Abstract
The rock partridge is an emblematic species of the Greek avifauna and one of the most important game species in the country. The present study, which combined long term in–situ counts with distance sampling methodology in central Greece, indicated that the species’ population in Greece is the highest within its European distribution, in contrast to all prior considerations. Inter–annual trends suggested a stable rock partridge population both within hunting areas and wildlife refuges, whereas during summer, the species presented significantly higher densities in altitudes of more than 1,000 m, most probably due to the effect of predation at lower zones. The similarity of population structure between wildlife refuges and hunting zones along with the stable population trends demonstrate that rock partridge harvest in the country is sustainable.
Highlights
The rock partridge is a Palearctic species with a limited geographical distribution in central and south Europe (Cattadori et al, 1999; Randi, 2006)
In Greece the species is encountered in all mountainous continental regions from eastern Macedonia to Peloponnesus including the Ionian islands of Lefkada and Kefalonia (Papaevangelou et al, 2001; Manios, 2002; Manios et al, 2002a, 2002b; Triantafyllidis et al, 2005, 2007) and the Aegean island of Euboea (Manios, 2002)
Based on the species’ mean density from all the years of the study the rock partridge population in Sterea Hellas, was estimated at a mean of 31,000 breeding pairs in early spring
Summary
The rock partridge is a Palearctic species with a limited geographical distribution in central and south Europe (Cattadori et al, 1999; Randi, 2006). In Greece the species is encountered in all mountainous continental regions from eastern Macedonia to Peloponnesus including the Ionian islands of Lefkada and Kefalonia (Papaevangelou et al, 2001; Manios, 2002; Manios et al, 2002a, 2002b; Triantafyllidis et al, 2005, 2007) and the Aegean island of Euboea (Manios, 2002) It is present at altitudes higher than 400m with a few exceptions below that, whereas the lowest breeding altitude is recorded at 120m (Vavalekas et al, 1993). Despite its popularity as a game species, the only previous information on its population status in Greece is available in Papaevangelou et al (2001)
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