferred altitudes between 2400-2600m, SE-, SW-, and E-facing slopes under 20%, and specific plant communities (Festucion eskiae, Primulion intricatae, Nardion strictae).
- Sheep actively rejected Festucion scopariae plant communities.
Conclusions:
- GPS and GIS are effective tools for monitoring free-ranging sheep activity.
- Data gathered can inform and enhance pastoral practices for sustainable pasture use.
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