New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger

The knowledge in the behaviour and movement of endangered species is of key importance for the precise targeting and assessing the efficiency of nature conservation actions, especially considering vultures, which explore vast areas to locate ephemeral and unpredictable food resources. Therefore, a t...

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Main Authors: Hristo Peshev, Atanas Grozdanov, Elena Kmetova–Biro, Ivelin Ivanov, Georgi Stoyanov, Rigas Tsiakiris, Simeon Marin, Saša Marinković, Goran Sušić, Emanuel Lisichanets, Irena Hribšek, Zoran Karić, Sven Kapelj, Lachezar Bonchev, Emilian Stoynov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2021-08-01
Series:Biodiversity Data Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/71100/download/pdf/
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author Hristo Peshev
Atanas Grozdanov
Elena Kmetova–Biro
Ivelin Ivanov
Georgi Stoyanov
Rigas Tsiakiris
Simeon Marin
Saša Marinković
Goran Sušić
Emanuel Lisichanets
Irena Hribšek
Zoran Karić
Sven Kapelj
Lachezar Bonchev
Emilian Stoynov
author_facet Hristo Peshev
Atanas Grozdanov
Elena Kmetova–Biro
Ivelin Ivanov
Georgi Stoyanov
Rigas Tsiakiris
Simeon Marin
Saša Marinković
Goran Sušić
Emanuel Lisichanets
Irena Hribšek
Zoran Karić
Sven Kapelj
Lachezar Bonchev
Emilian Stoynov
author_sort Hristo Peshev
collection DOAJ
description The knowledge in the behaviour and movement of endangered species is of key importance for the precise targeting and assessing the efficiency of nature conservation actions, especially considering vultures, which explore vast areas to locate ephemeral and unpredictable food resources. Therefore, a total of 51 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) from both the re-introduced population and the autochthonous Balkan Peninsula (Balkans) colonies have been tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters in recent years, in order to study their seasonal and spatial distribution. The current study presents the analysis of the high-resolution GPS location data, acquired between January 2016 and March 2021. A total of 1,138,383 locations (an average number of 23,716 ± 18,886 positions per bird, ranged between 2,515 and 76,431 of total fixes per bird; n=48) were used to estimate the home range size and identify the traditional foraging areas and roosting sites of the birds during the wintering, migration/roaming and summering periods. Our results reveal that Griffon Vultures movement activity and home range size varied considerably throughout the annual cycle, especially between their wintering and summering grounds, while exhibiting significant overlapping amongst the tracked individuals. Specifically, immature Griffon Vultures travel long distances across all Balkan Peninsula countries, but always gather with conspecifics, showing strong fidelity to active breeding/roosting sites. The total home range 95% area of the Griffon Vulture population on the Balkans was estimated at 39,986.4 km² and the 50% core area at 1,545.42 km² (n = 48). All tracked birds were found to either visit or frequently use (> 95% of the time) the same seven vulture key zones on the Balkan Peninsula – one in Serbia, one shared between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, one shared between Bulgaria and Greece, two entirely lying in Bulgaria, one in western Greece and one shared between Kvarner Archipelago islands in Croatia and the Julian Alps - Italy, Austria and Slovenia. Several smaller sub-zones were also defined within these general ones. The seven key zones form a coherent network and are used as stepping stones for Griffon Vultures during their migration movements and roaming, but also wintering and summering. The observed concentration tendency of Griffon Vultures on the Balkans and the predictability of their temporal and spatial presence should be used to precisely target, address and substantially increase the efficiency of the conservation measures in this marginal and, thus, still vulnerable meta-population.
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spelling doaj.art-7f100aa7298e4360a6c4d41c02e941ea2022-12-21T21:03:15ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282021-08-01912710.3897/BDJ.9.e7110071100New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavengerHristo Peshev0Atanas Grozdanov1Elena Kmetova–Biro2Ivelin Ivanov3Georgi Stoyanov4Rigas Tsiakiris5Simeon Marin6Saša Marinković7Goran Sušić8Emanuel Lisichanets9Irena Hribšek10Zoran Karić11Sven Kapelj12Lachezar Bonchev13Emilian Stoynov14South-West University „Neofit Rilski“, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Department of Geography, Ecology and Environmental ProtectionDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd, zootribe@gmail.comCentral European University, Department of Environmental Sciences and PolicyGreen Balkans – www.greenbalkans.org, 9 Stara Planina Str.Birds of Prey Protection Society, www.bpps.orgMinistry of Environment and Energy, Forestry Service of IoanninaGreen Balkans – www.greenbalkans.org, 9 Stara Planina Str.Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060Ornithological Station Rijeka, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts,Nature Conservation Association - AQUILABirds of Prey Protection Foundation, Bulevar despota Stefana 142Birds of Prey Protection Foundation, Bulevar despota Stefana 142Association BIOMFund for Wild Flora & FaunaFund for Wild Flora & Fauna, 49 Ivan Mihaylov Str., office 327, P.O.Box 78, www.fwff.org, pirin@fwff.orgThe knowledge in the behaviour and movement of endangered species is of key importance for the precise targeting and assessing the efficiency of nature conservation actions, especially considering vultures, which explore vast areas to locate ephemeral and unpredictable food resources. Therefore, a total of 51 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) from both the re-introduced population and the autochthonous Balkan Peninsula (Balkans) colonies have been tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters in recent years, in order to study their seasonal and spatial distribution. The current study presents the analysis of the high-resolution GPS location data, acquired between January 2016 and March 2021. A total of 1,138,383 locations (an average number of 23,716 ± 18,886 positions per bird, ranged between 2,515 and 76,431 of total fixes per bird; n=48) were used to estimate the home range size and identify the traditional foraging areas and roosting sites of the birds during the wintering, migration/roaming and summering periods. Our results reveal that Griffon Vultures movement activity and home range size varied considerably throughout the annual cycle, especially between their wintering and summering grounds, while exhibiting significant overlapping amongst the tracked individuals. Specifically, immature Griffon Vultures travel long distances across all Balkan Peninsula countries, but always gather with conspecifics, showing strong fidelity to active breeding/roosting sites. The total home range 95% area of the Griffon Vulture population on the Balkans was estimated at 39,986.4 km² and the 50% core area at 1,545.42 km² (n = 48). All tracked birds were found to either visit or frequently use (> 95% of the time) the same seven vulture key zones on the Balkan Peninsula – one in Serbia, one shared between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, one shared between Bulgaria and Greece, two entirely lying in Bulgaria, one in western Greece and one shared between Kvarner Archipelago islands in Croatia and the Julian Alps - Italy, Austria and Slovenia. Several smaller sub-zones were also defined within these general ones. The seven key zones form a coherent network and are used as stepping stones for Griffon Vultures during their migration movements and roaming, but also wintering and summering. The observed concentration tendency of Griffon Vultures on the Balkans and the predictability of their temporal and spatial presence should be used to precisely target, address and substantially increase the efficiency of the conservation measures in this marginal and, thus, still vulnerable meta-population.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/71100/download/pdf/Griffon VultureconservationGPS trackinghome
spellingShingle Hristo Peshev
Atanas Grozdanov
Elena Kmetova–Biro
Ivelin Ivanov
Georgi Stoyanov
Rigas Tsiakiris
Simeon Marin
Saša Marinković
Goran Sušić
Emanuel Lisichanets
Irena Hribšek
Zoran Karić
Sven Kapelj
Lachezar Bonchev
Emilian Stoynov
New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
Biodiversity Data Journal
Griffon Vulture
conservation
GPS tracking
home
title New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
title_full New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
title_fullStr New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
title_full_unstemmed New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
title_short New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
title_sort new insight into spatial ecology of griffon vulture gyps fulvus on the balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger
topic Griffon Vulture
conservation
GPS tracking
home
url https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/71100/download/pdf/
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