Habitat competition between the alpine chamois and other (wild) ruminants
Abstract
The Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra), hereafter referred to as chamois, is considered a flagship species of the alpine and montane regions of Europe, which can react quite sensitively to habitat changes. Negative population trends of this species in many regions of Europe are attributed to a variety of factors. Anthropogenic disturbances, climatic changes but also interspecific competition for the resource "space" are defined as essential influencing factors. The needs of chamois such as security, rest or food availability shape the habitat selection of this species. In this respect, studies have shown that chamois can react very sensitively to red deer or grazing cattle and spatially avoid areas that are used by more competitive (wild) ruminants. Such competitive situations can have a negative impact on the availability of high-quality grazing sites from the chamois' point of view. The absence of appropriate grazing opportunities can lead to lower fawn growth, lower weights of female chamois and their young before winter, and thus increased winter mortality. Fawn weight at birth in the following year may also be negatively affected by the lack of suitable grazing. Although several studies have already dealt with interactions between chamois and one or the other (wild) ruminant species, there is a lack of investigations in areas where more than two ruminant species compete for the resource "space". For this reason, the present project aims to investigate spatial competition between Alpine chamois, red deer, roe deer, ibex, and grazing cattle in the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Salzburg. Wildlife cameras will be used to analyse interactions between these species within the study site. Results from this project will contribute to a better understanding of the habitat selection of Alpine chamois and thus to the management and conservation of this species in Central Europe.
Chamois spatio-temporal behaviour wild ruminants livestock habitat competition camera traps
Publikationen
Zwischenbericht – Lebensraumkonkurrenz zwischen der Alpengämse und anderer (Wild)-Wiederkäuer (LAWW)
Autoren: Griesberger, P; Nöbauer, S Jahr: 2023
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
Project staff
Paul Griesberger
Paul Griesberger MSc.
paul.griesberger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83217
Project Leader
01.04.2022 - 31.08.2024
Sophie Nöbauer
Sophie Nöbauer MSc.
sophie.noebauer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83215
Project Staff
01.04.2022 - 31.08.2024