Effect of Game Management on Wild Red-Legged Partridge Abundance
Open Access
- 19 June 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 8 (6), e66671
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0066671
Abstract
The reduction of game and fish populations has increased investment in management practices. Hunting and fishing managers use several tools to maximize harvest. Managers need to know the impact their management has on wild populations. This issue is especially important to improve management efficacy and biodiversity conservation. We used questionnaires and field bird surveys in 48 hunting estates to assess whether red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa young/adult ratio and summer abundance were related to the intensity of management (provision of supplementary food and water, predator control and releases of farm-bred partridges), harvest intensity or habitat in Central Spain. We hypothesized that partridge abundance would be higher where management practices were applied more intensively. Variation in young/adult ratio among estates was best explained by habitat, year and some management practices. Density of feeders and water points had a positive relationship with this ratio, while the density of partridges released and magpies controlled were negatively related to it. The variables with greatest relative importance were feeders, releases and year. Variations in post-breeding red-legged partridge abundance among estates were best explained by habitat, year, the same management variables that influenced young/adult ratio, and harvest intensity. Harvest intensity was negatively related to partridge abundance. The other management variables had the same type of relationship with abundance as with young/adult ratio, except magpie control. Variables with greatest relative importance were habitat, feeders, water points, releases and harvest intensity. Our study suggests that management had an overall important effect on post-breeding partridge abundance. However, this effect varied among tools, as some had the desired effect (increase in partridge abundance), whereas others did not or even had a negative relationship (such as release of farm-reared birds) and can be thus considered inefficient or even detrimental. We advise reconsidering their use from both ecological and economical points of view.This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Harvest of red‐legged partridge in central SpainThe Journal of Wildlife Management, 2012
- Hunting management in relation to profitability aims: red-legged partridge hunting in central SpainEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research, 2012
- Social-ecological interactions, management panaceas, and the future of wild fish populationsProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2011
- Management strategy evaluation: a powerful tool for conservation?Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2011
- New directions in management strategy evaluation through cross-fertilization between fisheries science and terrestrial conservationBiology Letters, 2010
- Small game water troughs in a Spanish agrarian pseudo steppe: visits and water site choice by wild faunaEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research, 2009
- Predator abundance in relation to small game management in southern Portugal: conservation implicationsEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research, 2008
- Sanitary risks of red-legged partridge releases: introduction of parasitesEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research, 2007
- Disease risks and overabundance of game speciesEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research, 2006
- Mycobacterium avium disease in wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2004