Common partridge (Perdix perdix L.) in agrolandscapes of Central Ukraine: population dynamics and environmental implications

I.S. Mytyay,V.P. Novytskiy,V.M. Kondtratiuk

doi:10.15421/2020_292

Abstract

The analysis of the common partridge number dynamics during the first 15 years of the XXI century testified to its moderately fluctuating type with a tendency to dynamic reduction from 2000 to 2007. During the next 7-year period, there was a certain stabilization of the local population, which formed the lower plateau of indices within the range from 3.72 to 4.77 thousand individuals in 2007 and 2014, respectively. A 4-year cyclicity in changes of the local partridge cenopopulation dynamics was revealed. In general, 1-4 years of recession were followed by 1-2 years of relatively insignificant rise. It is worth noting, almost every subsequent peak did not reach the level of previous ones. The amplitude of fluctuations between the maximum (10.65 thousand specimens) and minimum (3.72 thousand specimens) values of the calculated birds in the regional lands was 6.94 thousand specimens, or 65.1% of the maximum. The mean density of birds in the lands during the study period was only 2.3±0.03 birds/thousand ha, with fluctuations from 5.3 to 1.8 birds/thousand ha. The duration of the period between the maximum (2000) and minimum (2007) numbers was 7 years, and the mean number for the study period was 4.63±0.057 thousand birds in the total area of over 2,018 thousand ha. At that time, during the study period, the upper population plateau was not recorded at all. Such changes are most likely due to the high degree of "predation" of the common fox, mass poaching, weak biotechnical measures, unsatisfactory natural fodder base in critical periods of the year and non-compliance with agricultural standards by farmers.

Highlights

Since 2014, Ukraine has topped the international anti-rating with the highest percentage of plowing on the planet, which at that time was, according to official data, 56.1% of its territory; including plowing of agricultural lands that amounted here to 78.8% (Pyrozhok, 2018)
The consequence of the high plowing level was the degradation of Ukrainian soils, development of desertification processes and the loss of faunal diversity in agrolandscapes, in particular, due to monocropping focused on growing large areas of "export" industrial tall crops - corn and sunflower. These circumstances prompted us to study environmental aspects of the common partridge’s (Perdix perdix Linnaeus, 1758) life-sustaining activity, as a indicator game species recommended to assess the ecological status of agricultural landscapes in Ukraine (Fedyushko, 2011)
To form an analytical sample of the common partridge population and environmental factors, we used data obtained from annual statistical collections "Environment of Ukraine", statistical yearbooks of Vinnytsia region, amd indices of state statistical reporting forms "2-tp", prepared during 2000-2014 by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and its regional divisions (Derzhavna sluzhba, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Since 2014, Ukraine has topped the international anti-rating with the highest percentage of plowing on the planet, which at that time was, according to official data, 56.1% of its territory; including plowing of agricultural lands that amounted here to 78.8% (Pyrozhok, 2018). The consequence of the high plowing level was the degradation of Ukrainian soils, development of desertification processes and the loss of faunal diversity in agrolandscapes, in particular, due to monocropping focused on growing large areas of "export" industrial tall crops - corn and sunflower. These circumstances prompted us to study environmental aspects of the common partridge’s (Perdix perdix Linnaeus, 1758) life-sustaining activity, as a indicator game species recommended to assess the ecological status of agricultural landscapes in Ukraine (Fedyushko, 2011)

Methods

Results

Conclusion