Diet preferences of European hare (Lepus europaeus) in ranges above treeline on Agrafa area in summer
European hare diet estimation is necessary for sustainable multiple management of rangelands and also of hare’s populations. Hare diet composition was estimated using microhistological analysis of faeces in ranges located above treeline in Petrilo area on Agrafa (central Pindos). Vegetation composition was estimated and hare diet preference was calculated. This research has shown that, grasses were the most preferred item in summer (72% of the total consumed food), with Lolium perenne appears to be the most preferable species according to their availability. On the contrary, forbs seem to play a secondary role, since their contribution in the diet of hare was up to 20%.
Body condition of european brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in the Macedonian rangelands in Autumn
The need for game species management becomes more intense, therefore the knowledge concerning the factors that affect their populations is important. The effect of these factors is expressed by the body condition or nutritional status of game species. Kidney fat index is a measure of physical condition of hare. The objectives of this study was to examine body condition of hare in relevance with the geographic region, the type of habitat, the vegetation, the sex and the age. Samples of hares were collected during autumn of 2003 from areas belonging to the Thessaloniκi and Kozani
Prefectures.
Structure, composition and bird fauna distribution in mountainous grasslands in Menikio Mountain Special Protected Area
Species diversity, abundance and distribution of bird fauna were investigated at the upper pseudoalpine grassland zone of Menikio mountain, a mountainous area exceeding 300 km2 located between Rodopi and Pangeo mountains, Northern Greece, during spring and summer of 2002. The study area divided in five main vegetation types (maquis and grassland, beech and grassland, oak and grassland, pine and grassland and pure grassland) and three land use categories (woodcutting, grazing and no management). Records of the bird fauna were made with the method of line transect and the description of the area was carried out with the assistance of GPS, vegetation, land cover/use and altitude maps. The diversity of bird fauna (42 species) and bird abundance were related: (a) positively with vegetation structure, (b) negatively with increased altitude, (c) positively with management activities and the south, south-west orientations, while sloping did not seem to affect species distribution.
The importance of habitat mosaic for the preservation of declining bird species in the Vikos-Aoos National Park
Three mountain plains near Vikos-Aoos National Park, where a mosaic of traditional pasturelands and agricultural areas still coexist, have been studied for those special habitat characteristics that are selected by breeding bird species known to have declined rapidly in Europe during the last two decades. Data collection during the breeding season concerned special macro-habitat features, such as habitat structure and present day land use, that has been measured in 50 meters radius plots. It has been found that in 192 plots of the 7 most frequent such bird species, open pasturelands with scattered trees or bushes was the most preferable habitat, as also those areas with several types of hedges. In addition, agricultural areas were not used, if were not in adjustment with pastureland. The results saw the importance of traditional extensive livestock rearing for the maintenance of such special habitat structure as also the importance of the mosaic diversity within agricultural areas. Intensification, abandonment or urbanization of these mountain plains due to recent tourist developments is likely to affect negatively in the near future those birds of special conservation importance, which live in the Mediterranean cultural landscapes.
Contribution of the grass vegetation on the diet of the terrestrial bird species
In this study the results of the analysis of diet from three game bird species are presented using different samples of food remains (crops, stomachs, droppings). The three species were: Quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca graeca), and Pheasant (Phashianus colchicus colchicus). It is showed that more than 27 plant families included in the diet of these bird species, and the most important were Poaceae and Fabaceae, with Ranunculaceae following. Insects mainly Coleoptera and Hymenoptera had also been included in the diet to a lesser extent. The feeding behaviour varied from season to season according to the varied parts of the plants that were eaten by the birds. The study has proved the big importance of the preservation and enhancement of the herbaceous vegetation in the meadow and agriculture lands to the survival of these birds.
