Forest type, microhabitat conditions and human presence predict occurrence of two sympatric Columbidae species in the Mediterranean’s largest mixed forest: Implications for management and conservation

Abstract

The presence of natural forests in association with the planted forests has become a common quite landscape in the Mediterranean basin and even elsewhere. Understanding how native game bird use the different types of forest habitats is a major issue aiming at an effective assessment of their management and conservation. In this study, we investigated this issue with regards to the common Woodpigeon (WD) (Columba palumbus) and the vulnerable European Turtle-Dove (TD) (Streptopelia turtur) in Mamora forest, the largest mixed Mediterranean forest. We used data from three sets of variables, namely forest type, microhabitat conditions and human disturbance, to determine the best predictors that cause variation in the WD and TD occurrence by means of generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that pine and eucalypt plantations were the most attractive for TD and natural cork oak forests for WD. In pine plantations, TD occurrence was influenced positively by the extent of the herbaceous layer and negatively by the nearest distance to the shepherd’s house with enclosure, whereas in eucalyptus plantations, it was influenced positively by the cover of trees and shrubs. In natural cork oak forests, WD was exclusively affected by the tree cover. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that space was the most robust in explaining the TD occurrence in pine (adj. R2 = 0.20, p < 0.001) and eucalyptus (adj. R2 = 0.20, p < 0.001) plantations, whereas in cork oak natural forests, human presence (adj. R2 = 0.15, p = 0.002) was the most relevant in explaining WD occurrence. Specific management actions are suggested to improve the attractiveness of gamebirds at natural and artificial forests of the Mamora. It is imperative to test the geographical generality of our results in other mixed Mediterranean forests.