Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
PLoS One. 2020 Sep 4;15(9):e0238660. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238660. eCollection 2020.
As many other wild living species, black grouse Tetrao tetrix has to cope with anthropogenic disturbances in many habitats. Impacts of tourism and outdoor recreation on grouse species Tetraoninae have been subject to several studies in mountainous habitats in Central Europe and the United Kingdom. The geographically isolated and critically endangered black grouse population of Lower Saxony (North Germany) has been consistently monitored but beyond that poorly studied. This also applies to the key habitats of the nature reserve Lüneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide) which, in turn, serves as a recreational area as well. In this study, the impact of tourism activity on habitat use of black grouse was investigated using data of GPS-tracked individuals. Additionally, visitor numbers on public and (usually undisturbed) closed routes were monitored using infrared light barriers. The spatio-temporal distribution of locations and the recreational activity were evaluated by linear mixed-effects models. Tagged individuals avoided the vicinity of public routes and avoiding distances were directly related to intensity of human activity. There was no seasonal change of black grouse habitat use alongside public routes. However, towards closed routes, significantly higher distances appeared during peak phases of visitor numbers (August and September), implying temporary increased disturbance levels within a key refuge area. Diurnal adaptation of habitat use was strongly dependent on the route density within the home range. Individuals used the vicinity of public trails at night and dawn but evaded these habitats during peak human activity around noon and afternoon. Recreational disturbances appeared to significantly affect the effective habitat availability for black grouse in the nature reserve. Visual cover by vegetation, however, seemed to diminish negative effects emerging from hiking trails. This provides an effective protective measure which requires minimal effort for the local conservation management.
与许多其他野生动物一样，黑琴鸡 Tetrao tetrix 不得不在许多栖息地应对人为干扰。旅游业和户外运动对中欧和英国山区的松鸡类物种的影响已经进行了多项研究。地理位置孤立且岌岌可危的下萨克森州（德国北部）黑琴鸡种群一直受到持续监测，但除此之外研究甚少。这同样适用于吕讷堡石楠草原自然保护区（Lüneburger Heide）的关键栖息地，而该自然保护区反过来又是休闲区。在这项研究中，使用 GPS 追踪个体的数据调查了旅游活动对黑琴鸡栖息地利用的影响。此外，还使用红外光障监测了公共和（通常未受干扰的）封闭路线上的游客人数。通过线性混合效应模型评估了地点的时空分布和休闲活动。标记个体避开了公共路线附近的区域，回避距离与人类活动的强度直接相关。公共路线沿线的黑琴鸡栖息地利用没有季节性变化。然而，在游客人数高峰期（8 月和 9 月），靠近封闭路线的距离明显增加，这意味着在关键避难区内暂时增加了干扰水平。栖息地利用的昼夜适应强烈依赖于栖息地内的路线密度。个体在夜间和黎明时分使用公共步道附近的区域，但在中午和下午人类活动高峰期会避开这些栖息地。休闲干扰似乎对自然保护区内黑琴鸡的有效栖息地可用性产生了重大影响。然而，植被的视觉覆盖似乎减少了来自远足步道的负面影响。这提供了一种有效的保护措施，对当地保护管理几乎不需要任何努力。
