Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications
The Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica) lives at one of the southernmost limits of the ptarmigan range. Their small population sizes and the impacts of global changes are limiting factors in the conservation of this threatened subspecies. An effective conservation policy requires precis...
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58807 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 |
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ftunivlleida:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/58807 2023-05-15T15:18:53+02:00 Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications García González, Ricardo Aldezabal, Arantza Amaia Laskurain, Nere Margalida, Antoni Novoa, Claude 2016-12-13T10:33:52Z http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58807 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 eng eng Public Library of Science MIECI/PN2004-2007/RTA2005-00160-C02-02 Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 Plos One, 2016, vol.11, núm. 2 1932-6203 http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58807 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 cc-by (c) García González, Ricardo et al., 2016 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC-BY article publishedVersion 2016 ftunivlleida https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 2022-04-18T05:13:03Z The Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica) lives at one of the southernmost limits of the ptarmigan range. Their small population sizes and the impacts of global changes are limiting factors in the conservation of this threatened subspecies. An effective conservation policy requires precise basic knowledge of a species' food and habitat requirements, information that is practically non-existent for this Pyrenean population. Here, we describe the diet of a ptarmigan population in the Eastern Pyrenees, the environmental factors influencing its variability and the relationship between diet floristic composition and quality. Diet composition was determined by microhistological analysis of faeces and diet quality was estimated from free-urate faecal N content. Our results show that grouse diet is based mainly on arctic-alpine shrubs of the Ericaceae family, as well as dwarf willows (Salix spp.) and Dryas octopetala. The most frequently consumed plant species was Rhododendron ferrugineum, but its abundance in the diet was negatively related to the diet nitrogen content. Conversely, the abundance of Salix spp., grass leaves and arthropods increased the nitrogen content of the diet. Seasonality associated with snow-melting contributed the most to variability in the Pyrenean ptarmigan diet, differentiating winter from spring/summer diets. The latter was characterised by a high consumption of dwarf willows, flowers, arthropods and tender forb leaves. Geographic area and sex-age class influenced diet variability to a lesser extent. Current temperature increases in the Pyrenees due to global warming may reduce the persistence and surface area of snow-packs where preferred plants for rock ptarmigan usually grow, thus reducing food availability. The high consumption of Rh. ferrugineum characterised the diet of the Pyrenean population. Given the toxicity of this plant for most herbivores, its potential negative effect on Pyrenean ptarmigan populations should be evaluated. This work was carried out with a cooperation agreement between the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage (France) and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain). Additional funds were provided by RTA (Agricultural Technologies and Resources) 2005- 00160-C02-02, MAM 2484/2002 Spanish projects and LEDDRA FW7 ENV.2009.2.1.3.2 Desertification process and land degradation (SICA-EU). AM was supported by a Ramón y Cajal research contract from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RYC- 2012-11867). Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Dryas octopetala Global warming Lagopus muta rock ptarmigan Universitat de Lleida: Repositori Obert UdL Arctic PLOS ONE 11 2 e0148614 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Universitat de Lleida: Repositori Obert UdL |
op_collection_id |
ftunivlleida |
language |
English |
description |
The Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica) lives at one of the southernmost limits of the ptarmigan range. Their small population sizes and the impacts of global changes are limiting factors in the conservation of this threatened subspecies. An effective conservation policy requires precise basic knowledge of a species' food and habitat requirements, information that is practically non-existent for this Pyrenean population. Here, we describe the diet of a ptarmigan population in the Eastern Pyrenees, the environmental factors influencing its variability and the relationship between diet floristic composition and quality. Diet composition was determined by microhistological analysis of faeces and diet quality was estimated from free-urate faecal N content. Our results show that grouse diet is based mainly on arctic-alpine shrubs of the Ericaceae family, as well as dwarf willows (Salix spp.) and Dryas octopetala. The most frequently consumed plant species was Rhododendron ferrugineum, but its abundance in the diet was negatively related to the diet nitrogen content. Conversely, the abundance of Salix spp., grass leaves and arthropods increased the nitrogen content of the diet. Seasonality associated with snow-melting contributed the most to variability in the Pyrenean ptarmigan diet, differentiating winter from spring/summer diets. The latter was characterised by a high consumption of dwarf willows, flowers, arthropods and tender forb leaves. Geographic area and sex-age class influenced diet variability to a lesser extent. Current temperature increases in the Pyrenees due to global warming may reduce the persistence and surface area of snow-packs where preferred plants for rock ptarmigan usually grow, thus reducing food availability. The high consumption of Rh. ferrugineum characterised the diet of the Pyrenean population. Given the toxicity of this plant for most herbivores, its potential negative effect on Pyrenean ptarmigan populations should be evaluated. This work was carried out with a cooperation agreement between the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage (France) and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain). Additional funds were provided by RTA (Agricultural Technologies and Resources) 2005- 00160-C02-02, MAM 2484/2002 Spanish projects and LEDDRA FW7 ENV.2009.2.1.3.2 Desertification process and land degradation (SICA-EU). AM was supported by a Ramón y Cajal research contract from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RYC- 2012-11867). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
García González, Ricardo Aldezabal, Arantza Amaia Laskurain, Nere Margalida, Antoni Novoa, Claude |
spellingShingle |
García González, Ricardo Aldezabal, Arantza Amaia Laskurain, Nere Margalida, Antoni Novoa, Claude Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
author_facet |
García González, Ricardo Aldezabal, Arantza Amaia Laskurain, Nere Margalida, Antoni Novoa, Claude |
author_sort |
García González, Ricardo |
title |
Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
title_short |
Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
title_full |
Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
title_fullStr |
Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors affecting diet variation in the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica): Conservation implications |
title_sort |
factors affecting diet variation in the pyrenean rock ptarmigan (lagopus muta pyrenaica): conservation implications |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58807 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Dryas octopetala Global warming Lagopus muta rock ptarmigan |
genre_facet |
Arctic Dryas octopetala Global warming Lagopus muta rock ptarmigan |
op_relation |
MIECI/PN2004-2007/RTA2005-00160-C02-02 Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 Plos One, 2016, vol.11, núm. 2 1932-6203 http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58807 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 |
op_rights |
cc-by (c) García González, Ricardo et al., 2016 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148614 |
container_title |
PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
e0148614 |
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