Category: Phasianidae

The shape of red grouse cycles

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 7 abstract We examined 223 time-series of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) numbers compiled from shooting bag-records from grouse moors located across England, Scotland and Wales for evidence of non-time-reversibility, asymmetry in cycle shape and non-linearity. We found 44% of time-series to be non-time-reversible. Over 80% of time-series spent […]

Local genetic structure in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus): evidence from microsatellite DNA markers

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 11 abstract Allelic variation at seven hypervariable tri- and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci was used to determine levels of population differentiation between 14 populations of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) in northeast Scotland, UK. Despite the potential for long-distance dispersal in grouse, and a semicontinuous habitat, significant population divergence was […]

Vegetation analysis of the territorial boundary between red grouse (lagopus scoticus) and ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 2 abstract The location of the boundary between the territories of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) and ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) is related to the vegetation of the hills where both these species occur. If the he vegetation is dominated by tall, vigorous Calluna vulgaris, grouse occur. At greater altitudes […]

Breeding losses of red grouse in Glen Esk (NE Scotland): comparative studies, 30 years on

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 3 abstract Hatching success, brood survival and predation rates of red grouse chicks were examined at four sites in north-east Scotland over two years (1994-1995). Two of these sites have previously been the focus of a large-scale population study on grouse during the late 1950s enabling a comparison to […]

Identifying disease reservoirs in complex systems: mountain hares as reservoirs of ticks and louping-ill virus, pathogens of red grouse

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 8 abstract We examined the role of mountain hares in the louping-ill virus/Ixodes ricinus tick system to determine whether hares were reservoirs of these pathogens for red grouse. A field experiment, which involved reducing mountain hare densities was undertaken and changes in tick abundance, louping-ill virus seroprevalence and red […]

Seasonal infection patterns inWillow Grouse(Lagopus lagopus L.) do not supportthe presence of parasite-induced winter losses

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) Science Article 4 abstract We examined the hypothesis that endoparasites ofWillow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus L.)affect host winter losses, by examining two samples ofWillow Grouse collected in earlyautumn and late winter. Body condition of juvenile birds improved from September toFebruary, but parasite-induced hostmortalities among hosts in poor conditionwere probablynot the cause. If […]

Evolutionary and conservation genetics of the rock partridge, Alectoris graeca

Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) Science Article 3 abstract Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca) populations are declining throughout their range due to habitat changes and overhunting. Massive restocking with captive-reared hybrid birds may lead to risk of genetic pollution. We sequenced 450 nucleotides from the mitochondrial DNA control-region, and genotyped eight microsatellite loci with the aim of […]

Egg Production and Some Hatchability Characteristics of RockPartridges (Alectoris graeca) Mated at Different Rates

Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) Science Article 2 abstract This study was carried out to determine the hatchability characteristics of rock partridges mated at the ratio of one maleto three females, one male to four females and one male to five females. Egg production/hen (%), fertile eggs/hen, fertility,hatchability and hatchability of fertile eggs of one male […]

Synchrony, scale and temporal dynamics of Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) populations in the Dolomites

Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) Science Article 1 abstract 1. We examine harvesting records of rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) to first identify thepresence of cycles in a species with a southern European distribution and then examine synchronybetween populations at a range of scales.2. Hunting records from 1965 to 1994 were obtained from 210 hunting areas […]